Undercover Cops

Exit to Eden (1994)

1/2 (out of 4)

Based on the Ann Rice novel, this film tells the story of an island ran by the beautiful Lisa (Dana Delaney) where all of your sexual desires can come true. Due to some thieves, police officers played by Rosie O'Donnell and Dan Aykroyd show up and get caught up in the sexy games.

EXIT TO EDEN would turn out to be one of the most controvercial movies from the 1990s not because of its subject matter but because of some really awful casting and apparently it's awful handling of the novel. I haven't read the novel but those who have hold it up in high regard as some sort of classic and it seems whatever was in the book didn't make it to the screen.

Director Garry Marshall made some very good films in his career but he also made some pretty lousy ones and that's certainly where this film falls. It's really hard to believe that the movie could turn out this bad because you'd think, with its subject matter, that you could at least get a few mild laughs from the plot yet that never happens. As far as comedies go, this here is one of the worst to ever be made.

So, what's the biggest problem with the movie? I'd say the casting, which is also a big mystery. Who on Earth wants to see O'Donnell and Aykroyd in these S&M leather outfits? I don't think there's a single person who would enjoy that and yet here they are running around in these outfits. It's also very clear that neither of them wanted to be in them as they both look and feel very uneasy throughout the picture. It's strange that you can watch a movie and see actors look uncomfortable in what they're doing. Which makes one wonder why they signed onto the picture.

Delany easily steals the picture and at least manages to bring some of the sexy nature of the story out. Sadly, she's just a supporting role and she can't save the film because it is really bad. I don't think any words could really prepare someone for how bad this film actually is. Thankfully there's some nudity and mild sleaze because the comedy bits just don't work.

I watched this movie, having been a fan of Anne Rice's novels. I found that a few of the scenes did a good job of imagining what the book was suggesting. These were mostly trivial in the movie. I really enjoyed the story and managed to sit through the horrible overlapping story (All of Dan & Rosie's scenes) to catch a bit of the fantasy brought to the screen that had been in my head reading the book. I guess if it had been passed off as other than a comedy, it would have to be labeled pornography. The good parts of the movie show that this could have been a great project if they had attempted to stay close to the spirit of the novel.

Elliot Slater grew up with submissive urges during his Australian childhood with the hot maid. His adult relationships have not worked. He's a professional photographer. At the airport, he takes pictures of diamond smuggler Nina Blackstone (Iman) dressed as an airline stewardess and her cohort Omar. LAPD undercover officers Sheila Kingston (Rosie O'Donnell) and Fred Lavery (Dan Aykroyd) are hunting the diamond smuggling ring. Nina and Omar tries to track down Elliot to get back the photos. There are no known photos of Omar and the cops are after Elliot as well. Elliot signs up for a week on the island of Eden as a submissive. He is followed by the smugglers and the cops. The island is owned by Dr. Martin Helifax (Hector Elizondo) and run by dominatrix Mistress Lisa Emerson (Dana Delany).

O'Donnell is annoying in this one. She needs somebody to rein her in and Aykroyd is the last person to do that. They are the unfunny comedic relief. The premise is horribly manufactured. The island is cheesy. Paul Mercurio is a weak lead and Dana Delany doesn't fit as a dominatrix. It is awkward and silly. There are a lot of naked people and non of it is erotic or funny. Sexy has never been more boring. I don't know how crappy is the Anne Rice novel and Garry Marshall is a complete fail here.

One thing can be said about veteran director Garry Marshall; he'll go nearly ANYWHERE for love and laughs.

EXIT TO EDEN may be about as unlikely a mainstream comedy/romance as you'll find, with most of the action occurring at a 'Club Med'-type resort catering to S&M devotees, but someone, somewhere, might have been able to pull it off...but not, unfortunately, the ever-conventional Marshall, who, try as he might, can't make either the comedy (as two cops attempt to infiltrate the club to capture a fugitive 'hiding out' among the 'mistresses' and 'slaves') or the love story (as a somewhat jaded 'mistress' discovers the joys of conventional romance with a mysterious newcomer) more than mildly entertaining.

The main problem is miscasting; while a Dan Aykroyd/Rosie O'Donnell team-up might have looked good on paper, on film the two actors have virtually no chemistry together. Aykroyd is better as a 'straight man' than comic, and, as age has given him a 'cuddly' quality (along with extra pounds), the edginess he displayed in THE BLUES BROTHERS or even DRAGNET is gone. O'Donnell, on the other hand, is TOO edgy, and can become annoying quite easily. Her one-liners seem contrived and often mean-spirited...and Rosie in leather is a sight I've been trying to forget for 10 years! Dana Delany fares somewhat better, as the Number 1 Dominatrix (her voluptuous curves, encased in leather, and brief nude scenes have made EXIT TO EDEN a video store favorite), but her personality, fundamentally sweet-natured (more 'Girl Next Door' than 'Supervixen') plays against her. She is simply too 'nice' for her role! Coming off best is Australian newcomer Paul Mercurio, in his first American film. With a twinkle in his eye, he 'plays' the S&M 'game' as a joke, championing traditional romance, and, ultimately, converts Delany to his point of view. Totally natural, Mercurio 'steals' the film from the veteran cast. He, and Marshall 'regular' Hector Elizondo are both so good, in fact, that they seem to have been 'lifted' from a different film!

EXIT TO EDEN stumbles frequently, in it's attempt to be both mainstream AND daring, and ends up being boring and a bit distasteful.

PRETTY WOMAN, it ain't!

this was a great movie...i loved it any movie with dana delaney naked is worth the cost of of a movie ticket.....dana as a dominatrix....awesome.. i thought she was great...dan was funny as usaul...as for rosie........i'm not a huge rosie fan ,but she did okay ..5/5 for this, not that funny but sexy as hell!!!!