Cuba libre - Dümmer als die CIA erlaubt!

Douglas McGrath leads an all star cast in this film.

The film is set in the early 60's. McGrath plays Alan Quimp, a grammar school teacher who makes up that he is in the CIA so that his wife will stop hassling him about getting another job. He then ends up helping a Russian ballet dancer defect from the Soviet Union and then is sent to Cuba to find "Agent X" who the CIA have been looking for for over 2 years. The story goes on from there when Agent X is found.

This is a quirky, constant, light hearted film with some funny bits. I loved the fact that it has an all star cast. Woody Allen is very funny. Best to watch a second time to appreciate it more. It might not be everyone's cup of tea but I personally enjoyed it.

7/10.

A snowstorm was coming. Anticipating a snowbound weekend I grabbed this and several other unfamiliar titles from the library shelf. I chose this one because I liked several of the cast members and it sounded like it had some promise. I was right - it had some promise. Unfortunately it never delivered more than a few moments. The uncredited Woody Allen may have demanded his name be removed. A few of his scenes were among those that delivered. Dennis Leary's scenes delivered most frequently and Alan Cumming hit the mark about half the time. I was so disappointed by John Turturro and Sigourney Weaver. Perhaps it is because they are so closely wrapped around the character played by Douglas McGrath. I don't know if it is the basic premise (english teacher with all consuming dream to rid the world of bad grammar turned CIA agent) or just his ability to deliver it. I suspect both. I grew annoyed with the premise and in between "comic facial expression here" he seemed to have a cardboard appearance.

If we had been snowbound for a month we would not have watched this again. As I review Sigourney Weaver's and John Turturro's previous films, I know they can be SO much better but perhaps if you're in a dog you just have to act like one. I don't know why everyone associated with this film said yes. Were they that bored, broke, desperate, owed someone a favor, being blackmailed? The only person I can see who must have been happy was Douglas Mcgrath - having been given the starring role in a picture. I hope he enjoyed it because I doubt he will be given another.

This movie, as underdistributed as it has been, should be picked up wherever you can find it.

All you need to enjoy this movie is an I.Q. and a sense of humor. If either of the aforementioned are lacking you will probably agree with the "Don't watch this movie" reviewer.

Woody Allen has some classic lines in this film.

ALSO, the plot is not MUCH sillier than the ACTUAL Bay of Pigs incident.

"Company Man" is a clever farce that deserves to be seen by more people. Though Douglas McGrath, its writer and star, is not well known, it has several famous actors, such as Sigourney Weaver and Woody Allen, playing major roles. This film is a revisionist look at the Bay of Pigs fiasco, much in the way "Dick" looks at Watergate. If you can suspend your disbelief a bit, and you're ready to have fun, you'll enjoy this comedy. Mucho laughs!

Upon reading the description on the back of the video box, I immediately thought of the classic "The In-Laws" with Peter Faulk & Alan Arkin. Company Man turned out be more of an Austin Powers or Top Secret, instead.

Perhaps it was not a cinematic masterpiece. It was fun to watch, though, and gave me several really good belly laughs -- such as the "real" secret behind Gorbichev's alleged birthmark!

The plot is silly & "quirky," as some have noted, but it had a nice feel to it. Overall, I would call it a good little film.