The Tall Guy

This is a very funny film. Jeff Goldblum and Emma Thompson are stand-outs. Rowan Atkinson is excellent as a smarmy "leading man" in the musical "Elephant!" who tries to sink Goldblum's chances in the musical.

The love scenes with Thompson and Goldblum are inspired, particularly the first time they have sex. I can't recall a film that treats the act in such a spontaneous, slapstick and totally hilarious manner as it's done here. The actor's quirky takes and interaction are most funny, and the entire film is simply a delight.

I've told many friends to seek out this movie, and those who have taken my advice have thanked me profusely for letting them know about it.

I can't recommend it too highly--for a fun night alone, or with your special someone. It'll put a smile on your face you can't wipe off.

The plotline is just the skeleton upon which to hang some wicked shots at product placement, Andrew Lloyd Weber, and the theater in general. While most comedies have, at most, two or three types of humor, this film covers the spectrum. In addition to satire, there is Muppet style whimsy in the form of singing underwear, broad physical comedy, sly wordplay, and an inoculation scene that could have come straight from burlesque. Unique characters contribute to the humor. A good choice when you are in an "I want to laugh" mood.

I think this comedy express well the British humor,it's soft,lovely and never rude.Jeff Goldblum ,is Dexter King,an American actor who survives with many problems in London playing in minor roles ,his life is everything but brilliant until he meets a nurse and falls in love with her..Goldblum is really good in this role and can express really well his comic side and once again shows to be a complete actor able to play different roles. Some scenes of the movie are very nice like when he's fired by the unbearable star of the theatre (Rowan Atkinson before being Mr.Bean) or when he asks about his look to a blind man.Emma Thompson is also good but nothing new..we're used to seeing her always perfect ! Even the rest of the cast is good,from the weird Dexter's landlady to the wise blind man..maybe it's not a film you'll never forget but some fun is sure!

Richard Curtis has written some impressive romantic comedies (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Bridget Jones, Love Actually) and had his hand in the writing of some of the top British TV comedy of our time (Mr Bean, Not the 9 O'Clock news, Blackadder). This was one of his first scripts to be turned into a feature film.

He wrote this script about his own experience playing straight man to Rowan Atkinson on his early tours. Curtis was frustrated in real life with being under the shadow of Atkinson, but the script obviously makes a caricature out of this by turning Atkinson into a terrible, nasty villain. But, Rowan fans beware, this is not as fun as it sounds. The unkindest touch of all was added by Rowan himself. He makes himself appear completely unfunny. He plays his backstage self without a touch of humour or subversion - one would almost swear that Rowan just really was a nasty bast*rd.

But anyone who's seen Rowan's stage shows, or Not the 9 O'Clock News, knows that Rowan can play a bastard with ironic humour, where we know he's only kidding - on stage, Rowan specialised in bastards like the vicars and schoolmasters he's played, and nobodies like Mr Bean. Here, Rowan knew it was important for the story for Rowan to not actually be funny, and the straight man to actually be funny. Plus, we need to root for the straight man (played by Jeff Golblum). Rowan's being a villain is the story's main source of conflict and dramatic tension. Without it, there isn't a story. So Rowan has, ironically, done a brave and humble thing by agreeing to play it completely straight, humourless and cold - and he shows himself a really good dramatic actor (though the experience may be disheartening for Rowan fans).

So if you're a Rowan fan, this will not be for you. If you're a Richard Curtis fan, this is a fairly simple and conventional script, but its quite a fun romantic comedy nonetheless. Emma Thomson is suitably cold and severe, and Jeff Golblum makes a good everyman. 6/10.

Take an obligatory American - Jeff Goldblum - a gorgeous nurse (Emma Thompson), a script by Richard Curtis, long before going on to pen Four Weddings and a Notting Hill; get Mel Smith to direct and rubber-faced Rowan Atkinson to play the villain of the piece. The result is The Tall Guy, probably the greatest comedy of 1989.

I remember going to see it twice at the time and laughing all the way through it, amazed that British comedies could be this good.

It has a huge amount going for it with intelligence, cracking lines and some highly stylised photography by Adrian Biddle.

Curtis' semi-autobiographical script is based on his own days as a fall guy for Atkinson and the result is well worth a look.