Foul Play

I saw this film when I was nine years old. And I loved it. From the opening shot of Goldie Hawn's VW bug driving along to Barry Manilow's "Ready to Take a Chance Again" to the Pope tapping his foot to "Three Little Maids From School Are We," this movie is pure entertainment. What makes it so funny is it seems an exercise in lateral thinking. A snake that eats cigarettes? An albino hit man? Billy Barty? I love the music in this film and watching Dudley Moore sing "I feel the earth move under my feet" ... while he tries to seduce Hawn, who was the very model of wholesome cuteness in the '70s and '80s. Her pairing with Chase gave us some of the funniest shows of the era. (I also enjoy "Seems Like Old Times.") The only downside to this film - if you see it when you're an impressionable child, you'll always be wondering if someone will stab you through the theater seat. Argh!

No doubt in my mind that this is Goldie Hawn's best film. She does the dumb blonde thing brilliantly here and she has never looked better. The whole cast is good, although it is definitely very 70s in appearance, which is always a drawback!This is both funny and quite exciting. Very lighthearted and Hitchcockian, it moves along at a fast pace, and is always entertaining. The scenes with Dudley Moore and Goldie are absolutely brilliant and the villains are like those of Bond movies but adapted for screwball comedies. I don't quite know why I like this film so much. Perhaps it's because it's not available on DVD, and things always seem better when you can't have them. For any fans of Goldie out there, this is definitely the film to see, and, if it were available, to own. Can someone please release this on DVD?! For all aspiring dumb blondes, just watch Goldie's gem of a performance. And did I mention that she has never looked better....nor, possibly, has anyone else...ever.

The movies served as my babysitter in the late seventies, and watching the new DVD release of Foul Play bought back memories of good times, and the very well done DVD transfer was a joy to watch and listen to.

I can't think of a better movie that puts the late seventies in to perspective; the comedy is simple, the relationships between the characters is lighthearted; heck, even funnier to me is Chevy's offering of a 'joint' to goldie, then saying, "you know they say the cops have the best dope", an ironic pre "war on drugs" line when people had perspective on such things.

The acting is really quite good, Chevy looks great as a young man, and Goldie is absolutely stunning. The cinematography is well done, crisp and clear lighting with that seventies film stock quality that seems better in many ways than the heavily digitally processed look of today. It's refreshing to see, AND to hear- the 5.1 surround was surprisingly good, very clear, and well thought out.

If you are like me, and remember seeing this movie in the late seventies, and would like a treat, rent or buy Foul Play on DVD, a true pleasure indeed.

After reading the Maltin summary, I was a little afraid to rent this movie. Tasteless? I'd loved watching it as a kid on TV (I think I saw it about six times). But a lot of comedies don't make it past their decade.

Foul Play does better than most. It's the characters that make it. Imagine a feminist librarian warning Goldie Hawn about men by telling her "Really, honey, you gotta drag yourself into the seventies!"

Goldie Hawn plays her role sweetly.

The Dudley Moore slapstick didn't delight me as much as when I was a kid (it's a little broad).

The writer and director, Colin Higgins, is known for Harold and Maude. This film doesn't measure up to that one, but it still has a lot of the same touches. In particular, it's the human side of the humor. I laughed at the characters AND liked them.

Once the film leaves the characters for the action, it's not as much fun. The carchase ending drags on a bit too long.

All in all, a sweet movie. Great fun if you'd like to "drag yourself into the seventies."

GOLDIE HAWN is at her wide-eyed prettiest in this enjoyable comedy-thriller, a romp that has her trying to avoid one dangerous situation after another when she finds out that she's being stalked by killers anxious to get their hands on a roll of film she has. Her efforts lead to unraveling an assassination plot on the Pope! CHEVY CHASE is her detective boyfriend who gets caught up in the intricate plot, which leads eventually to a mad car chase through the streets of San Francisco. BURGESS MEREDITH is her friendly neighbor with a penchant for pet snakes with some funny scenes as well.

There are some really action-filled moments along the way but most of the suspense derives from wondering how Goldie will survive the various attempts on her life.

DUDLEY MOORE is memorable in a laugh-filled seduction scene where he misinterprets what Goldie is saying as she peers through the curtains of his apartment window. His attempt to seduce her in an apartment filled with sex devices is one of the film's funniest moments.

The scary parts are fun too, especially when she's being menaced by a sinister looking albino and a midget--dispatching both when the need arises. She plays the part with a vigorous wide-eyed disposition that really belies her role as a shy librarian encouraged to get out and meet people...but it's all so funny you don't care about details after awhile. Just sit back and enjoy.

The San Fransico location shots add a lot of visual interest to the tale and it's all directed at a mad pace by Colin Higgins, winding up with some wild scenes in an opera house.

Strictly for laughs, it's well worth viewing for Goldie's charming performance.