Hostage for a Day

The year that John Candy left this life, he starred in one of the most atrocious movies that I've ever seen ("Wagons East"), but also directed - and appeared in - this light, interesting TV movie. George Wendt plays a suburban everyman completely fed up with his life. So, he pretends that he's been taken hostage in his house, leading to a media frenzy and the police surrounding everything. Only then, some real thugs take him hostage (Candy plays one of them).

"Hostage for a Day" makes neat use of Wendt's mannerisms, and is a fairly perceptive look at apparent satisfaction in the suburbs masking deeper frustration (along with media hype). Then again, maybe I'm the only person who interpreted it as such. For all that I know, it might have just been intended as a silly comedy. But I still assert that it's worth seeing. Also starring John Vernon.

The first time I saw this movie, around 1996, I was very disappointed. After nine years I gave this movie a second try. This time I enjoyed the movie. John Candy's small cameo as Yuri Petrovich is funny, although I wonder how it would have been if John had played George Wendt's part. Don't get me wrong, George Wendt is a great actor but he hasn't got much chance to be funny, because you feel sorry for his character all the time. Christopher Templeton is really terrific as Wendt's childhood sweetheart Diane St. Clair. I think the big problem is that the movie's sensitivity doesn't match with the silliness and vice versa. Sadly, when this movie premiered on television John Candy had already passed away.

Why on earth John Candy let himself be associated with this loser of a picture is beyond me. The plot is simple and it is rife with possibilities for great humour but it doesn't take advantage of them. George Wendt is not the greatest actor that ever hit the screen but his years at Cheers should have taught him how to create a laugh...apparently they did not. He is so un-funny at times it hurts. I wanted to get up and deliver the line the way it could have been but...well. At any rate if you're looking for a good sit-down to watch a good comedy and maybe have a beer...don't drink the beer too fast, I suspect you'll be on your way out to the store for another movie and you shouldn't drive intoxicated!

George Wendt is so convincing in his role as hostage. He makes it so believable! You end up getting caught up in the movie, and it seems like hours are actually minutes. Role after role, his movies get better an better. They turn such a simple plot into so much more. John Candy and George wendt should have always done movies together. This dynamic duel seems Unstoppable! I am very suprised to find that it wasn't an instant success. If not watch it for its hillarious plot, than rent it for Wendt's brilliant preformance. As scary as it is intelligent, as funny as it is touching, Hostage For a Day is a prime example of the way cinema should be: excellent telling of complete stories.

It's warren's birthday, and just everything is going wrong. His wife wants to remodel the house, and seems to be shagging the contractor. And she refuses to cook for warren. His only escape is to pretend he's been taken hostage. But of course that goes wrong too, and he really does get taken hostage. It's a great premise, but it just stumbles along. It's more chaotic than funny. There are some fun actors here... george wendt is warren, and his wife is played by robin duke (the waitress from groundhog day!) warren's father in law is john vernon (dean wormer, from animal house). Of course, john candy has a cameo. It's all way over the top; the acting, the script. The longest pauses you've ever heard in a movie. Were they waiting for laughter that didn't happen? And chris templeton always seems to be in shots by herself. Did they film most of her shots at her own house? It's possible her medical challenges were already limiting her in some ways. The movie is so disjointed. There's lot of action, but about the only people who interact are warren and his wife, or the wife and hondo the contractor! Don lake (plays lieutenant sneed) really played up the humor. Too bad the rest of the film wasn't as good. And who exactly is ronnie?? What a mess. Can't really recommend this one. It's the one and only film john candy directed. Sadly, he died march 4 1994, and didn't get to see it released april 25. Chris templeton also died young at 58.