Una fortuna da morire

Anthony Perkins' second and final film as director is this great black comedy about an over-weight loser in love played by the very funny Joe Alaskey who is, to his surprise, swooped off his feet (figuratively speaking of course) by the real-life Mrs Dan Aykroyd- Donna Dixon and invited back to her familys ranch for Christmas dinner. To his horror, Joe soon finds out that the family are cannibals and that he is to be their Christmas dinner! "I'm not the guest, I'm the buffet!" This is a funny film with some great wacky characters most notably Jeff Kober as the demented Ike and twins Philip Arthur Ross and Steven Robert Ross (the latter thinks he has commited suicide and is now a poltergeist). Lucky Stiff would be ideal viewing on Christmas day with some mulled wine after good turkey dinner.

Portly nice guy falls for a luscious blonde; she likes him, too...in a way. Little-seen black comedy from writer Pat Proft features very good performances by Joe Alaskey and Donna Dixon, yet it makes no lasting impact. It's just a pop-crack quickie helmed by Norman Bates himself, Anthony Perkins. Even on the level of B-comedies, the somewhat-similar "Eating Raoul" is a better bet. There's definitely an amusing set-up here; unfortunately, the picture has nowhere to go in its second act. An interesting try, but it misfires. *1/2 from ****

Donna Dixon as always looks sexy, Joe Alaskey is funny, Morgan Shepard and Fran Ryan look tough as the parents of Donna, Jeff Kober looks creepy and menacing and Barbara Howard looks scared, but at the same time she is as lovely as Ms Dixon. The story is about sexy Donna inviting Joe to her hometown where her parents and the rest of her family are craqzy and eat human flesh, there Joe meets Barbara who married one of Donna's many brothers and together they must fight and run for their lives if they don't want to be the main course. Rent it, you'll laugh a lot.

As mentioned in the title, this is another story by Pat Proft who has written for all a few serial comedies, including the last two Scary Movie films. Stop here if you don't like these types of films as you most certainly won't like this movie either! To be honest, I own both Hot Shot films. This is not because I love them, it is more that I know that if I need some head cleaner these can do the trick. Comedies that have crazy plots and over the top characters which won't win Oscars, but should be entertaining enough when the mood is right.

Over the years, a few other programs have made direct references to this film. One was a kids program that re-enacted the 'scary ghost' scenes almost verbatim. As I was channel surfing, I had no idea what the program was, but needless to say, this film inspires.

I first saw Lucky Stiff in parts while on tour in Delaware. This night had a lot of partying involved, and having this film on was perfect. For years, me and one of my band mates sought this film. I finally nailed it down and bought it as a birthday gift. That copy was lost on a subsequent birthday house fire.

Now, with the DVD available, we have it once again and can rejoice in splendor of the quips, gags, and creepiness of this film. I suggest to those of you who can enjoy the Naked Gun or Hot Shot series to give this one a try. The DVD is cheap to buy online, so get it before it goes out of print! I give this a high rating for what it is against those who pan it for not being 'Gone with the Wind' or something of that caliber. I would truly offer a 6 star rating otherwise.

I immediately love the delightfully playful score composed between Tom Jenkins and Michael Tavera, and it's very noteworthy that practiced writer of spoofs Pat Proft also penned this picture. That Anthony Perkins directed, of all people, is itself a small joy. Humor alternately cheeky and dark is always clever (if also at times a little crude), and greets us from the very start. Joe Alaskey impresses right away as he embraces the readily sympathetic lead role, and all of hapless Ron's heartbreak, excitability, and pep, with fantastic delivery and comedic timing. Though perhaps a little too over the top at times, and even juvenile as it bears elements of slapstick, 'Lucky stiff' is nonetheless generally funny and entertaining.

It needs to be said, there's a content warning on hand for suggested incest, and fatphobia. Less critically but also inelegant, there's some green screen shenanigans at play in the production. But the screenplay is broadly smarter than its lowest moments, and a tiny tad of tawdry trifles are less prevalent than fine attention to set pieces, hair and makeup, costume design, props, and other such details. Dialogue, characters, and scene writing, all built for comedy, are strong in their own right, and feed well into an engaging and well considered narrative. And renowned as Perkins is for his acting, he nonetheless demonstrates an able hand as director in realizing Proft's screenplay; one rather regrets that more projects didn't come to him in that capacity, that he could continue to grow.

Alaskey steals the show, but the rest of the cast is just as capable. Donna Dixon portrays beautiful and conniving Cynthia with admirable grace and allure, and Barbara Howard is charming as Frances. Meanwhile, all the actors rounding out the Mitchell clan are duly creepy and subtly threatening in their portrayals, with William Morgan Sheppard a great anchor as the patriarch of the family.

I'm not sure that all the jokes quite land - especially whenever the film leans into the utmost cartoonish ridiculousness - nor the entirety of the narrative as it presents. Still, for whatever problems there may be with the picture, it only ever aims to be a silly, fun romp, and it succeeds to a much greater extent than not. More than that, the strength of Alaskey's lead performance, and adept scene writing, help to elevate the feature above its weaker instances. Not necessarily an essential must-see, 'Lucky stiff' is a good time all the same. Don't go out of your way, but this is enjoyable and worthwhile if you come across it.