Por que Eu?

My review was written in July 1989 after watching the movie at a TImes Square screening room. (NOTE: many months passed after this advance screening before the film was released in Paris and then In the U. S.).

Caper comedy "Why Me?" is a frantic but only intermittently funny U. S. vehicle for French star Christophe Lambert. Gallic reaction should be brisk, but pic shapes as a weak entry for American audiences.

Film just opened in Paris and is due out May 4 in the U. S. Pic is a throwback to '60s-style films -not surprising since it's based on a followup novel to Donald Westlake's "The Hot Rock", which spawned the 1972 Fox film and was followed up in '74 by "Bank Shot".

With aid of rewrite, Lambert follows in the footsteps of previous pics' Robert Redford and George C. Scott as the charming con man who's an expert safecracker. Teamed with sidekick Bruno (Christopher Lloyd in a variety of wacky costumes) and girlfriend June (Kim Greist), he steals the cursed ruby, the Byzantine Fire. This sets up a film-long chase around Los Angeles for the stone, wanted by the police, other criminals, the Turkish government and a nutty gang of Armenian terrorists.

Helmer Gene Quintano has fun with the knockabout chases and slapstick (often using distorting camera angles) but this material is old hat. "A Fish Called Wanda" proved the traditional caper film isn't dead, but "Why Me?" lacks its inspired casting and hilarious bits.

Lambert isn't funny in the lead role, though his scary stunt work dangling from a skyscraper in the finale is impressive (and, again, well-suited to French audiences, being in a Jean-Paul Belmondo mold). Rest of the cast plays it overly cutesy, except for J. T. Walsh who's effective as the mean police chief.

Tech credits are first-rate, with a bouncy score by Basil Poledouris.

Well, I've seen Adrenaline, anyway. And... no, that's about it.

Why Me? sort of falls between two stools: it's not shoulder-dislocatingly funny either by intention or by good old-fashioned ineptitude, which makes watching it a bit of a pointless exercise. The old jewel-thieves-in-over-their-heads caper has been done to death, and the combination of Christophers Lambert and Lloyd provides the film with a distinct reek of B-list. Neither are wacky enough to be engaging for very long: Lloyd's clearly only there for the money, and you get the impression that Lambert's actually toning down his natural dementia. He's one of the most charismatic actors around, but it's just not given the chance to shine through here. (Only one "heh heh heh" as well. Or perhaps there were more during the times I fell asleep.)

So then, Why Me?: brief moments of promise amidst the sadly overwhelming boredom and confusion. No wonder nobody's ever heard of it.

This is a Romantic comedy, I believe it is not supposed to be as realistic as people are hoping it to be. I had great laughs with this movie, and considering I watched it at midnight and managed to laugh and not fall asleep, I should say this movie is, at least in my opinion, funny! And another thing, The Laird character is what most people would wish for, someone who is unique and peculiar but you know for sure they are head over heels for you. In one word, although not realistic, if I should be blessed as to find a partner with laird-like devoted qualities... I would definitely tie the knot This is just my opinion, it's not meant to be universal 😉

Christopher Lambert (Highlander) and Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future) star in this little known comedy as Gus and Bruno two dim witted jewelry thief's who steal the wrong diamond. A comedy of errors and farce ensues as three rival groups battle for the stone.

It's gentle comedy that has the occasional chuckle and is well worth a watch as the leads have a good chemistry and Christopher Lloyd gives a very good performance as the quirky older crook. Christopher Lambert shows there is more to him than Highlander and it's a shame he hasn't done more comedies. I enjoyed the film overall but it never rises above average, some of the jokes just aren't funny. But the end set up and payoff makes it worth a look.

7/10 - Enjoyable but forgettable.

This film is funny. That's the first thing you need to know. The second thing is why? Take two safe crackers, a ruby, an incompetent Armenian, a hard boiled police chief, a corrupt diplomat and a host of stoopid hoods, give 'em all a sparklingly witty script and a spaghetti plot, and watch them sort it all out. Lambert and Lloyd are a great comic duo and the late J T Walsh is a joy to watch as he gets madder and madder. This is not a film that'll change your life but it will make you laugh for an hour and a half and the way the world is right now, there are few things more valuable than light relief. With memorable one liners and side splitting sequences, this is a gem that too few people know about. It's not even IN Leonard Maltin's 2002 movie guide. Do yourself a favour and rent it if you get the chance. You'll love it.