Le Retour de Jekyll et Hyde

This was the funniest movie in the world when I was 8 years old. Now, not so much. Dr. Jekyll (Mark Blankfield) inadvertently snorts a powder he was mixing and becomes the disco-bopping, sex crazed Mr. Hyde. That is really all there is to this remixing of the Stevenson novel and THE NUTTY PROFESSOR. Director Jerry Belson throws out gags every 30 seconds and I'd say one out of three work. Blankfield truly has the energy for the part, that is for sure. I wonder why he was never a bigger comedy star? Look for small roles by George Wendt, Cassandra Peterson, Lin Shaye, and Art La Fleur. Seeing it some 25 years later, the best thing about it is the performance by one of my now favorites Tim Thomerson as a smug plastic surgeon. He is hilarious.

Doing an exaggeration of his druggist character on TVs' 'Fridays' series, comic actor Mark Blankfield does a very funny job at portraying these two classic characters. Dr. Daniel Jekyll is a surgeon who wants to get out of that line of work and do pure research. He's engaged to the materialistic daughter (Bess Armstrong) of his boss (Michael McGuire). But one of his experiments goes seriously awry, and he's transformed into the garish, swaggering Mr. Hyde, a sex fiend who would rather be a total 80s party animal than terrorize the public. Naturally, Daniel is stressed out when these transformations become fairly frequent.

It's certainly true that this raunchy, ridiculous spoof often traffics in cheap 'n' easy drug and sex jokes for the sake of laughs. But unless you prefer your comedies to be much more subtle and highbrow, this *does* show people a pretty good time. Granted, it can be hit or miss with its gags. It starts strong, and its first and final thirds are the best. It marked the theatrical directing debut for veteran comedy writer Jerry Belson (one of the four credited screenwriters here), who gives this great pace & energy. And even if it is overly silly and childish at times, this viewer really didn't mind all that much. At the very least, this is not bland or boring.

Blankfield is a hoot, especially when he's playing Hyde (not that that comes as a shock). He's well supported by a rich variety of familiar faces. Armstrong and the pretty, feisty Krista Errickson are fine eye candy as the two women in Jekyll & Hydes' lives. At first, the movie would seem to be an egregious waste of the great Tim Thomerson, but he does contribute some good, funny moments of his own in the movies' second half. A bunch of familiar performers have supporting roles and bits: Cassandra "Elvira" Peterson (the nurse whose breasts threaten to burst out of her costume), Peter Brocco, Liz Sheridan, George Wendt, Michael Ensign, John Dennis Johnston, Tony Cox, Art LaFleur, and Lin Shaye. George Chakiris appears briefly as himself.

In the end, it's hard (at least for this viewer) not to have SOME respect for a movie that ADMITS that it's an abomination of the concept created many years ago by Robert Louis Stevenson. The final gag is proof of this. And that theme song is so damn catchy.

Seven out of 10.

Mark Blankfield played Jekyll and Hyde.

Michael McGuire was the dad.

Tim Thomerson was the plastic surgeon.

Did you even see this movie? I doubt it!

Blankfield was fairly popular at this time for playing the pill-popping doctor on Fridays. Thomerson has been funny in anything he does, from movies to series to stand-up comedy. If I ever find this movie on DVD I will definitely buy it. I recorded this movie off of HBO back in '82 and have pretty much worn out the tape. One of the funniest takes on the Jekyll & Hyde theme ever.

Of course. with all the cocaine references in this movie, it'd be panned as being way too politically incorrect today, as would Cheech and Chong. Too bad, because it is FUNNY, FUNNY, FUNNY!

This is one of those rare comedies where try as you might, you can't help but giggle, chortle, guffaw and yes, even laugh out loud. The lead actor's performance as Hyde is pure manic genius. See if you can keep a straight face when he does his transformation. Good luck. :) On the downside there are times when the movie does bog down. It seemed longer than its 90 minutes.

alot of people will not enjoy this movie, but it is not due to a lack of humor. it is filled with drug/sex jokes and references which would turn off lots of conservative minded viewers but if theses things dont bother you, this movie is hilarious. it is reminiscent of airplane (anything zucker) but also has elements of python-style surrealisim. the transformation scene, complete with erection and jewelry is classic and his colleague's (thomerson's) gradual breakdown/outing are priceless. blankfield's hyde is classic and should have had him working for years. in summary, how can you not like a villan who, when confronted with a woman screaming "RAPE!" responds "later, if there's time"