Sticky Fingers

If you're not a fan of the 80s, and you need to be a particularly strong fan, or of one of the two leads, there's nothing about this film to recommend.

The story, as others have said, is dull, almost an afterthought to the basic notion of the characters and the idea of making a slightly manic comedy. I watched it to about an hour, hoping it would turn a corner, a twist would occur or it would somehow kick into gear but no... It's not unwatchable, it's just dull. It goes by. It goes by with bits of running around madly, lingering shots of feet at strange angles, bits of shouting madly but I didn't get a real feel of energy or manic fun, it just came across as forced. Needless to say also, there was nothing to laugh at particularly. A bit of mild amusement here or there but nothing more.

Don't be fooled by the mention of feminism by the way, all it means in this case is that almost all the principal cast is female. If anything, it's actually cloying... Two female leads, fine, excellent, the drug dealer is female, okay, their landlord is a landlady, alright, their friends are female, okay, the only other person we particularly see who lives in the same building, oh, female... I wasn't on the lookout for that but after a while it felt like a conscious decision had been made to have the film cast that way and it felt, again, a bit forced and cloying.

On the plus-side, if you are a fan of 80s fashions and culture, there is plenty to see and if you're a fan of Helen Slater, she's fun and enjoyable to watch. There's also some screen-time for Carol Kane, which is great, but not enough...

Overall: 3/10. If you're a huge fan of the 80s, Helen Slater and Carol Kane, you could maybe stretch it to a 5 because of them, although there's still the fact it's a comedy which isn't funny, which hinders it substantially. If you're not a fan of those things, you might as well make it 0 because there's nothing much else to enjoy here.

I love this film, I'm still waiting for the day when its going to be released on DVD.

such a fantastic script, well written and totally enjoyable. the characters are brilliant and the acting has some of the best comic timing I've seen in a movie ever!

Helen slater is truly a remarkable actress and Eileen Brenna is hilarious.

the one liners are to die for!

I cant stress to people enough to go and find this movie and just sit back and enjoy!

its a winner, a good 2 hour pop corn muncher filled with laughs and more laughs!

(the Jewish joke told at the end is pure gold!)

"Sticky Fingers" stars Helen "Supergirl" Slater and Melanie "thirtysomething" Mayron as a couple of quirky but poor New York City street musicians who come upon a satchel filled with ill-gotten money.

Slater, who is stunningly pretty, also shows a surprisingly deft comic ability. And Mayron, an often dull actress, holds her own well in a film she co-wrote.

The supporting cast is also made up of beautiful comediennes, including the always adorably funny Carol Kane and the late Danitra Vance, the first black female "Saturday Night Live" cast member, who lost her life to breast cancer in 1994. I still swoon at her smile.

Late character actress Eileen Brennan also stands out as the leads' impatient landlord.

Though the movie was written and directed by women, co-writer/director Caitlin Adams is no Susan Seidelman or Joan Micklin Silver. Her director's hand is unsure. She allows what should be a humorous take on female empowerment to be undone by protagonists who are classic screwball-comedy bubbleheads, and a plot that devolves into a standard caper film.

But I love it for its '80s style, its funny leads and supporting cast (I'd watch Carol Kane read the phone book), and the funky way it captures my beloved New York City, in a similar to, but somewhat lesser way than Seidelman's "Desperately Seeking Susan" did.

But see, I've always found "Desperately Seeking Susan" a bit of a bore. "Sticky Fingers" is flawed, to be sure. But it's enjoyable enough to watch all the way through.

For me, more than once.

"Our pockets are empty, our cupboards are bare, the bills keep coming, and the drugs are scarce. I need some money, I need some dough, for the things I want, for the things I own. I got Sticky Fingers!"

The title song says it all. "Sticky Fingers" is one of the most hilarious films ever made, and done so with such a style and even a type of elegance that has kept it fresh and funny for every viewing. Two roommates, and best friends Lolly and Hattie are struggling musicians, who can't pull in the attention of anyone past the civilians in Central Park, New York. One day, out of the blue, Diane, Hatties dope dealer, leaves them with a mysterious bag, with important contents inside. It is, yes, almost 1 million dollars. Eventually, everything is crazy, and all mixed up. These two women, who are honest, decent people in the Big Apple, are transformed by the green power slips, into petty, light-headed money grubbers. Soon the cash begins to run on, and the two have a lot of explaining to give Diane...and the mob men who have been watching their every move...

Helen Slater is the not so bright Hattie. She surely gives a new name to the word 'energy' in this one. With her quick and witty dialog, and sharp timing, she is amazing, and always turning on the laugh-machine. Melanie Mayron is the squeaky, nervous Lolly. Mayron is up to par with co-star Slater, giving off the same amount of energy and confusion. Needless to say, Christopher Guest is, as usual, a treat to watch as the love interest of Mayron. Other cast members include Loretta Divine, Eileen Brennan, Carol Kane, and an absolutely outrageous Danitra Vance, who steals the show with her every scene.

The comedy used in this gem is a bright blend of slapstick, and witty stand- up, with honesty as a key factor, bringing in solid goods. It is a shame that this one was never received as well as others in that time. The film is well representative of it's time,(1988) and it's pop-culture wackiness. I suppose it was the "different" factor that says just why the film was little known, if at all. This film does have a different tone, and even more so, it is very general. Sometimes, the smaller, more overlooked things are funny. Sexual lingo and politics are restricted, very restricted. This film is not "Majoy League" or a "National Lampoon" film, or even like any of the "Porkey's" movies either. It stands out completely on it's own, with ultimate originality and sharp comic texture and context, which make it a real riot to watch over and over again!

I gave this film a 2 mostly because it does actually have an ok cast but the film itself is just so (insert unusually rude word beginning with the sixth letter of the alphabet)-ing pointless that I felt bad that at the time I voted for it its lowest vote was a three.

Very predictable plot....two nare-do-well musicians have no money and plenty of money problems. However when a friend leaves a bag full of money (that belongs to drug dealers) in their care they of course spend it and then the "fun" begins.

Not an original idea in this whole film.