The Check Is in the Mail...

1986
R
1h 31m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Frustrated with all the minor irritants of the rat-race Richard Jackson decides to buy a goat, disconnect the electricity and become self-sufficient. But will this life be any less annoying?Frustrated with all the minor irritants of the rat-race Richard Jackson decides to buy a goat, disconnect the electricity and become self-sufficient. But will this life be any less annoying?Frustrated with all the minor irritants of the rat-race Richard Jackson decides to buy a goat, disconnect the electricity and become self-sufficient. But will this life be any less annoying?

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

4.5/10

219

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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User reviews4

4.5219

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7abbazabakyleman-98834

An enjoyable comedy that has its flaws

This film hasn't aged well for a variety of reasons. The movie was completed in 1984, but didn't get a release date until 1986. The script wasn't too bad as it was written by the always reliable Robert Kaufman, who gave us Freebie and the Bean and Love at First Bite. Brian Dennehy and Anne Archer are, however, horribly miscast in the roles as the couple who decide to live off the grid, turn their backyard into a farm, shut off all the electricity and eventually losing everything in the process.

What hurts the film greatly is how the movie had to be later re-shot by adding Dick Shawn and Nita Talbot as the wacky next-door neighbors, which is more forced than funny. The original cut itself actually flows a lot better without these added bits, which are totally unnecessary and ruin the unique tone of this movie.

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Trivia
Though filmed in 1983, new scenes were filmed in early 1984 and directed by Ted Kotcheff that focused on the relationship between the Jackson's and their neighbors, played by Dick Shawn and Nita Talbot. They are credited at the beginning of the film, as well as the film's trailer, but not in the end credits.

Quotes
Richard Jackson: [Richard rides his bicycle down the streets and almost runs over Donald, carrying grocery bags, and laughs] Donald, I'm sorry! I didn't see you.
Donald: [sarcastic and angry] Hey, Jackson! There's a plane leaving in the morning for Moscow! Why don't you get on it? Commie bastard! Left-wing freak!

Crazy credits
The title, Check is in the Mail, is used with permission of Dembner Books whose cartoon book with the same title is funny too - but different.

Alternate versions
The original cut was 91 minutes, but trimmed down to 82 minutes for its theatrical release. Some scenes were cut and replaced with new footage featuring Dick Shawn and Nina Talbot as the Jackson's neighbors, as well as a new scene where we find out Richard had given haircuts to Robin and Danny, hence explaining their different hairstyles.