dir Mike Mitchell
scr Harris Goldberg, Rob Schneider
with Rob Schneider, Arija Bareikis, Eddie Griffin, William Forsythe,
Oded Fehr, Gail O'Grady, Richard Riehle, Jacqueline Obradors,
Bree Turner, Dina Platias, Marlo Thomas, Norm MacDonald
Touchstone 99/US
See also: DEUCE BIGALOW, EUROPEAN GIGOLO (2005)
Review by Rich Cline
Deuce (Schneider) is an expert fish-tank cleaner who accidentally destroys the home of a wealthy gigolo (Fehr) while looking after his prize collection. He has three weeks to raise the repair money and is talked into prostitution by a friendly pimp (Griffin). But Deuce quickly realises that women don't want sex, they want to be made comfortable, so of course he becomes a legend in the business ... even though he hasn't a clue what he's doing. Meanwhile he falls for one of his clients (Bareikis).
The gags are mostly of the cruel variety (with heavy doses of juvenile toilet humour), and yet the film maintains a colourful, good-natured attitude, winning us over quickly so we can root for our hero ... and just sit back and laugh. The parade of women, each of whom has some sort of affliction, is far funnier than it has a right to be and somehow avoids being offensive. And there are some hilarious running gags and spoof sequences. Yes, it's utterly stupid and the unoriginal plot doesn't bear scrutiny. But I defy anyone to get through it without laughing out loud.
[15--adult themes and situations, language, vulgarity] 31.Mar.00
US release 10.Dec.99; UK release 26.May.00
