A Fine Mess (1986)

26% of users liked it
(2,020 ratings)

Blake Edwards comes a cropper in this lunk-headed slapstick homage to Laurel and Hardy, Mack Sennett, and Jerry Lewis. Ted Danson and Howie Mandell play Spence Holden and Dennis Powell, a couple of idiots who find themselves involved with a pack of gangsters. Spence is a two-bit actor who is at a… More Blake Edwards comes a cropper in this lunk-headed slapstick homage to Laurel and Hardy, Mack Sennett, and Jerry Lewis. Ted Danson and Howie Mandell play Spence Holden and Dennis Powell, a couple of idiots who find themselves involved with a pack of gangsters. Spence is a two-bit actor who is at a racetrack location with his pal Dennis, when he overhears two small-time thugs, Wayne "Turnip" Parragella (Richard Mulligan) and Maurice "Binky" Drundza (Stuart Margolin), talk about doping a horse set to run a race. It turns out that Turnip and Binky are under orders to carry out the dastardly scheme by their underworld boss Tony Pazzo (Paul Sorvino). When Spence and Dennis are found out, they find themselves pursued all over the Los Angeles area by an angry Tony Pazzo mob in an ever-escalating series of races and chases, crashes and smashes, and shouting and screaming. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Blake Edwards
Written By: Blake Edwards
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Romance, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 8, 1986 Wide
On DVD: Dec 6, 2005

Critic Reviews

Scott Weinberg, DVDTalk.com
Obviously inspired by the 1932 Laurel & Hardy short The Music Box, A Fine Mess represents director Blake Edwards at his most witless and desperate.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...a thoroughly ludicrous but strangely enjoyable piece of work.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Chad R

Another 80's movie I thought was great when I was 12. The hormones were really flowing back then and Maria Conchita Alonso was hot. I have just put this on Netflix. Lets see how 22 years have affected my feelings for this thing.

Cast

            Ted Danson as Spence Holden

            Howie Mandel as Dennis Powell

            Richard Mulligan as Wayne Turnip Farragalla

            Stuart Margolin as Maurice "Binky" Dzundza

            Maria Conchita Alonso as Claudia Pazzo

            Jennifer Edwards as Ellen Frankenthaler

            Paul Sorvino as Tony Pazzo

            Brooke Alderson as Aileen

            Sharon Barr as Director's Wife

            Walter Charles as Auctioneer

            Frederick Coffin as Traffic Cop

            James Cromwell as Detective Blist

            Rick Ducommun as Wardell

            Dennis Franz as Phil

            Castulo Guerra as Italian Director

            Darryl Henriques as Landlord

            Ed Herlihy as TV Reporter

            Arthur Hill
            
            Robert Hoy as Detective Levine

            Sharon Hughes as Tina

            Jeffrey Lampert as Car Salesman

            Sharan Lea as Young Girl

            Carrie Leigh as Extra

            Keye Luke as Ishimine

            Tawny Moyer as Leading Lady

            Jack O'Leary as Piano Mover

            Rick Overton as Companion

            Vic Polizos as Detective Hunker

            John Short as Assistant Director

            Larry Storch as Leopold Klop

            Emma Walton as Extra

            Valerie Wildman as Anchorwoman

            Elaine Wilkes as Carhop

            Theodore Wilson as Covington

            Jim Byers as Track Announcer

            Doug Cox as Piano Mover

            Shep Tanney as Dr. Henry Garfurg

            Garth Wilton as Houseman

            Jimmy Lewis as Detective Albert

            John Davey as Detective Horn
See full cast