Mixed Nuts (1994)

7% of critics liked it
(28 reviews)
46% of users liked it
(9,213 ratings)

A holiday comedy with dark overtones, Mixed Nuts presents a supposedly humorous look at the behind-the-scenes events at a crisis hotline on Christmas Eve. Philip (Steve Martin) runs Lifesavers, a Venice, California organization dedicated to helping the depressed and troubled. Unfortunately, Philip… More A holiday comedy with dark overtones, Mixed Nuts presents a supposedly humorous look at the behind-the-scenes events at a crisis hotline on Christmas Eve. Philip (Steve Martin) runs Lifesavers, a Venice, California organization dedicated to helping the depressed and troubled. Unfortunately, Philip is a bit down himself, having learned that Lifesavers is on the verge of eviction. His staff isn't feeling particularly helpful either, with Mrs. Munchnik (Madeline Kahn) giving gruff, often insulting advice, and Catherine (Rita Wilson) obsessing over her own unspoken love for Philip. As the holiday approaches, various weirdoes of all shapes and sizes -- from to a pregnant clothing store owner (Juliette Lewis) to a disenchanted Santa Claus (Anthony LaPaglia) -- begin dropping in, throwing the already strained office into utter chaos. Director Nora Ephron followed her smash success Sleepless in Seattle with this remake of the cult 1982 French comedy Le Père Noël est une Ordure, co-authoring the script with her sister Delia Ephron. However, Mixed Nuts met with little box office or critical approval, with most viewers finding the film's manic farce disappointingly forced and abrasive. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 37 min.
Directed By: Nora Ephron
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 21, 1994 Wide
On DVD: Dec 4, 2001
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Director/co-scripter Nora Ephron pitches the humor at a cacophonous level and displays the comedic equivalent of two left feet in evolving an absurdist, slapstick yarn.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
A title song incorporating the names of nut varieties is only one of the film's desperate ploys.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Gag.
Hal Hinson, Washington Post
Is there anything more excruciating than failed farce?
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Every character shines with such dazzling intensity and such inexhaustible comic invention that the movie becomes tiresome, like too many clowns.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A relentlessly hectic, poorly structured farce that falls embarrassingly flat.
Louise Brealey, Empire Magazine
The beginning of Steve Martin's non-funny comedies. Ephron should know better as well.
, Film4
Martin's comedic talents show no signs of life in this truly abysmal adaptation of a superior French farce...
Derek Adams, Time Out
Ephron's timing and sensitivity have deserted her, leaving behind only the sentimentality.
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily
A dreadful, dreary would-be dark comedy.
Brandon Judell, PopcornQ
Quirky, enjoyable comedy with an unknown Parker Posey on roller skates and Adam Sandler being charming in a real minor part.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
Awful -- even worse when you think about the caliber of talent involved
Fred Topel, About.com
Terrible comedy with a few amusing moments. Not dark enough on one end, not silly enough on the other.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Odd, oddly likable little comedy.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
So many nuts, so few laughs
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
Horrible...horrible...horrible!
Phil Villarreal, Arizona Daily Star
Steve Martin can be good, and also very, very bad. This is an example of the latter.

Read all 17 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

Spencer S

Adorable, with Martin, Kahn, and Wilson giving great performances, and a strange cameo from Adam Sandler.
Leigh R

Utter madness...
Sarah P

Although the movie itself was a little weird, I really enjoyed the whole cast. Enjoyable!
Erin C

There were a few funny parts, but it was just too much. Good cast, but it was a pretty lame movie overall.
Sunil J

An okay movie that the amazing cast makes worth your while.
Patrick D

Watching this film every christmas time used to be a tradition with myself, in my lonely preteen years, and I hadn't watched it in years, I found it for cheap and bought it and watched it and still liked it. It's not as amazing and cutting edge as i felt it was then but I… More
Watching this film every christmas time used to be a tradition with myself, in my lonely preteen years, and I hadn't watched it in years, I found it for cheap and bought it and watched it and still liked it. It's not as amazing and cutting edge as i felt it was then but I still appreciate it.