Moon Over Parador (1988)

42% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
40% of users liked it
(2,560 ratings)

Jack Noah (Richard Dreyfuss) is all actor: Self-possessed, obsessive, vulnerable, and an addict for praise, his soul burns with "the craft." Having just finished a grade-Z straight-to-cable crime thriller in the fictional South American country of Parador, he gets the ultimate acting challenge… More Jack Noah (Richard Dreyfuss) is all actor: Self-possessed, obsessive, vulnerable, and an addict for praise, his soul burns with "the craft." Having just finished a grade-Z straight-to-cable crime thriller in the fictional South American country of Parador, he gets the ultimate acting challenge (though it's more like an offer he can't refuse) from Roberto Strausman (Raul Julia), the Paradorian dictator's chief advisor. The challenge: impersonate the country's dictator, whose just died. Strausman knows just how to manipulate Noah: He takes him to a meat locker, shows him the director's body (actually Dreyfuss' brother, Lorin), threatens to kill him, and he brings clips of Noah's best reviews. Thus enticed, and bearing a striking resemblance to the man, Noah accepts the job. Under the exacting direction of Strausman, he follows the script precisely. Noah immediately enjoys the job's perks, not least of which is the dictator's scorching mistress, Madonna (Sonia Braga), but of course cannot conceal his real identity to her. A close call with Parador's revolutionaries and Madonna's brimming social conscience push Noah to take command of the role. He starts pushing a kinder, gentler social agenda, and incurs Strausman's wrath. It begins to look like Noah will play the dictator's last act, but a chance meeting with a stunt man friend (Michael Greene) inspires a caper that will change all of the characters' fates. ~ Nick Sambides, Jr., Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 44 min.
Directed By: Paul Mazursky
Written By: Paul Mazursky
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 9, 1988 Wide
On DVD: Aug 3, 2004
Studio: MCA Universal Home Video

Critic Reviews

Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Misfire comedy starring Dreyfuss, directed by Mazursky.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Dreyfuss at his usual, amusing best
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A mediocre and lackluster comedy with Jonathan Winters providing the only funny moments.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Not really good, but the spectacle of Mazursky in drag almost makes up for it.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Dreyfuss tries hard ... and almost saves the whole darn thing.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

No, Parador isn't a real country, but that just means that this could be any country. The story is only somewhat realistic, but it's very funny, and entertaining. I really liked it.
xGary X

Mildly amusing comedy that's a cross between Bananas and Dave. Dreyfus is likeable enough, but it lacks bite and invariably falls back on weak farce and slapstick. OK though.
Dean M

This variation on <i>The Prisoner of Zenda</i> has Dreyfuss as a terrible actor agreeing to impersonate the dead ruler of a tinpot Caribbean country. Despite being fitfully amusing, that feeling déjà vu is never far away.
Leo L

Great movie! Sonia Braga ultimately shines!

Cast

            Richard Dreyfuss as Jack Noah

            Raul Julia as Roberto Strausmann

            Sonia Braga as Madonna

            Jonathan Winters as Ralph

            Fernando Rey as Alejandro

            Sammy Davis Jr. as Himself

            Michael Greene as Clint

            Polly Holliday as Midge

            Milton Gonçalves as Carlo

            Charo as Madame Loop

            Marianne Sägebrecht as Magda

            Reinhard Kolldehoff as Gunther

            Richard Russell Ramos as Dieter Lopez

            José Lewgoy as Archbishop

            Dann Florek as Toby

            Roger Aaron Brown as Desmond

            Dana Delany as Jenny

            Dick Cavett as Himself

            Ike Pappas as Himself

            Edward Asner as Himself

            David Cale as Edgar Low

            Ariel Coelho as Paulo

            Betsy Mazursky as Woman at Buffet

            Rod McCary as Gordon Boyd

            Nildo Parente as Gray Man

            Nelson Xavier as Gen. Sinaldo

            John C. Broderick as Director

            Lorin Dreyfuss as 1st Dictator

            Jill Mazursky Cody as Assistant Director

            Bianca Rossini as Tilde

            Reuven Bar-Yotam as Menachem Fein

            Nika Bonfim as Carmen

            Vera Buono as Nightclub Singer

            Ursula Cantu as Showgirl

            Regina Casé as Clara

            Catalano as Family Member

            Jorge Cherques as Family Member

            Renato Coutinho as Family Member

            Nina Fineman as Casting Secretary

            Carlotta Gerson as Momma

            Giovanna Gold as Carnival Girl

            Guará Rodrigues as Bearded Man

            Mario Guimaraes as Umberto Solar

            Patricio Guzmán as Family Member

            Guilherme Karan as Forte

            Lutero Luiz as Samuel

            Lora Milligan as Alice

            Rui Resende as Man on the Beach

            Helio Souto as Family Member

            Carlos Augusto Strazzer as Drunk on Street

            Flávio R. Tambellini as Dante Guzman

            Neville de Almeida as Family Member
See full cast