Quick Change (1990)

79% of critics liked it
(28 reviews)
64% of users liked it
(8,328 ratings)

Bill Murray co-directed (along with Howard Franklin) this mixture of The Out-of-Towners and After Hours, concerning Grimm (Bill Murray), a frustrated city planner who is fed up with the corruption and venality of New York City. Getting together a couple of accomplices -- Phyllis (Geena Davis), who… More Bill Murray co-directed (along with Howard Franklin) this mixture of The Out-of-Towners and After Hours, concerning Grimm (Bill Murray), a frustrated city planner who is fed up with the corruption and venality of New York City. Getting together a couple of accomplices -- Phyllis (Geena Davis), who admires Grimm for his audacity, and Loomis (Randy Quaid), a follower to Grimm's leader since grade school -- Grimm decides to rob a bank, pocket the money, get out of town and take off to tropical splendor. Dressing in a clown suit, Grimm devises a unique way to rob a bank -- taking a group of hostages at the bank and inviting the police to surround the bank. Amazingly, although pursued by a police chief (Jason Robards), the trio manage to pull off the robbery. However, the problems really start when they try to get from the bank to the airport -- which proves to be more difficult than the robbery. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 29 min.
Directed By: Bill Murray, Howard Franklin
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 13, 1990 Wide
On DVD: Aug 30, 2005
Studio: Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

, TIME Magazine
[Murray's] glancing, genial sarcasm buoys the action for the first half-hour. Then this caper comedy sinks into a puddle of urban rancor.
Variety Staff, Variety
Neither ambitious nor particularly memorable, but it's brought off with a sly flair that makes it most enjoyable.
Caryn James, New York Times
There is not much in Quick Change that hasn't been anticipated by Neil Simon and beaten to death by countless imitators. Mr. Murray's film is at the worn-out end of this bloodline.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Bill Murray dresses up as a clown to take hostages and rob a New York bank. Funny? Guess again.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Despite the fact that Change lags and lopes along toward an inevitable, trite conclusion, it also leaves itself wide open for funny moments.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
A randomly, raggedly funny look at the personal cost of being one with the hustling, clamorous crowd.
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
Easily a top-five career highlight for Bill Murray, Quick Change is a comedy jewel, squeezing a rare amount of mileage out of its fickle star, who appears atypically invested in the picture's mechanics.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
After piquing our curiosity, Murray and Franklin skillfully let us in on the scheme and slowly reveal the nature of the three characters at the center of it.
, Film4
From the opening scenes with Murray dressed as a clown for the robbery and playing his cynical, wise-cracking card to great effect, to the trio pitting themselves against the whims of New York City, this is breathtaking and inventive stuff.
Steve Crum, Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers
Funny fluff featuring clowns, a bank robbery, and Bill Murray.
Derek Adams, Time Out
Not likely to set the world alight, but a neat and engaging little comedy of bad manners.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Inventively sinister, endlessly hilarious dark comedy.
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com
Amusing comedy with a great, subdued performance by Murray. Runs out of steam too soon, though.

Read all 13 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

A fun filled comedy adventure with great actors, great story, and altogether it's a great movie. I loved it, and if you love Bill Murray you should see this too.
Anthony L

A classic comedy, it?s silly but very entertaining
Jason S

Man, this has some great stuff in it. I really thought this was a smart comedy that pushed the line in terms of the things these people have to go to to get out of the city.
xGary X

Likeable heist movie made in Bill Murray's transitional period between comic and character actor. Clever with some good laughs and Murray is his enjoyably sardonic self
Steve K

I adored this movie before I moved to NYC, I adored it even more after having lived there. Bill Murray at the top of of his game.
RJ M

The last movie to show Bill Murray at his wisecracking best. After robbing a bank dressed as a clown, Murray and his accomplices run in to every problem imaginable trying to get out of the city before the police catch them. Tons of great supporting characters led by Geena Davis as the… More
The last movie to show Bill Murray at his wisecracking best. After robbing a bank dressed as a clown, Murray and his accomplices run in to every problem imaginable trying to get out of the city before the police catch them. Tons of great supporting characters led by Geena Davis as the girlfriend, Randy Quaid as the bumbling best friend, and Jason Robards as the dogged police captain. A major standout in a small role is Philip Bosco as a rules obsessed bus driver. His part is only a few minutes long, but he's a highlight of the movie. The movie allows Murray to deliver wry lines as only he could. How he and his partners get into the situations they do, is only outdone by how they get out of them. It's a hysterical movie that I only wish Bill Murray would have made more of.
Barry L

Bill Murray at his best.

Read all 7 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Bill Murray as Grimm

            Geena Davis as Phyllis

            Randy Quaid as Loomis

            Jason Robards as Chief Rotzinger

            Bob Elliott as Bank Guard

            Philip Bosco as Lou

            Tony Shalhoub as Cab Driver

            Kimberleigh Aarn as Bank Teller

            Victor Argo as Skelton

            Sam Ayers as ESU Commander

            Teodorino Bello as Flower Lady

            Susannah Bianchi as Lombino("Mrs. Russ Crane")

            Anthony Bishop as Street Sign Worker

            Jordan Cael as Hostage

            Reg E. Cathey as Sound Analyst

            Rhe De Ville as Hostage

            Marya D. Dornya as Hostage

            Barbara Flynn as Hostage

            Jack Gilpin as Yuppie Hostage

            Garry Goodrow as Radio DJ

            Dale Grand as Street Barker

            Elizabeth A. Griffin as Hostage

            Kathryn Grody as Mrs. Edison

            Tim Halligan as Reporter

            Bobby Harrigan as Fat Person

            Barton Heyman as Airport Security Chief

            Paul Herman as Interrogating Policeman

            Connie Ivie as Hostage

            Deborah Lee Johnson as Reporter

            Larry Joshua as Street Sign Worker

            Gary Howard Klar as Mario

            Michelle Lucien as Shut-Up Lady

            Skipp Lynch as Hostage

            Michael C. Mahon as Policeman at Grocery

            Frank Maldonado as Kids at Grocery

            Brian McConnachie as Bank Manager

            Davenia McFadden as Policewoman

            Randle Mell as TV Reporter

            Ryan Mitchell as Kids at Grocery

            J.D. Montalbo as Hostage

            Suzen Murakoshi as Hostage

            Alfa-Betty Olsen as Customer

            Anthony T. Paige as Hostage

            Stephen Park as Grocery Cashier

            Richard Joseph Paul as Lt. Jameson

            Joe Pentangelo as Policeman

            Justin Ross as Airline Clerk

            Stuart Rudin as Bus Rider with Guitar

            Ron Ryan as Bank Customer

            Elliott Santiago as Bicycle Jouster

            Jamey Sheridan as Mugger

            Jane Carol Simms as Hostage

            Manny Silverio as Bicycle Jouster

            Margo Skinner as Flight Attendant

            Kurtwood Smith as Lombino/"Russ Crane"

            William Sturgis as Forensic Detective

            Wendell Sweda as Hostage

            Stanley Tucci as Johnny

            Angel Vargas as Hostage

            Lucia Vincent as Reporter

            Jim Ward as Police Artist

            Ira Wheeler as Businessman In Men's Room

            Michael Chapman as Policeman at Grocery

            Frank Ferrara
            
            Phil Hartman as Mr. Edison

            Bill Raymond as Policeman
See full cast