The Master of Disguise (2002)

2% of critics liked it
(99 reviews)
38% of users liked it
(56,019 ratings)

Dana Carvey ventures into the world of PG-rated, family-oriented entertainment as star and co-writer of this light adventure comedy, which requires the actor to assume more than three dozen different identities. Carvey's primary role in Master of Disguise, however, is that of Pistachio Disguisey, an… More Dana Carvey ventures into the world of PG-rated, family-oriented entertainment as star and co-writer of this light adventure comedy, which requires the actor to assume more than three dozen different identities. Carvey's primary role in Master of Disguise, however, is that of Pistachio Disguisey, an ordinary waiter with a hidden, mostly untapped talent for transforming himself into any persona he wishes. When his kindly parents, Mama (Edie McClurg) and Frabbrizio (James Brolin), are kidnapped by the evil thief Devlin (Brent Spiner), the usually meek Pistachio is forced to rescue them. Enlisting the help of his grandfather (Harold Gould), Pistachio learns that he is one of a long line of family members to have the power of "Energico," a mystical means of changing one's identity to suit any given situation, and Pistachio learns to use these powers to their fullest to defeat Devlin and win back his folks. Carvey's original idea for Master of Disguise was helped to the screen by executive producer Adam Sandler, a buddy of his from their time on NBC's Saturday Night Live. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 20 min.
Directed By: Perry Andelin Blake
Written By: Dana Carvey, Harris Goldberg
Genres: Comedy, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Aug 2, 2002 Wide
On DVD: Jan 28, 2003
Studio: Columbia Pictures

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
George W. Bush in the flesh would have been much funnier than this movie's impersonation.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
In just over a minute you can see everything that's wrong with this one-joke farce.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
An awful, stillborn comedy assembled out of rusty spare parts from secret agent movies and run-of-the-mill Saturday Night Live skits.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
If The Master of Disguise had been a free cable movie -- well, I still wouldn't have recommended it.
Jack Mathews, New York Daily News
The film contains no good jokes, no good scenes, barely a moment when Carvey's Saturday Night Live-honed mimicry rises above the level of embarrassment.
Claudia Puig, USA Today
Lacking even a hint of humor or a watchable story, Disguise has distinguished itself as the summer's worst movie.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
A messy disappointment for Dana Carvey fans.
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
This is a bad flick that will appeal mostly to kids ranging from ages 5-11, but adults will leave halfway through. I found it almost tolerable.
, Film4
This misfiring disaster shows just how over-estimated Carvey's writing and acting talent has been.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
... Mike Myers has already milked this type of gag-dense character comedy bone dry.
Derek Adams, Time Out
There follows a fusillade of farts, dud sight gags and inconsequential butt jokes.
Martin Scribbs, Low IQ Canadian
Master of Disguise may be a real hoot, if you're under 10 years old, or drunk, or both. Not a bad time-waster on a rainy Sunday, but a time-waster nonetheless.
Andrew Manning, Radio Free Entertainment
It is virtually impossible to watch The Master of Disguise and not feel embarrassed for stars Dana Carvey, Jennifer Esposito, and Brent Spiner.
Nick Rogers, State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL)
In the end, Dana Carvey is left wishing he could disguise himself as Mike Myers, or himself circa 1986. At least then, he would be funny again.
Alan Morrison, Empire Magazine
The worst film ever made: a film about idiots, made by idiots, for idiots.
Jim Shelby, Palo Alto Weekly
The fart jokes get the biggest laughs.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
...Occasional moments of Carvey genius (many of which are seen in the trailer) sprinkled sparsely throughout a senseless, leaden production...
Ian Waldron-Mantgani, UK Critic
It is cut with all the precision and timing of an irritating kids' TV show, with kids themselves in charge of the production, and their pets operating the equipment.
Philip French, Guardian [UK]
In the dire The Master of Disguise, Carvey is seen to maximum disadvantage as a dim-witted Italian-American waiter whose family have an inherited gift for turning themselves into anyone from Bo Derek to George Bush.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
This is a serious contender for the title of The Worst Film Ever Made.

Read all 24 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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

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Featured Audience Ratings

Lucas M

The Master of Disguise is really the master. He use the disguise of a funny movie, but is just a sad way to lose time. Rotten.
Thomas B

Yeah. No. Full review later.
Matt G

It had his moments, but overall fails as a comedy. Grade: C-
Film C

I did like this movie, it is a stupid movie with no real point to the storyline but i have to say it does make you laugh the different characters he gets disguised as is funny and i have to say the best character is turtle man he is soo hilarious we were reciting it weeks after the… More
I did like this movie, it is a stupid movie with no real point to the storyline but i have to say it does make you laugh the different characters he gets disguised as is funny and i have to say the best character is turtle man he is soo hilarious we were reciting it weeks after the movie so it is a film to watch but only if you just want a silly movie to easily follow and cheer you up!
Summer W

overall pretty awful, but I'll give it a decent review for Dana Carvey's impression of Robert Shaw alone.
Lafe F

The opening title song keeps telling us "This Is Gonna Be Fun" - maybe they're trying to hypnotize us into thinking it's a good movie. It's not. I enjoyed it for its badness. Dana Carvey plays "Pistachio", the son of a great Italian disuise… More
The opening title song keeps telling us "This Is Gonna Be Fun" - maybe they're trying to hypnotize us into thinking it's a good movie. It's not. I enjoyed it for its badness. Dana Carvey plays "Pistachio", the son of a great Italian disuise master, with some of his fathers' talent. Pistachio dons some super corny disguises to get the girl he wants, and outsmart some gangsters led by Brent Spiner (Commander Data of Star Trek: The Next Generation). I liked the Turtle disguise the most. Everything is so dorky and corny. Smell the cheese and savor it.
Kalel J

Idiotic, unfunny, and annoyingly ridiculous and over-the-top The Master of Disguise is a waste of the time of it's creators and it's audience. It is obvious that Dana Carvey is a man with a lot of improvisational talent but his humour is wasted on witless antics and will… More
Idiotic, unfunny, and annoyingly ridiculous and over-the-top The Master of Disguise is a waste of the time of it's creators and it's audience. It is obvious that Dana Carvey is a man with a lot of improvisational talent but his humour is wasted on witless antics and will leave the viewer looking back to his only good film. It's a shame that this film was made, it really is, because it is one of those comedies that really has no potential. I was going to be kind to this and give it extra marks for it's mock of the Exorcist and Jaws but by the end of this film not even a transformation of Carvey into a bee could sweeten the sour taste left in my mouth.
Andy S

This movie tries a bit too hard to be funny. Even more unfortunate, it seems to have had its humor aimed squarely at 5-year-olds, and comes across as extremely dumb in the process. There is ONE genuinely funny moment, but even tis comes across as contrived and more of a laugh-at than… More
This movie tries a bit too hard to be funny. Even more unfortunate, it seems to have had its humor aimed squarely at 5-year-olds, and comes across as extremely dumb in the process. There is ONE genuinely funny moment, but even tis comes across as contrived and more of a laugh-at than a laugh-with moment.
Byron B

Stupid humor throughout.
Burger S

Turtle turtle.
Naughtia N

Dana Carvey (also known from Wayne's World) plays the Master of Disguise in this movie. He always finds himself mimicing other people and when he finds out that his father has been the master of disguise he decides to follow his father's footsteps. I thought this movie was… More
Dana Carvey (also known from Wayne's World) plays the Master of Disguise in this movie. He always finds himself mimicing other people and when he finds out that his father has been the master of disguise he decides to follow his father's footsteps. I thought this movie was ok, not very good because it was a little too goofy for my taste.
Yinalí R

I loved this moviee!!!! So funny!!!
Andrew F

I used to like it, I don't know why.
Brett W

R.I.P Dana Carvey.
Jim W

When promoting the movie Dana Carvey tried saying this was gonna be way funnier than a Austin Powers film. However the word funny shouldn't even be used to describe the movie. It's an unfunny and stupid mess.
Leo L

Hilarious!
Isaac H

Funny, clever, but not a great movie. A little weird, and not long enough.