Tin Men (1987)

79% of critics liked it
(19 reviews)
54% of users liked it
(4,733 ratings)

A nostalgic evocation of a simpler era, and perhaps the best of director Barry Levinson's quartet of Baltimore-based film reminiscences, Tin Men immortalizes a fast-talking, early-1960s breed of salesman who pushed aluminum siding. Danny DeVito and Richard Dreyfuss are two of the titular characters… More A nostalgic evocation of a simpler era, and perhaps the best of director Barry Levinson's quartet of Baltimore-based film reminiscences, Tin Men immortalizes a fast-talking, early-1960s breed of salesman who pushed aluminum siding. Danny DeVito and Richard Dreyfuss are two of the titular characters who, after a minor fender-bender, become mortal enemies -- and competitors. Dreyfuss even goes so far as to cuckold DeVito's wife (Barbara Hershey).

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Barry Levinson
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 6, 1987 Wide
On DVD: Apr 2, 2002

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The period comedy film is a rich character study that offers a ride as smooth as a Coupe de Ville.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Levinson's follow-up to Diner has strong characters, funny dialogue, and terrific ensemble, but the film is dramatically shapeless.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
É curioso: embora se esforce ao máximo para funcionar como comédia, este filme merece créditos por narrar o drama de dois homens de meia-idade frustrados com suas vidas.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Irritating and painful.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Zany and thought-provoking social comedy
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
Primo Levinson. DeVito's rarely been more human, and Dreyfuss is at his funniest.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"Tin Men" takes place in Baltimore, 1963. Minutes after purchasing a brand new Cadillac, successful aluminum siding salesman, BIll 'BB' Babowsky(Richard Dreyfuss), gets into an accident with a rival aluminum siding salesman, Ernest… More
[font=Century Gothic]"Tin Men" takes place in Baltimore, 1963. Minutes after purchasing a brand new Cadillac, successful aluminum siding salesman, BIll 'BB' Babowsky(Richard Dreyfuss), gets into an accident with a rival aluminum siding salesman, Ernest Tilley(Danny Devito), driving his own Cadillac.(I always thought Baltimore was a fairly large city, myself.) Large egos are involved, so vengeance is sworn but since there is an absolute lack of maturity, it's not really in an Old Testament kind of way.(If this was a less civilized time, then dueling would have definitely been an option.) The stakes are raised and this comes to include Tilley's neglected wife, Nora(Barbara Hershey)...[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Writer/director Barry Levinson has a great eye for detail but the story is broadly drawn and hardly believable. For example, Babowsky is nearing middle-age and a bachelor when such things were frowned upon. (I found it hard to believe that in 1963 nobody was talking about starting a family and all of the men seem interested in living a mythic "Rat Pack" kind of lifestyle.) And I have no sympathy for a group of grown men who act like 10-year olds. All of which is a shame because a great supporting cast including John Mahoney, JT Walsh and Seymour Cassel is wasted. Barbara Hershey is by far the best thing in "Tin Men" but she is not in enough of the movie. [/font]