Who is Cletis Tout? (2002)

23% of critics liked it
(56 reviews)
48% of users liked it
(2,312 ratings)

Standup comedian turned director Chris Ver Weil makes his debut with this wild and woolly romantic comedy cum noir crime thriller. The film centers on Trevor Finch (Christian Slater), a master counterfeiter and career con who learns that he has a price on his head from mob hitman Critical Jim (Tim… More Standup comedian turned director Chris Ver Weil makes his debut with this wild and woolly romantic comedy cum noir crime thriller. The film centers on Trevor Finch (Christian Slater), a master counterfeiter and career con who learns that he has a price on his head from mob hitman Critical Jim (Tim Allen). The reason turns out to be a wacky case of mistaken identity -- Finch has assumed the name Cletis Tout, a sleazy, long-dead French muckraker with, it turns out, a criminal history himself. Rewind to 1977, when Micah (Richard Dreyfuss) pulls off a massive diamond heist and buries his booty in a field with the help of his young daughter Tess. Five presidential administrations later, Micah and his cellmate Finch bust out of prison, only to learn from the now-grown Tess (Portia de Rossi) that the diamonds are behind the walls of another newly built prison. Meanwhile, sparks begin to fly between Tess and Finch. This film was screened at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Chris Ver Wiel
Written By: Chris Ver Wiel
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 26, 2002 Wide
On DVD: Jan 7, 2003
Studio: Paramount Classics

Critic Reviews

Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
If you love movies, it's hard not to like Who Is Cletis Tout? or at least smile through it.
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
Quirky, often-fun film.
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post
It's just a little too self-satisfied.
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
Merely a diversion, but clever enough to divert.
Susan Stark, Detroit News
Cletis is playful but highly studied and dependent for its success on a patient viewer.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
While you're watching this creamed-crime caper -- as unnecessarily murky as it is unoriginal -- you may find yourself wondering What is Cletis Tout? When it's finally over, the only question left is Why is Cletis Tout?
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
On the level of the dime-a-dozen Tarantino wannabes that clutter the bottom shelves at the video store.
Jim Lane, Sacramento News & Review
There's a sweetness to it that's disarming and diverting -- mostly thanks to performances of Slater, Richard Dreyfuss as his partner in crime, and Portia Di Rossi as Dreyfuss' daughter.
Arthur Salm, San Diego Union-Tribune
The whole mildly pleasant outing -- the R rating is for brief nudity and a grisly corpse -- remains aloft not on its own self-referential hot air, but on the inspired performance of Tim Allen.
Phil Villarreal, Arizona Daily Star
Overall, Cletis Tout is a winning comedy that excites the imagination and tickles the funny bone.
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
A great idea becomes a not-great movie.

Read all 11 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

Mildly entertaining. Storyline was only ok, but presented in a unique narrative style. Ru Paul's character was unnecesary, and distracting. Doesn't work on every level, but not too bad. Passed away an afternoon for me...
Jim W

Christian Slater stars as a crook who gets a new identity after breaking out of prison. He's given the name Cletis Tout, which turns out to be the name of someone the mob wants dead. While Slater is looking for a box of diamonds that his friend (Ricard Dreyfuss) in prison hid… More
Christian Slater stars as a crook who gets a new identity after breaking out of prison. He's given the name Cletis Tout, which turns out to be the name of someone the mob wants dead. While Slater is looking for a box of diamonds that his friend (Ricard Dreyfuss) in prison hid when he was younger, he gets help from Dreyfuss' daughter (Portia de Rossi). The movie wants to be a smart Get Shorty type of mob comedy, but it never reaches that level. The only reason to watch this movie is for the performances. Believe it or not, but Tim Allen steals the show as a movie loving hit-man. Tim Allen shows here and Redbelt that he's wasted in the crappy family comedies that he usually makes. The guy can actually act and can handle more serious roles. Although, I wouldn't mind seeing him as "Tim the Tool Man Taylor" one more time lol.