Okay, fellow tapeheads, let's rewind to that specific late-90s moment when seeing Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn together on a poster was basically an automatic rental. Their 1999 pairing in The Out-of-Towners wasn't their first rodeo – who could forget the charming friction of Housesitter (1992)? – but tackling a remake of a fairly beloved 1970 Neil Simon comedy felt like a different beast. Could they recapture that magic while navigating the frantic, often cynical energy of a trip-from-hell narrative? Pull up a comfy chair, maybe crack open a Crystal Pepsi if you still have one stashed away (kidding... mostly), and let's revisit this slice of turn-of-the-millennium chaos.
### Murphy's Law Goes to Manhattan
The premise is simple enough, echoing the Neil Simon original: Henry (Steve Martin) and Nancy Clark (Goldie Hawn), empty nesters from sedate Ohio, fly to New York City. He has a crucial job interview; she's hoping to rekindle some marital sparks. What follows isn't just a bad day; it's a catastrophic cascade of urban nightmares. Their flight gets diverted, luggage lost, they're mugged, mistaken for vagrants, and find themselves utterly lost and broke in the unforgiving concrete jungle. It’s the kind of escalating disaster plot that fuels anxiety dreams, but here, it’s played for laughs – mostly.
Director Sam Weisman, who previously wrangled manic energy in films like George of the Jungle (1997), keeps the pace relentless. This isn't subtle character comedy; it's a series of increasingly absurd situations designed to push the Clarks (and the audience) to the brink. We see Steve Martin deploying his signature slow-burn exasperation, the tightly-wound everyman trying desperately to maintain control in a world spiraling away from him. Goldie Hawn, meanwhile, brings her patented blend of bewilderment and surprising resilience, reacting to each new indignity with wide-eyed disbelief that occasionally gives way to frantic action. Their chemistry is undeniable, honed over years, and it's the anchor that keeps the film watchable even when the script (penned by Marc Lawrence, who later directed Miss Congeniality) piles misfortune upon misfortune.
### Big Apple Nightmares, Big Studio Polish
Unlike the gritty, almost cinéma vérité feel of the 1970 original starring Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis, this version boasts the glossy sheen of a late-90s studio comedy. New York City looks vibrant, if perpetually hostile to our protagonists. The comedy often leans heavily on physical set pieces – the disastrous train ride, the escape from muggers that leads to an awkward encounter in Central Park, the frantic search for a usable bathroom. While not relying on explosive practical effects like an action flick, the timing and execution of these comedic sequences feel very much of their time. There's a certain staged quality, a reliance on the performers' physical comedy chops rather than quick cuts or digital trickery to sell the gag.
One sequence that always gets a chuckle is their attempt to check into a swanky hotel, only to encounter the sublimely eccentric and utterly unhelpful hotel manager, Mr. Mersault, played with delightful weirdness by John Cleese. It's a standout cameo, perfectly calibrated to maximize the Clarks' frustration. Cleese, a master of playing characters utterly convinced of their own bizarre logic, is a welcome shot of comedic absurdity. Interestingly, the original Neil Simon script for the 1970 film was reportedly much darker; this remake definitely aims for broader, lighter (though still stressful) laughs.
### Remake Realities and Retro Reflections
Let's be honest, remaking a Neil Simon film, even one not considered his absolute top-tier work, carries expectations. The 1999 Out-of-Towners faced mixed reviews upon release and didn't exactly set the box office on fire (pulling in around $28.6 million domestically against a hefty $60 million budget – roughly $104 million today!). Some critics found it too frantic, too reliant on slapstick compared to the original's sharper character observations. Watching it now, it feels very much like a product of its era – a star-driven vehicle banking on familiar faces navigating predictable, albeit amusingly executed, chaos. The lack of pervasive cell phones or GPS fundamentally changes the nature of being "lost" in a way that feels almost quaint today.
Did you ever rent this expecting pure Housesitter charm and get... well, this delightful stress-fest instead? It’s less about witty banter and more about sheer endurance. Martin’s character, Henry, feels particularly emblematic of that late-90s anxiety about corporate downsizing and maintaining appearances, making his meltdown both funny and faintly pathetic. Hawn’s Nancy gets fewer comedic peaks but provides the necessary heart, reminding Henry (and us) that there’s more to life than the next job interview.
### The VHS Verdict
The Out-of-Towners (1999) isn't a forgotten masterpiece, nor is it the equal of the film it remakes for many purists. However, slipping this tape into the VCR (or, okay, streaming it now) offers a specific kind of comfort food comedy. It’s a chance to see two bona fide movie stars, Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn, bounce off each other with practiced ease amidst escalating pandemonium, punctuated by a brilliantly bizarre John Cleese. The physical comedy feels grounded in a way that much modern CGI-assisted humor doesn't, relying on the performers selling the absurdity. It captures that late-90s studio comedy vibe perfectly – glossy, slightly frantic, and built entirely around its leads.
Rating: 6/10
Justification: The star power and chemistry of Martin and Hawn elevate predictable material. Cleese's cameo is gold. While often overly frantic and less sharp than the original, it delivers enough laughs and relatable travel nightmares to be an enjoyable, if lightweight, watch from the era. The production feels solid, but the script rarely surprises.
Final Thought: It's the cinematic equivalent of that travel story everyone has – maybe not hilarious at the time, but funny (and kinda stressful) to look back on from the comfort of your own couch. Definitely worth it for the leads and a dose of pre-millennium NYC panic.