MOUSE HUNT
RATING: 6.5 / 10 --> So-so

                   
Review Date:             May 18, 1998
Director:                    Gore Verbinski
Writer:                      Adam Rifkin
Producers:                 Bruce Cohen, Tony Ludwig and Alan Riche
Actors:                      Nathan Lane as Ernie Smuntz
                                Lee Evans as Lars Smuntz
                                Christopher Walken as Caesar   
Genre:                       Children's Comedy
Year of Release:       1997

This children's picture melds the comedic spirit of the original HOME ALONE (7.5/10) picture, with the style and darkness of the ADDAMS FAMILY movies.

PLOT:
Two unique brothers inherit a historically rich mansion from their dying father. After valuing the house at over a million dollars, they decide to hold an auction at which all interested parties could bid. Unfortunately for them, there is one feisty little mouse in the house that does not want to let anyone rest in peace. Mayhem ensues.

CRITIQUE:
Mostly enjoyable but redundant picture that pits two brothers against the dynamic smarts of a two-inch mouse. This movie had many funny moments, as well as many not-so-funny ones. Kids under ten should enjoy this picture whole-heartedly, while all others might meander between the "hit" and "miss" classifications. I guess it all depends on how interested you are in seeing the hundreds of different ways that a tiny mouse could frustrate two grown men. I personally was never really bored during the entire picture, so I guess that's a pretty good sign.

Also, one of my favourite actors, Christopher Walken, makes an incredible cameo as the "exterminator from hell" who owns every single device known to man to deal with this defiant rodent. His fate is a pretty slick sequence to behold. Other than that, not too many scenes stick out in my mind, but the style of the picture is very cool and Coen-esque. It's also very dark and colorless, unlike a lot of other children's movies. This is an aspect that I embrace in pictures, but you might not.

The actors are all fine in their roles, while the mouse also pulls off an overall authentic vibe throughout the entire movie. All in all, I guess that if you're in the mood to laugh at some morons getting tricked by a cute mouse, this is your nacho plate for the night. If not, skip this puppy and rent THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (8/10) for some real kid's dark, spooky fun.

Little Known Facts:
Christopher Walken's real name is Ronald Walken (I wonder why he changed it? :)). He was born in Queens, New York, in 1943, and has been married to the same woman since 1969, Georgianne Walken. He won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in 1978's DEER HUNTER (7.5/10).
Ernie (Nathan Lane) greets Maury (Ernie Sabella) at the auction by saying "Hakuna Matada", a reference to Lane and Sabella's roles in the animated children's feature, THE LION KING (7.5/10).
Gore Verbinski was a TV commercial director before hitting the feature-film realm. He directed the first "Budweiser Frogs" commercial.
Nathan Lane's real name is Joe Lane. He was born in New Jersey in 1956.
Lee Evans was born in Avonmouth, England.

(c) 1998 Berge Garabedian

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