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
Movie Reviews by Berge Garabedian