THE WHOLE NINE YARDS
US, 2000, 98 minutes, Colour.
Bruce Willis, Matthew Perry, Rosanna Arquette, Michael Clarke Duncan, Natasha Henstridge, Amanda Peet, Kevin Pollak.
Directed by Jonathan Lynn.
The Whole Nine Yards is an ironic comedy, played broadly but simply. It focuses on a dentist with an extraordinarily shrewish wife (Matthew Perry and Rosanna Arquette). She has got a contract out on him, even though he is paying off her criminal father's debts. Amanda Peet works as the dentist's assistant, but in fact is a hit woman. When Jimmy Tulip, a released hit man, moves in next door to the dentist, many complications arise. There are many farcical moments, amusing one-liners, some double-takes on the part of Matthew Perry. There are also some hard aspects of the film, especially the confrontation between the gangsters and the hit man. However, the lightness of touch makes it an enjoyable caper. The film had a sequel, The Whole Ten Yards, 2004.
Direction is by British Jonathan Lynn, responsible for the series Yes, Minister as well as Nuns on the Run. However, his career as a director in the United States was fairly average: The Distinguished Gentleman, My Cousin Vinnie, Sergeant Bilko, Greedy.
1. An entertaining comedy? Serious underlying themes but ironically and broadly played?
2. The Montreal settings, the Americans in Montreal? The contrast with Chicago and the gangsters?
3. The focus on Oz, his work as a dentist, his skills, his telling his life story: his work, his marriage to Sophie, his mother-in-law, his father-in-law and partnership, gambling, debts? His being bound to his wife? Her disdain of him? The adulation of Jill, his assistant? His friendliness to Jimmy and his moving in, recognising him as the killer, his nervousness and this controlling his behaviour? Sophie persuading him to go to Chicago, his meeting with Frankie and being punched out, being taken to the boss? His having to confess where Jimmy was hiding? The encounter with Cynthia and his attraction towards her? His phoning Jimmy to tell him what had happened? His being reassured? The discussions with Cynthia, the sexual encounter, his being transformed? Going back to Montreal, the preparation for the set-up, finding that Frankie was working for Jimmy? His wife's absence in Niagara Falls? His discussions with Jill, her wanting to meet Jimmy, their hitting it off, her ambitions to be a killer? The revelation that she had been hired by Sophie? The plan for the boss, his infiltrating the house, the confrontation, the shootings? The irony of the agent being hired by Sophie and coming at the same time, his death? The danger for Oz and Cynthia, the ten million dollars? Oz and his plan, changing the dental features, making Jimmy dead? The meeting, Cynthia and her decision about the money? Oz on the boat, Frankie and the threat, Jimmy shooting Frankie? And the happy ending? Oz and his bewilderment, his happiness with Cynthia, marrying? Matthew Perry's skill in doing the double-takes and fear of the bewildered dentist?
4. Bruce Willis as the contract killer, his reputation, moving in, the deadpan way of talking, a principled killer? His plan to get the boss to Montreal and kill him? Using Frankie? Using Oz? The tour of the city with Oz? Hearing about Sophie? Sophie's visit and his disdain? The meeting with Jill, the discussions, her knowledge about his cases, their hitting it off? Her participation in the plan? His wanting the ten million dollars, his objectivity about whom he killed, agreeing to Oz's plan for the teeth, on the boat, the decision to shoot Frankie because he would hold his softness over him and come after him? The happy ending with Jill?
5. Sophie, the shrew, her tormenting Oz, wanting more money, her mother? Going to Niagara Falls, having hired Jill and failed, hiring the hit man, their sexual encounter, taking him to Montreal, his being on the lawn and shot? Her being imprisoned? The lawyers not wanting to deal with the mother?
6. Jill, her liking Oz, wanting to help him mature? To leave Sophie? Meeting Jimmy, the dinner, the discussions, her sexual allure during the confrontations? Her taking Cynthia to the bank, getting the right answer, the happy ending with Jimmy?
7. Cynthia, with the gangsters, her being pressurised, their wanting the ten million dollars? Discussions with Oz, the sexual experience, his falling in love with her? His wanting to warn her, her coming to Montreal, the danger? Going to the bank, Jill asking her whether she really loved Oz and could give up the money? Her agreeing to give up the money, getting a million dollars as a present, marrying Oz?
8. The gangsters, the manner of speaking, clever but dumb, the muscle, Frankie and his being a double agent? Their arrival in Montreal, getting into the house, their being killed? Frankie and his friendship with Jimmy, yet prepared to kill him? No honour among thieves?
9. The popularity of this kind of amoral and ironic comedy?
