CRAZY ON THE OUTSIDE

US, 2010, 96 minutes. Colour.
Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Jean Tripplehorn, J.K. Simmons, Ray Liotta, Kelsey Grammer.
Directed by Tim Allen.

Since television’s Home Improvement and a series of movie comedies including the Santa Clause films, Tim Allen has appeared in many a comedy. As he does here, but he also directs. He also gathers a strong cast around him.

The pun of the title refers to his character, Tom Zelda, getting out of prison as the film opens. He is a little crazy but he finds life on the outside much crazier. This is the case with his sister, Viki (Sigourney Weaver enjoying herself) who has made up stories to explain Tom’s time inside: that he has been in France and has a fiancée, Simone, who is an astronaut. These are not the only stories she invents throughout the film, much of it so that their Gran will not be shocked and have a heart turn. Viki has the final funny last line of the film in response to Gran’s being told the truth at last.

Tom has been inside for DVD piracy (quite a topical theme for a film) and done time for his boss, Ray Liotta doing is usual. Should he go back or not?
Then there is his tough probation officer, Angela (Jeanne Triplehorn) who has a matchmaking son, Ethan.

It’s a bit a succession of sitcom episodes: work at the Pirate Burger franchise – along with two dopey ex cons with whom he sets up a house-painting partnership. There is also his ex-girlfriend whom Viki told him was dead, and her boyfriend (a cameo by Kelsey Grammar).

It’s pleasantly amusing in an undemanding way.


1. The pun in the title, setting the tone?

2. Tim Allen’s work, direction, performance? The strong supporting cast?

3. The Los Angeles settings, homes, the piracy industry, the burger joints, probation officers, prison? Realism? The musical score?

4. The humour, Tom and his imagination, imagining dire reactions to critics? His irony, the wisecracks? His mad family, the white lies and their consequences, Gran and her illness, the comic sidekick crooks?

5. The serious side of the film, the real criminals and piracy, the Chinese connections, the million-dollar-making industry? The picture of prison? The future for those coming out of prison, difficulties in getting jobs, keeping them? Family reactions? Crime and choices?

6. Tom and his character, getting out of prison, Viki arriving late, waiting, going home with her, her apology for her excuse and lie? Gran and her welcoming him home? The revelation that she had been told that he was in France, working at an arts centre? To save her having a heart attack? Ed, his sardonic remarks, the kids, their reaction to Tom? The meals, waiting for Tom? Going to the probation officer? Pushing Ethan off his skateboard? Angela’s son? His clashes with Angela, her condescending language and his responses? Going to work in the pirate (**OR Pirate?) burger, the two criminals and their banter, the boss and his desperation? The dead-end job? Chatting? Seeing Christy, following her, her not being dead as Viki said? The sexual encounter? Her relationship with Frank – and seeing Frank and his advertising on the television? Engagement? Tom hurt? His being abducted, the revelation that it was Gray and his piracy colleagues? The welcome, from the staff? The offering of new opportunities? Gray grateful that Tom had taken the fall? Tom and his wanting to paint, getting his father’s truck? Painting Angela’s house and the upset? Ethan and his matchmaking? The judge, the painting and its success? The criminals stealing the ring? The police, the arrest, in prison, Gray getting him out? Going to get the crooks, to get the ring back? Ethan and his visiting Viki, Viki and her lie, Tom and his change of heart, going with Gray, almost on the plane? Leaving because Ethan was lost? Angela’s upset? Ethan and his urging her to apologise? Their going to meet Viki and the family? The gradual comfortable attitude of Angela towards Tom, revealing her life?

7. Viki and Sigourney Weaver in a comic role, her energy, the ball game lie about being late, Tom being in France, at the art gallery, his engagement to Simone, her being an astronaut, having to kill her off, Gran’s grief at this death? Saying that Christy had died? Saying that Angela was a grief counsellor? Angela’s call – and the revelation of the truth and Viki’s final exclamation of disbelief that Tom had been in prison? Ed, sardonic, the meals, waiting, his love for Viki, the kids, their sport, playing along about France?

8. France, Gran and her heart, learning the language, talking French, Tom not understanding? The grief counsellor? Her shock at the truth?

9. Angela and Ethan, Angela’s work, her conman husband, Ethan and his matchmaking? Getting Tom to deliver the burgers, the job, the meeting, going to the game, talking, painting the empty house? Going to the judge, success? The episode of the ring, her anger? Ethan as a kid, going to see Viki, the happy ending?

10. Gray, Ray Liotta-style criminal, piracy?

11. Christy, fickle, her relationship with Frank, the fight with Tom, the frozen vegetables for the injury? The issue of the ring?

12. Comedy and the credibility of characters, especially Tom and his decision to go back to work for Gray?

13. A feature-length sitcom?