TRIAL AND ERROR

US, 1997, 98 minutes, Colour.
Michael Richards, Jeff Daniels, Charlize Theron, Jessica Steen, Austin Pendleton, Rip Torn.
Directed by Jonathan Lynn.

Trial and Error is an amusing comedy. Jeff Daniels is a lawyer, caught up in a problem case in the outback of Nevada, just before his wedding to the boss’s daughter. Michael Richards plays his friend, a would-be actor who arranges a party out in Nevada for the prospective groom. Charlize Theron works at the bar and serves her own Manhattan which has grave consequences for the trial – with Richards having to take the place of the lawyer and improvise, sometimes with help, sometimes without. Jessica Steen is his opposition as prosecutor. Austin Pendleton is the judge, Rip Torn is the conman who is on trial. Jennifer Coolidge has a cameo role as a health expert giving testimony.

The film has many amusing moments – and is a satisfyingly easy entertainment. It was directed by British Jonathan Lynn who wrote so many of the episodes and directed Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister. He went to the United States where he has had quite a long career with a mixture of films from My Cousin Vinnie to Sergeant Bilko.

1. An entertaining comedy? American style?

2. Los Angeles settings, Nevada, the desert, the desert town? Hotels, caravans, the courtrooms? The musical score?

3. The humour of the title and its reference to the trial?

4. Charlie Tuttle, his new office, promotions, at the beck and call of the boss, marrying the boss’s daughter, her hard attitude, the preparations? His friendship with Ricky? Their discussions? The party? Charlie having to go to Nevada, Ricky and his friends going, preparing the party? Charlie and his agreeing, the Manhattan, the encounter with Billie? His collapse, his fighting with the two men at the juke box? Taking the extra pills? His not being able to go to the court? Ricky stepping in? Changed identities? His trying to cope, being the assistant, intervening, the reaction of the prosecutor and the judge? His growing exasperation with Ricky? Ricky and the cross-examination, going beyond his brief? Charlie and his worries, intervention, going berserk, being ousted from the court? In the roof, his fall? His chatting with Billie? Going for the drive? Instead of supplying the answers by tooting his horn? Discovering Billie’s life, friendship? The relationship? The winning of the case? The arrival of Tiffany? His being compromised? His not leaving with her, going to Billie? The happy ending?

5. Ricky, Michael Richards’ comedy style? As a foil for Jeff Daniels and Jeff Daniels as the straight man for him? His audition and the Mafia re-enactment? The physical humour? In the office, the boss not liking him? Tiffany not liking him? Going to Nevada, the party? Going into the court, the simple continuance and its being refused? His having to cope, improvising, acting, the comedy of his cross-examinations, his ignorance, Charlie trying to help him, his going beyond? Watching the TV lawyer and imitating him? The cross-examination of the witnesses? Getting the doctor and her inexperience? The young man and his experience and lack of it? His interactions with Elizabeth at the bar, discovering she was the prosecutor? Their interactions? The judge’s reactions? His continuing the case, intervening, Charlie thrown out, managing by himself? Putting Ben on the stand, his sob story and people weeping? Finally not believing it? The possibility of the plea bargain, Elizabeth’s intervention? Telling the story of the man who was robbed? Ricky going into the court, his plain speech, leaving it to the jury? The conviction? Going off with Elizabeth?

6. Benny, Rip Torn’s comic style, the complete conman, self-confidence, presumptions, his crime of selling the dime for seventeen dollars? In the court, his expectations, the plea bargain? His sob story on the stand?

7. Billie, attractive, her story, working in the bar, the caravan, helping Charlie, talk, falling in love, her disappointment with Tiffany, managing, the happy ending?

8. Elizabeth, exasperation as the prosecutor, her reaction to Ricky at the bar? The handling of the case, her breaking out? The final discussion and Ricky’s behaviour at the final session? Going off with him on the bike?

9. Tiffany, the obnoxious spoilt and wealthy wife?

10. The comic touches, the judge and his remarks, Jacqueline Turreau and her talk about health, her analysis of Elizabeth’s condition? The young man who was the psychiatrist?

11. Popular ingredients – pleasantly done?