THE WRONG GUYS
US, 1988, 86 minutes, Colour.
Richard Lewis, Richard Belsen, Louis Anderson, Tim Thomerson, Franklin Ajaye, John Goodman, Ernie Hudson, Timothy Van Patten.
Directed by Danny Bilson.
The Wrong Guys is a small-budget comedy, relying on the talents of stand-up and TV comics including Louis Anderson, Richard Lewis, Franklin Ajaye. The film also has a fine comic performance from John Goodman (Roseanne as well as films like True Stories, Raising Arizona, Punchline).
The film shows boys in a scout troop in 1961, as well as the Grunski brothers who torment them. 25 or more years later, Louis decides that it is time for a reunion. They all arrive, the glimpses of their subsequent lives are indicated, the Grunski brothers turn up - and they are all menaced by an escaped convict and his gang. Goodman is the convict with the Bogart style, named Duke Earle.
It is all filmed in beautiful Wyoming mountain country ? and while the plot is corny and predictable, the vitality of the stars and the filming of even obvious jokes is entertaining.
The finale is a great boost for the scout movement in America. Slight but entertaining.
1. Enjoyable comedy? Piece of Americana? The scouts? The wilderness? American criminals? A nice blend?
2. The use of Wyoming wilderness photography, the beauty of the forests and the mountains? As part of the plot? The contrast with the styles of the various characters and their lives? The musical score?
3. The title, the reference to the group, amongst themselves, changing from when they were children, not the F.B.I., Duke's attack on them?
4. The sequences of the boys in childhood: establishing each of the characters, Louis as fat leader, Richard as needing a psychiatrist, his arguing with himself, the dollar note and the noose and being caught by the Grunski brothers; Bill and his eyeing off Louis' sister, Tim and his robustness, Franklin and his patter? Their mothers? The Grunski brothers and their annoying people, on their bikes, the peashooter, etc? The fading of the children and their growing up?
5. Each of the characters as adults and the similarity with their childhood: Louis still at home with his mother, getting fatter? Richard and his neurosis as a doctor, arguing, his phobias? Tim and his rugged life, the surfer, girlfriend? Franklin and his smooth talk on the radio station? Bill and his clothes design, putting belts on his models to highlight their figure? The quick establishing of each of the characters?
6. The establishing of Duke and his gang and their escape from jail, in the wilderness?
7. The reunion, their all arriving, Louis' mother? Wanting to go home? Louis and his hiring all the equipment, the rousing of their spirit, each with his characteristic reaction? Carrying everything out into the wilderness, camping, the disasters with the tent, with the pegs, with the axe, the folding bed? The night, the friendship amongst them, remembering their old spirit, clashes as well as reconciliations? Tim and Bill going off to the women's centre, talking with the women, getting their comeuppance, having to run away dressed in the women's dressing-gowns? Louis and Richard and their walking, the discovery of the criminals, the legend of one-armed Pete and Franklin's fear, the pill and his sleeping through Duke's destroying the camp? The destruction of the camp and their deciding what they would do? The arrival of the Grunski brothers?
8. Duke and his gang, in the forest, going to his uncle's hut? The injury of the young man, the clash between Watson and Duke, the fights? Duke going out and shooting things up? Thinking the campers were the F.B.I?
9. The Grunski brothers, their car, seeing the campers, their picnic and littering, the clash with the squirrel and the squirrel winning? Taking the engine? The clash with the campers, wanting the engine? Its falling on Duke? Joining the group, being sworn in as part of the cubs? Their sense of honour? Duke pursuing them?
10. The pursuit, in the wilds, the shooting, the making of the raft, going down the water, Duke emerging from the water, Tin, going over the waterfall as doing the waves? His use of the medal, ringing the F.B.I., ringing their mothers? Their mothers coming to rescue them? Their using the dollar and noose trick on Duke, but the squirrel helping him free?
11. Heroes, the F.B.I. arriving, the newspapers and photos, the scout troop and the pinning of the highest medal on each of them ? with their characteristic reaction?
12. A good-natured piece of Americana, obvious jokes nicely done, verbal and visual humour? The personality of the group? And a boost for the scout movement?
