HOT TO TROT
US, 1988, 79 minutes, Colour.
Bobcat Goldthwaite, Dabney Coleman, voice of John Candy, Jim Metzler, Cindy Pickett, Virginia Madsen.
Directed by Michael Dinner.
Hot to Trot is a comedy about talking horses. It must appeal to someone! It is a throwback to the days of Francis the Talking Mule and Mister Ed (to whom there is reference). The star of the film's Bobcat Goldthwaite with his screechy voice (perhaps in the Three Stooges, Jerry Lewis tradition). Better at comedy is John Candy who supplies the voice of the horse. Dabney Coleman gets an opportunity to do some comic turns as the villain - with false protruding teeth. Virginia Madsen has some brief moments as the glamorous heroine.
There are the usual routines with talking horses and animals, a race In which Don, the hero, eventually wins. Other than that, there is not a great deal to commend the film. It was directed by Michael Dinner (Catholic Boys) and was co-written by Michael Neigher).
1. Comedy? Talking animals? Farce?
2. The special effects for the talking animals? The business firm? The city? The apartments? Racecourse? Musical score?
3. The title and the reference to Don? To Freddie?
4. Freddie and his relationship with his stepfather, his awkwardness, his voice? Big business and the firm, making shrewd investments? The advice of Don? The bad advice about the horse-feed? His clashes with his stepfather? Coping with Don, having him in the apartment? The comedy with the talking horse? His relationship with the secretary, getting married and having, a family? The build-up to the race and Don's winning?
5. Don as the talking horse, his history, his being friendly with Freddie's riding around in the vehicle, talking, with the other animals? parents, flirting? His range of jokes and puns? In the apartment, the party? The advice about finance? The build-up to the race, his telling the jokes, interfering with the horses and winning by his protruding teeth? The dentist fixing them?
6. Walter as villain, his girlfriend, Don watching them in the stable? His grief? The business deals, trying to swindle Freddie? The pressure on him? His girlfriend? The build-up to the race? His being defeated? His adviser and their swindling Don and making money out of him?
7. The secretary, attractive, sympathetic to Freddie, helping him out, marrying him?
8. The supporting cast - of humans and animals? The effect of the comedy when animals talk and act like human beings? A piece of American-style humour?
