DUNSTON CHECKS IN

Canada, 1996, 88 minutes, Colour.
Jason Alexander, Faye Dunaway, Rupert Everett, Paul Reubens.
Directed by Ken Kwapis.

On paper, Dunston Checks In seems fairly silly. It is about an English peer who uses an orang-utan as his assistant to rob fashionable hotels in New York City. However, in the execution, it is very funny and enjoyable. Jason Alexander does his usual comic role as the maitre d' of the hotel. Rupert Everett does his usual upper-class English toff as the burglar. Faye Dunaway also appears - and seems to enjoy the comedy, even when she has to land in a huge cake. It's that kind of film - but much more enjoyable than expected.

1. A film for children? Adults? Families? Entertaining films about children and animals?

2. The slapstick comedy with Dunston? With the human characters? The verbal and visual humour? Parody?

3. The atmosphere of the hotel, its luxury, its rooms, ballroom, the background of the laundry and the various chutes? The New York atmosphere and affluence? Its style? The strong cast? Musical score?

4. Jason Alexander as Robert Grant, his style as the maitre d? Meticulous, obsequious to the guests, his relationship with Mrs Dubrow? Everything going smoothly in the hotel? The sequences of his attention to detail? His relationship with his sons? Their mother's death? Their activities in the hotel, getting into trouble, his having to rescue them? The sequence with the opera singer and with Mr Spalding? Ultimately in the fountain? Taking Mr Spalding's dog for a walk - and its falling from the roof? His continually having to make apologies?

5. Faye Dunaway and her imperious style with glamour as Mrs Dubrow, her elderly husband in tow? Her management of the hotel, her dominance, her treatment of the staff, sacking them and their leaving in tears? Her ordering Robert around? Her hopes for the success of the hotel, the judge for the competition and her desire for the five stars? Her gush and her glitz?

6. The contrast with Kyle and Brian and their activities around the hotel? Looking at Lord Rutledge's trunk, the discovery of Dunston, Lord Rutledge's treatment of Dunston? Their not liking him? The set-up for disasters to follow?

7. Dunston and his brother, Lord Rutledge and his circus background, the cruelty to Dunston and his brother? Lord Rutledge and his control, the robberies? Dustan’s escape? Kyle and Brian finding him, filming him, telling their father, not being believed?

8. Lord Rutledge and his phoney identity, his pretentious manner, mixing with people, the robberies, his cruelty to Dunston and his control? The confrontations at the end? The ballroom and Dustan’s leading to Lord Rutledge's downfall?

9. Dunston and his careering about the hotel? At Robert's meeting? People being upset - and the consequent comedy? His going round the hotel, the wealthy lady, the gym and the massage?

10. Lord Rutledge and the search for Dunston? The hiring of the exterminator - the intensity of his quest? Causing mayhem? Firing the darts - and hitting Mr Spalding?

11. The ball and the dinner? Mrs Dubrow and her husband? Her dress, make-up, the huge cake? Her mistaking Lord Rutledge as the judge? Her spurning of Spalding? Dunston and his attack on her - and her falling twice into the cake? Mr Spalding and the cake? The complete mess?

12. The humour of Robert and his children being transferred to Bali and managing the hotel? The boys finally getting their holiday? Dunston and his behaviour in Bali? Mr Spalding?

13. Characters and caricatures - for an entertaining comedy?