With Jim Sabatini

Oscar

Rated:
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Release date: April 26, 1991

Sylvester Stallone is Angelo "Snaps" Provolone, a gangster who promises his dying father he will give up his life of crime and become respectable. The action takes place at Snap's luxurious Chicago home on a day in 1931. And what a full day it is! His daughter wants to get married, his accountant wants to marry his daughter, his tailors are fitting his for a new suit, he has an elocution lesson and he's buying a bank--and that's all before one o'clock.

This is not Stallone's first stab at comedy (remember the awful Rhinestone?), but he redeemed himself nicely. He is surprisingly good at a broad humor and he can roll his eyes and mug with the best of them. The cast is large, with some standout performances; Peter Regent as a mobster-turned-butler, Tim Curry as the prissy language professor and the Fanuche brothers (Martin Ferrero and Harry Shearer) as tailors whose business is booming since a gangster was knocked off while wearing one of their suits.

John Landis (Animal House) directs this absurd farce with a fast pace. The excellent cast keeps the fun rolling to the last frame.