Customer Reviews

Amos & Andrew [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Ok, this film isn't one for the Academy Awards. But it is entertaining, and it has more truth to it than some of us might like to admit. Cage is funny as the hapless white convict, and Jackson is credible in his role as the successful black man who is viewed with suspicion in the mostly white world he's entered. The pace is not too slow, and in addition to making me smile, it also made me think a little. Maltin's use of the term "agonizing" should be reserved for movies like "Striptease" and "The Water Boy."

I don't know how it is that some very good movies get sidetracked when they are first released. This is one of them and it is well worth watching and owning, in my opinion. Of course, as a previous reviewer noted, it is NOT a re-do of the famous radio show and if you expect it to be, you will be very confused by it. No, this comedy is very much its own black-and-white story and a hilarious commentary on the prejudices and preconceived notions that are to be found even among the most supposedly enlightened of us. The whole comedy stems from erroneous assumptions made about a black man seen in an empty house in a posh NY community at night (he is, of course, the new owner). Both Samuel L. Jackson and Nicholas Cage (cast as a down-at-heels drifter pressed into service by the local sheriff) play their parts to perfection and Dabney Coleman and the cast of supporting characters are also excellent in their various roles as bumbling law dogs, neighbors, reporters, etc. In sum, I found this underrated film to be not only extremely funny but a wise and wry social commentary as well.

I first viewed this movie when it first came out and loved it.I had forgotten all about it untill 2 weeks ago, when while looking on amazon, saw its listing. I ordered it straight away, and would have to say that this is a very entertaining movie. It has a very original story line, and is realy funny. This movie is a must see, rent or buy, you cant go wrong.

Once you understand that, it makes for a very good comedy or sattire with a title that is reminiscent to the old classic television show.

Samuel L. Jackson plays the role of Andrew Sterling, a rich African-American producer,author, and entreprenuer. He buys a home and moves to a small suburban community that isn't use to seeing people of color. A couple is out walking their dog one night and is suprised to see a black man in the home of their neighbors (they don't know that the house has been sold to Sterling) so of course they call the police. They also think that Sterling must be holding their neighbors hostage. Dabney Coleman (9 to 5, War Games) is the opportunistic police chief who looks at this as a chance to plug his campaign for County Commissioner. After the chief figures out that they've been shooting at Andrew Sterling - in front of his own house - and not a burglar they hatch a crazy scheme to cover up their blunder.

Enters Amos Odell (Nicolas Cage), a petty theif. The chief sends him into the house with a shotgun to tie up Sterling and pretend to hold him hostage. Unfortuneatly the media catches wind of the hostage situation and rushes to the scene. Hilarity ensues. It get's wilder and funnier from there. Definetly worth a watch.

I first watched this movie in the mid-90's at the suggestion of a video store clerk. My one thought when I was done was "Why hadn't I heard of this before?" I recently rented it again to show my highly sceptical wife. She loved it and forced her parents to watch it. We're now 4 for 4 in our family!

This movie sets up a great situation and then does a good job playing out all the threads with its major themes, particularly the preconceptions of the supposedly 'liberal' neighbors. Cage and Jackson play their parts well (and play off of each other well).Dabney Coleman plays his basic mean-[jerk] role and does it well. The supporting cast is all good. If you don't laugh, you're taking yourself too seriously.

Despite the high jinks, bumbling and fumbling of Dabney Coleman's Cops and that of small-time hood Nicolas Cage, the racial issue between Blacks and Whites was still able to get the message across; that despite our open-mindness, there's still a racial divide in many parts of your country. Of course, you'd have to have just landed on Earth not to realize that.

Still, an entertaining and very funny movie with Samuel L. Jackson as Andrew Sterling, suffering the injustice of a racist police chief and neighbors in his new hometown.

Nicolas Cage as the hard-luck patsy for the cops "spin control" caper. A down-to-Earth, down on his luck, functional illiterate, directionally handicapped, bumbling crook with a heart of tarnished silver.

Dabney Coleman as the aforementioned racist police chief Cecil Tolliver; also running for county office. Stuck in a compromising position, trying his best to unravel the mess he's gotten himself into; all the while "fronting" for the Press as a good guy.

Bob Balaban provides comical "comic relief" as the Hostage Negotiator Dr. R.A. Fink with a blast of his Bob Newhart-style telephone monologue.

A surprisingly good movie from back in 1993.

I love this movie. I have been looking for it forever. I thought it was great of the director to cast two great character actors for this film. I know in most of their movies they are now considered leading men but they started out as great character actors. I also loved Giancarlo Esposito role in this film. His take on Al Sharpton is hilarious.

You have a couple of choices when viewing a "light" comedy like Amos & Andrew. Number one, you can watch the film and look for something that really sticks to your ribs (and not find just that), or, you can sit back for an hour and a half and have a little fun! I suggest you try the latter and have yourself a few genuine belly laughs! This movie is fun, well acted and a nice ride through the early ninetys attitude change on the race issues that are rapidly changing in todays vast movie field.

This movie is fantastic. Nicolas Cage and Samuel L. Jackson are great in it. There is tons of comedy relief throughout the whole movie. It's all about how a black man got accused of robbing a stereo, when he actually bought his house. It sounds like a dumb plot, but watch the movie, you will be glad you did. I thought it was the funniest movie I have seen in a little while.

AMOS AND ANDREW certainly doesn't do much to promote a politically correct stance on racism, but for a 1993 comedy, it does have its moments and has some interesting social commentary to make. Samuel L. Jackson plays Andrew Sterling, a wealthy black entrepreneur, who recently had his picture on the cover of Fortune magazine. He buys a summer house at a snooty island community, but no one knows it. While he's hooking up his stereo on his first night in the house, snooping neighbors assume because he's black, he must be a burglar! They contact the local sheriff and he takes a small Army to the house and a mishap by a bumbling deputy triggers an attack on Jackson. Once he finds out his mistake, the politically motivated sheriff (he's running for County Commissioner) decides he needs to clean up his act and does so by making a deal with a second rate criminal (Nicolas Cage) to pretend to be the burglar. Of course, things don't go as planned and there's where we get the rest of this broadly humorous film.
Jackson and Cage do well in their roles, Cage assuaging a restrained swagger and Jackson oozing his indignity as a black citizen in a white world. Dabney Coleman as the sheriff is his typically nasty and manipulative self; Margaret Colin and Michael Lerner are very funny as the couple who call the police; Brad Dourif is hilarious as the inept deputy, and Bob Balaban as a hostage negotiator is very funny too.
The movie is full of stereotypical characters, including Giancarlo Esposito as some kind of minister, and hopefully we have evolved from this racist kind of behavior. But AMOS AND ANDREW is entertaining and worth a look.