Product Details

• Actors: Ted Danson, Howie Mandel, Richard Mulligan, Stuart Margolin, Maria Conchita Alonso
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony Pictures
• VHS Release Date: June 22, 1994
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302824745
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #302,023 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

That famous comedy team of Howie Mandel and Ted Danson stink up the joint in this bizarre attempt by Blake Edwards at re-creating the slapstick world of Laurel and Hardy. Initially envisioned as a partial remake of Laurel and Hardy's The Music Box, this degenerates into a witless plot involving racehorse fixing and a gangster's unfaithful wife. The cast, which includes Maria Conchita Alonso, Richard Mulligan, and Stuart Margolin, looks embarrassed at the helter-skelter attempts at slapstick, which barely rises to the level of schtick. Danson and Mandel both had hit TV shows at the time (Cheers and St. Elsewhere, respectively), but this movie misfire did nothing to ignite their cinematic careers. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars non stop laughs, August 12, 2001

By 

Michael Pettinato "mike2922" (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fine Mess [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a very funny movie, personally i am not a big fan of Ted Danson, but he is so likable that you can't help but cheer for him, although this film has never gotten a lot of attention as a major comedy, i for one like it, every time i watch it i can't help but to laugh, Columbia/Tri-Star should acknowledge this as a very funny movie, it may have a shallow story, but comedian Howie Mandel keeps you laughing also. Danson & Mandel work so well together that you want to be part of the action, even serious actor Paul Sorvino is very funny as a bumbling would-be godfather, it seems he wanted to mock that image, even NYPD Blue's Dennis Franz shows his funny side as Danson's mouthy brother-in-law, but Sorvino's bumbling hit men (Margolin&Mulligan) have such bad luck that you can't help but feel sorry for these guys, one scene involves them crashing into a police car, then Franz, then stumbling onto Sorvino's semi-naked wife who just happens to be with Danson, but it is Howie Mandel's comedic performance that shines here, as he tries desperately to flee Danson's mess, but gets caught in the middle at every turn, but the most funny part is the last 20-25 minutes when see Danson & Mandel in Sorvino's house hiding from him at every turn, all the while Danson is trying to romance Sorvino's wife. you could say that this is "Cheers in L.A." with Danson playing almost the same character. If only Columbia/Tri-Star would rerelease this on video as well as put it on DVD, that would be a dream come true.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Of slapstick and bare essentials, September 18, 1999

By 

Jim LaRegina ([e-mail]) (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fine Mess [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Some ten or twelve years ago I saw A FINE MESS at the movies and laughed a lot. Give it a try. Director Blake Edwards reaches for the slapstick ring he grabbed with his PINK PANTHER movies in A FINE MESS and many of the jokes succeed. Actor Ted Danson's character reminded me of the bumbling ladies man he played on the TV show "Cheers" and he's just as funny here. It would seem that the wardrobe budget was cut for actress Julianne Phillips' role.

4.0 out of 5 stars "Great 80's Comedy!", June 12, 2011

By 

Gregorypwilson (Syracuse, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Fine Mess (DVD)

Ted Danson and Howie Mandel star in this 1986 comedy.
Two pals are chased by the mob while trying to make
quick loot. I've always enjoyed this film and Ted and
Howie are good together. This dvd has nice picture
and sound, but no extras. I recommend this great
80's comedy.