21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Always funnier each time you watch, October 30, 2003
I have loved this movie from the first time I saw it and repeated viewings over the years have not diminished it at all. In fact, it seems funnier every time I watch it. The DVD presentation is good and the commentary soundtrack by Wilder, Sutherland and Yorkin is worth hearing for any fan of the film. As funny as anything produced by Monty Python, Mel Brooks or Mystery Science Theater, the comedy is dense and unending. Every opportunity for humor is used to great extent, visually, verbally, and physically. The supporting cast is strong (Billie Whitelaw, Hugh Griffith and more greats) and there are many LOL (laugh out loud) scenes. Thank goodness you can watch this DVD, so it's always "still 1789"!
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ignore the nay Sayers, this movie is genius comedy, October 10, 2005
I first remember seeing this film at age 6. I remember it because not fully understanding history, I thought this was a film about the American Revolution and the climax featured American patriots sacking a palace of George III.
I'm surprised there are so many negative reviews of film here on Amazon. The only people I've ever met whom even remember this film remember it because it's one of their favorites.
The plot: Two sets of twin brothers are switched at birth just before the French Revolution. One set is raised in the opulence of the aristocracy while the other set are raised as peasants.
1789, the rich brothers are sent to infiltrate Louis XIV palace and take part in an overly elaborate coup. The poor set are reluctant members of the French revolutionaries. After a mix up, the peasants become guests is Louis XIV's palace where they are not only out of place at balls and dinners, but fighting for their lives to survive this overly elaborate coup. In the climax the brothers flee with their girlfriends as the uprising peasants storm the palace in a battle royal.
Why this works:
High production quality: Photography, costume design, set direction, and editing are usually pushed aside in most comedies since the focus is on the actors and the jokes they tell. `Start the Revolution Without Me' is brilliantly shot on location to a production degree that dwarfs most recent 18th century films and take full advantage of it's beautiful setting.
Orson Wells' narration: I'd never have guessed that Orson Wells could be so funny. And in fact he isn't. He narrates throughout as if `Start the Revolution Without Me' were a serious historical piece. This is what's so funny. EVERY scene is introduced with the phrase "1789" the way only Wells can. After 10 times this really starts to get funny.
Corsican brothers ham it up: Gene Wilder and Donald Sutherland really go over board playing the overly evil and psychotic Corsican twins. Wilder carries his hawk Thor with him at all times. When anyone brings up the fact that Thor is dead Wilder flies into violent fits. They consider themselves invincible gods.
Ridiculously elaborate coup plot: Most of the character interaction revolves around a plot for the Corsican brothers to assassinate Louis XIV. However all the characters keep switching sides so much it becomes ludicrous. At a costume ball so many secrete notes are passed that the dance floor overflows with them. The coup is headed by a villain "Escargot" who like Orson Wells takes this absurd plot very seriously.
Peasant brothers are the only sane people: The peasant brothers also played brilliantly by Wilder and Sutherland act like we would if we lived in `Start the Revolution Without Me'. They observe that the inmates are running the asylum and its best to escape this entire ordeal post hast.
In conclusion, `Start the Revolution Without Me' is film making at its best. An adventure farce with plenty of good humor and truly genius story telling.
The critics here on Amazon are being way to harsh, saying that it does not compare to Alexander Dumas or other great literary works. This is a kin to saying that `The Naked Gun' was not as good of a portrayal of terrorism as James Bond. They are to wayyyy different things.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Can I help it if I have this enormous stride....look at it Man!, May 1, 2001
This review is from: Start the Revolution Without Me [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This hilarious comedy takes the story of the Corsican Brothers and fractures it with two sets of mismatched twins, both played by Donald Sutherland and Gene Wilder, one set raised as the noble brothers, the other as peasants. Throw in the France of Louis XVI just before the revolution and you've got the setting for this totally screwball comedy.
Bud Yorkin & Norman Lear (of All in the Family) directed and produced and added a cast of the best English comedians to their two stars, Sutherland & Wilder. This includes: Hugh Griffith as the befuddled King; Billie Whitelaw as a randy Marie Antoinette; Victor Spinetti as the reptilian Count Escargot; Jack MacGowran as the seedy Revolutionary amongst others. Oh, and Ewa Aulin (she played Candy) is delicious.
When Gene Wilder goes nuts, no one can match him for hilarity. As the arrogant, pigheaded, lightning-tempered Corsican nobleman he is just simply wonderful. Sutherland's foppish brother is a perfect counterpoint.
There is so much good stuff in this that one could go on at length (the Ball with everyone passing notes of intrigue and the King in his chicken costume is just one). Suffice it to say, they threw in the kitchensink with one-liners, references to Dumas and every kind of swashbuckler, non-sequiters, puns etc.
A crazy madcap just-for-fun all-out comedy. One of the best ever made. A Classic. See it.
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