Product Details

• Actors: Michael Richards, Jeff Daniels, Charlize Theron, Jessica Steen, Austin Pendleton
• Directors: Jonathan Lynn
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: New Line Home Video
• VHS Release Date: June 2, 1998
• Run Time: 98 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0780620364
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #52,943 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Jonathan Lynn, who directed the hit film My Cousin Vinny, again takes on another lightweight comedy about a trial in a small town featuring a fish-out-of-water defense attorney. Michael Richards (Seinfeld) plays a struggling actor whose best friend, a trial lawyer (Jeff Daniels), is too hung-over to defend a sleaze-ball client before a no-nonsense judge. Richards's goofy character steps in, pretending to be the attorney and accepting the part as just another acting challenge. Lynn brings nothing distinctive to all this fluff, and unfortunately, the script and cast don't click in the same magical way that Vinny did. Richards still looks at the end like a comic waiting for his big-screen break. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good comedy that is worth a watch, March 9, 2004

By	T O'Brien (Chicago, Il United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Trial and Error (DVD)

Trial and Error is a funny movie that cannot make up its mind whether it is a physical or romantic comedy. Charlie Tuttle is a well-to-do lawyer with everything you could possibly want. However, when he gets drunk at a bachelor party and cannot go to court the next morning his actor friend, Ricky, must step in for him at the case. When Ricky realizes that what he has done is a felony, the two friends must figure a way out of the sticky situation. Watching Michael Richards as Ricky is pretty funny as he continuously stumbles across the courtroom. The problem with the movie is that it can't make up its mind what it is about. It constantly bounces back and forth between the courtroom scene and Charlie's efforts to find himself. Either way, it still has its moments and is worth a watch.

Michael Richards is very funny as Rickey Rjetti, the actor pretending to be a lawyer to help his friend. This character is basically Kramer with some morals involved. Jeff Daniels is also good as Charlie Tuttle, Rickey's friend who finds himself in quite a little predicament. Trial and Error also stars Charlize Theron(looking great), Rip Torn, Jessica Steen, Austin Pendleton, and Jennifer Coolidge. The DVD offers fullscreen and widescreen presentations, theatrical trailers, and production notes. For a funny movie with a good performance by Michael Richards, check out Trial and Error!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars WORKS BETTER AS A ROMANCE., January 24, 2002

By	Brett Johnson "xfile1971" (Phoenix, AZ - USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Most of the best moments in "Trial And Error" involve the more romantic side of the movie. It doesn't do nearly as well when it tries to be funny. Too much emphasis is put on Michael Richards being goofy and stumbling all over the place. The plot involves a lawyer (Jeff Daniels) who has his bachelor party the night before he has to appear in court. Unfortunately, he ends up drunk and in a bar fight. He is then unable to represent his client due to a combination of a horrible hangover and a bunch of pills he took to try and feel better. His friend (Michael Richards), an actor, poses as a lawyer and asks for a continuance of the case. His motion is denied and the film relies on the old "fish out of water" routine to draw laughs. The actor has to keep pretending to be the actual lawyer for the case and is forced into a trial situation. Richards does a slight variation of his "Seinfeld" character and bumbles his way through the movie. It's okay but nothing that hasn't been seen before. Daniels plays the same ol' smug loser that he usually plays. This movie is completely stolen by the women. Charlize Theron is simply charming as a local waitress who falls for the engaged Daniels. She really lights up the screen and makes the viewer truly care about what happens to her. Jennifer Coolidge plays a witness during the trial and she was given the funniest lines in the script. Her testimony provides several laugh out loud moments. "Trial And Error" focused too much on a one-joke plot about an actor having to pretend to be an attorney and it loses its novelty early. Luckily, the romantic side story helps keep the viewer interested and Coolidge makes things fun in the courtroom. Overall, a pleasant movie to help pass a couple of hours that leaves you feeling good at the end.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars loved it, March 11, 1999

By A Customer

My wife and I really enjoyed this movie. Many 'laugh out loud' moments throughout the movie. 'Kramer' just purely made this movie.