Product Details

• Actors: Anthony Hopkins, Bridget Fonda, Matthew Broderick, John Cusack, Dana Carvey
• Directors: Alan Parker
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony Pictures
• VHS Release Date: October 10, 1995
• Run Time: 120 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0800139062
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,382 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  #2 in	Video > Comedy > Comedy Stars > John Cusack
  #7 in	Video > Comedy > British
  #13 in	Video > Art House & International > United Kingdom > Comedy

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
This wrong-headed adaptation of the very funny (and scatological) novel by T. Coraghessan Boyle was written and directed by Alan Parker, who doesn't seem to have much of a clue. It's not a botch, just a movie that hammers its efforts at humor too hard. The focus is split between three story lines: the life of cereal tycoon John Kellogg (Anthony Hopkins with buck teeth), who has created a health spa for the wealthy that focuses on regular cleansing of the digestive tract (as well as applications of electricity); the troubles of an unhappy young couple (Matthew Broderick and Bridget Fonda), who come to the spa hoping to cure their marital ills (Broderick gets the worst of the deal); and the efforts of a young hustler (John Cusack), who is trying to break into the breakfast-cereal business but gets taken by an even bigger hustler (Michael Lerner). There are subplots about Kellogg's children but they add little. For all the doo-doo and enema jokes, the joys of this movie are distinctly scattered. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A One Ounce Serving Has Over a Hundred Laughs, December 27, 2006

By	!Edwin C. Pauzer (New York City) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: The Road To Wellville (DVD)

This adult comedy centers around three sub plots: the buck-toothed Dr. Kellogg played by Anthony Hopkins, Will and Eleanor Lightbody played by Matthew Broderick and Bridget Fonda respectively, and John Cusack as a shady but naive entrepreneur. The plots all take place during the turn of the last century at Dr. Kellogg's health sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan.

My favorites in this movie were the good doctor who is a product of his time believing that only procreational sex is good, and any loss of bodily fluids by other means saps the body of strength. I was in lust at first sight with the character of Ms. Munse. She is one of the reasons this comedy is for adults only; The facial expressions of the young and grown-up character of George Kellogg Jr. and pigs refusing to eat the experimental cereal "Perfo" kept me laughing constantly. I also enjoyed the music score which ranged from classical to delightfully silly. (I keep replaying the "Laughing Song" in my head.)

Amazon's product review is less kind than mine, proving that you really have to decide for yourself. But for me, this movie is a keeper. It can be played throughout the year, or just savored during the holidays.

I thought the movie was perfo.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant cast, direction, setting, sound, and laughs, November 12, 2000

By	Shawn Chittle (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a former resident of Battle Creek, MI, I can say this movie was particularly enjoyable as I envisioned the city as it was back then. Although not filmed on location (the Battle Creek Sanitarium now stands as a Federal building) the scenery is very similar, and all the location names mentioned in the film are 100% accurate. The cast of this movie is fantastic and started (or boosted) many careers. Anthony Hopkins gives a brilliant performance and I wish he was offered more roles of this sort. Dana Carvey is funny as well, but his role is supporting only. The real scene stealer is the under-sexed and modern Camryn Manheim, who gives a peek into her future career as a great dramatic actress. John Neville's classic one-liners in the bath scenes caused me to laugh like I haven't since "Married with Children." Matthew Broderick and Bridget Fonda excel, as do every actor -- the depth of comedic acting in this film is amazing! This film is fantastic for anyone who is sick of the health craze (any of them) and just wants a good laugh at how health-quacks worked and how many were taken by the fads. Some of Dr. J. H. Kellogg's inventions we have today -- corn flakes, electric blankets, but the bulk of his work was not based in science. This makes the movie so funny -- the crazy gadgets used on the residents is actually classic slapstick comedy, and the one liners are almost as good as Airplane! All in all, I recommend this film to make you laugh histerically, and it's a darned good history lesson, too. "More amperes please!"

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Funny, if you with a Sense of Humour!, March 16, 2005

By	Graham Hyatt "Mister English" (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Road To Wellville (DVD)

I've never seen so many intellectual type reviews from people who were so obviously born without a sense of humour. For heavens sake, whether it follows the book, or not, this is a hillarious movie by most standards. Unfortunately, some people choose to take these things too seriously, and base their judgements upon things which don't concern the average person: who seeks entertainment and a laugh. This is a comedy - not a boring drama! - and once you accept the fact, it's a great film!