Funny, but ultimately dire. (Deuce Bigalow Male Gigolo (DVD))

Member Name: Craigonnavitch

Product:	Deuce Bigalow Male Gigolo (DVD)
Date:	28/01/01 (45 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quite funny.

Disadvantages: Poor acting, woeful plot and lifeless soundtrack.

I seem to make a habit of seeing films that are funny in places, but are really quite poor, (see Kevin and Perry opinion). The plot goes that Deuce Bigalow, (played by Rob Schnieder out of the equally dour Waterboy) is a fish tank and pond cleaner, getting very little money and getting him no real credibility from anyone in the world. However, he just ends up cleaning a pond near to the pad of a rich and well-established male gigolo, (male prostitute essentially). The gigolo has a problem with his fish and so Deuce agrees to look over the fish and tell him what is the matter with it. Deuce finds that his house is absolutely luxurious, and after telling the gigolo that the fish needs to be looked after constantly for a few days, ends up staying in the apartment for three weeks as the gigolo called Anton in the film has to go away on 'business'. Cue a number of mishaps culminating in Deuce wrecking his house, and having money to pay for repairs, ends up getting roped into being a gigolo himself by 'Man mam' TJ, played by Oded Fehr.

Deuce then goes onto to be paid to 'pleasure' women who are taller than him by about two feet, a woman who has narcolepsy, a disease that makes you fall asleep constantly, a women with Tourette's Syndrome which in many cases can make the sufferer spout random expletives, and also a women who is incredibly overweight. He also just happens to meet the girl of his dreams, who is not totally normal as she tells him, because she has a false leg which he inadvertently pulls off when initiating foreplay! This part of the film is very funny indeed. You will have to see what happens to Deuce and the girl of his dreams and the other women as well. Other really funny bits are a rather bizarre policeman with the most inane snarl on his face ever, whilst randomly getting his member out in public! Watch and see for yourself.

If you look at the plot details above it is clear that it does have the potential for
a lot of laughs whilst being the most run of the mill plot ever. Hollywood script writers seem to believe that if a film is mildly funny, they can get away with using a plot that has been used millions of times, whilst putting a slight spin on it. This is one failing of the film, and it is certainly a major one.

The acting is also less than brilliant in places. Schneider does play Deuce well to be fair, but it is really the only decent performance in the film. The policeman is over acted incredibly which verges on bizarre not hilarious, and Anton the gigolo is so wooden, you could get a splinter from his performance! Not an endearment for the casting team then.

Overall, the film really isn't as good as many reviews claimed. The acting is substandard apart for Schnieder as Deuce, and the plot is dire. At least the film has enough funny moments to warrant a watch, and not to gain the moniker of 'turkey'.

As usual, I would appreciate any comments on how to improve the opinion. The film incidentally is on general release from Touchstone Pictures, as is the relatively lifeless soundtrack, which comes from Hollywood Records. The film is rated as a 15 certificate by the BBFC probably because of the sexual references that the film is laden with. At 85 minutes long, it won't really while away a winter night, but the generel quality of the film means that this is not a real tragedy.

Cheers for reading the opinion!

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