BRAIN DONORS (1992)

Directed By: Dennis Dugan 
Written By: Pat Proft Story By: James Kevin McGuinness 
Based On the Screenplay “A NIGHT AT THE OPERA” By: George S. Kaufman & Morrie Ryskind 
Cinematography By: David M. Walsh 
Editor: Malcolm Campbell 
Music By: Ira Newborn 

 Cast: John Turturro, Bob Nelson, Mel Smith, Teri Copely, Nancy Marchand

It's no classic but a nice attempt at one.

Although is not said in the official description of the movie, the screenplay and characters are based on the classic comedy masterpiece by the Marx Brothers – A NIGHT AT THE OPERA

I believe it came out a the wrong time, but the. Again probably couldn't have been made at any other. Studios just seemed willing to put out films just to have some product.

At the time I remember the previews for this looking horrible and misguided like the Eric Idle, Rick Moranis comedy SPLITTING HEIRS.

In 1991, Paramount Pictures was preparing to release the film under the title "Lame Ducks" with a major ad campaign, playing up the fact that it was produced by David and Jerry Zucker who produced Airplane and The Naked Gun, but when the brothers bailed on the project, the movie was shelved, the publicity campaign was scrapped and the title was changed to "Brain Donors". It was released in a few theaters to some positive reviews, but it really made it's money on home video where it has attracted a small cult following.

Watching this film and noticing it aspires to be a modern Marx brothers comedy without calling itself one though it is obviously inspired by them. Sort of like the three stooges movie except that film admitted it's source material and was just ok.

The characters here seem more like crazy mascots like cartoon characters.

The film has the madcap energy of the three totally different actors caught up unfortunately in the same lame plot that is a shell for the antics and comedy.

The film is quite hilarious a throwback to the madcap screwball comedies of yesteryear. You could say they tried too hard, but that's the point to ground the comic personalities.

I really wish this film would have been a hit. So it could have been a series I films or at least spawned a sequel/follow-up

Not as good, but as close as any film has come so far to being good natured and zany fun that the Marx brothers film had and it doesn't embarass itself.

John Turturro Is the standout mainly because usually as an actor he is dramatic. Don't know why he isn't cast in more comedies. He shows he is adept. He makes the biggest impression certainly the loudest, but doesn't go for a full on Groucho Marx impression.

When it comes to the sort the dancers they are trying to save aren't really impressive, is their music is dead by now, but that isn't the real focus.

I consider this film a near miss, but a nice attempt. At least they tried something different yet respectful to it's sources. It just bricked at the last minute.

 Grade: B-