Trapped in Paradise (1994)

I'm really not sure why people don't find this movie universally hilarious but perhaps i'm just a sucker for a bunch of losers finally coming around to doing the right thing kind of movie. With Nicolas Cage portraying 'the smart and good brother' doing everything he can to keep himself on the straight and narrow and also taking on the older brother mantle of trying to keep his younger brothers recently paroled for overcrowding and released to Cage's custody, the gleefully ne'er-do-well brothers portrayed by Jon Lovitz and Dana Carvey, it is Cage's duty to keep these two on the straight and narrow as well. With Carvey's brother a helpless kleptomaniac and Lovitz' brother a semi-smooth talking schmuck who can always talk himself (and occasionally others) into anything ... and so they eventually, with the help of their 'sainted' mother (perfectly portrayed by Florence Stanley), talk Cage into breaking their parole, leaving the state to visit another con's estranged daughter. The purpose of the trip is really to rob a small town bank which, on a particular day, holds a Fort Knox like sum of cash.And so the story is set and while many people might guess the general path the film takes, it is a joyful and hilarious ride through their travails and eventual redemption in a town called Paradise. A tight and smooth-running script keeps the film humming along at a fine pace and ranks among my top ten xmas films ... though of course that might not include the standard films most would include ... i'm also a big fan of 'silent night, deadly night' ... so take it for what it's worth ... but this is still a very funny movie despite many of the negative reviews and the sub 6 star rating.

George Gallo wrote and directed this ridiculous, braying, foul-mouthed comedy (with a Christmas theme!) about three brothers who rob a bank in Paradise--a quaint, sweet-natured Pennsylvania town--and come to regret their actions; meanwhile, two slow-witted deputies are on their trail. The bad East Coast accents aside, you know you're in trouble when Nicolas Cage is portraying the 'sane' sibling (he gives a most disconcerting, let-me-outta-here performance). Lame in the extreme, the picture is only saved by a solid supporting cast doing their best to keep the material afloat. As Cage's brothers-in-crime, Jon Lovitz and Dana Carvey are a nightmarish twosome. 'Trapped' is right. * from ****

I have to say that one Saturday afternoon, thanks to Sky Movies, I was enlightened by this little move called 'Trapped in Paradise'. What first struck me was the fact that Dana Carvey is part of the cast. He is - without a doubt one of the funniest actors ... ever. And Nicholas Cage and do funny...who knew?!"Yeah we can get some ring-dings! Then we'll get some baloooons and go to the pupp't - show!"That is one of my favourite lines, as is:Alvin: "Who are you?" Guy who saved him from drowning: "Fred" Alvin: "Flinstone?" Guy who saved him from drowning: "Yeah" Alvin:"Oh..."Ah, Dana.Watch this movie, you will cry with laughter, you may even just laugh at Dana's facial expressions, but that is more than enough. x

I'm sure "Trapped In Paradise" was MEANT to be a full fledged comedy, and WANTED to have a heart-warming message to it... perhaps even HOPED it would capture the holiday spirit-seeking audiences that paid hard money to see this. But, I'm afraid it failed on all three counts. Not that Nicolas Cage, Jon Lovitz and Dana Carvey aren't ordinarily funny, by all means, no. They are wonderful in their own rights.It's just that THIS storyline, script and direction lost its punch very early in the film, and the three main characters simply could not save it. Yes, I laughed out loud several times, and liked the madcap interaction between Cage, Lovitz and Carvey. But I think I could have written a BETTER ending, one befitting that of "The Blues Brothers", or something like it. Perhaps the next time these three guys get together in a comedy, they'll find a better writer and director. Otherwise, they will remain "trapped" in (fill in the blank).