The Out-of-Towners (1970)

Saw it a couple of days ago following "The Odd Couple" at TCM, and contrary to the opinion of a fellow commentator who also saw them that day, enjoyed both films similarly. These have always been some of my favorite film comedies (I can't help though watching "The Odd Couple" and thinking what Billy Wilder would have made of that film). These are the Neil Simon films I enjoy most (I may add Seems Like Old Times), and I simply have to watch "The Out of Towners" every time they show it on TV. I lived in NYC so it is always a treat to revisit the city. Watch this film to see what real cinema was in the 70's, with real people, real crowds, on location filming and no special effects – except the amazing scene with the manhole cover, which I can't believe was the real deal even though it looked that way. I was also impressed with how much running Lemmon and Dennis do. Lemmon even carries Dennis in his arms up a small hill in Central Park. Like I said, the real deal. Lemmon of course is a physical comedy genius, and I also find Dennis very funny. After repeated watching some scenes – the kid in the park, e.g. – seem now forced and unfunny. I'd also have to agree about Lemmon's poor decision-making, but this is a comedy so that doesn't bother me too much. The Martin-Hawn remake, on the other hand, was simply horrendous.

I have been visiting NYC since the early 70's, so I was most interested to see if any fond memories highlighted this collaboration. As a huge fan of Lemon, I knew this film would be first rate. Oy Vey! What a challenge to watch even 5 minutes between commercials for another film.First, you have a high level executive interview which translates, at least to most I assume, this guy has it going on. They used Travel Agencies back then, hence this big time NYC company would use only the best. Of course they would be aware of the perils of taking a late flight the night BEFORE an early appointment which might POSSIBLY lead to difficulties. Hence, right off the bat I am being conned into the ramifications of implausible events.Comedy typically comes from unexpected actions and consequences and when you see them coming at every turn it gets EXTREMELY boring! Whoever read this script and kept laughing every five minutes to give the green light owed Mr. Simon a HUGE debt or knew where the bodies were buried.I believe Lemon accepted the role without reading the script and this explains his involvement in such a deleterious role. Dennis was bad enough in WAOVW, so was prepared for yet another annoying performance.Perhaps if you had him coming to town to visit a dying relative and develop the comic action in the ICU this would have more credibility. I advise anyone considering this worse than drivel of a film to complete avoidance.I can only recommend for those who want to see reminders of the old NYC and how it was regarded as a languid, sorrowful, corrupt city and how mightily it reincarnated and rose from the ashes to become the shining star of destination locations in the world.Simon, this was your town and no one wanted to live there anyways then, so why the F U??? Please explain if we ever meet.

Criticized by some for being too critical of 1969 NYC, THE OUT-OF-TOWNERS is so flat out hilarious, it's impossible to not recommend it. One cringes with fright just thinking of what predicament visiting business exec Jack Lemmon will get himself and wife Sandy Dennis into. Re-routed by air to Boston, Lemmon & Dennis arrive via an abominably crowded train to a dismal NYC after midnight. Unable to find lodging (Lemmon didn't call ahead to inform the hotel he'd be arriving late...he was too busy "circling" New York before heading to Boston), the couple hit the streets --- hard. Ripped off by con man Graham Jarvis, caught up in a protest alongside Cuban consul Carlos Montalbán and deafened by an exploding manhole cover are just a few of the calamities these two endure. Lemmon is hysterical being hysterical, though claiming to be calm at all times. Dennis is infinitely patient, well matched with Lemmon as they try desperately to make it through a single night. Neil Simon's acidic script foreshadows his later PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE. Arthur Hiller adds another comedy classic to his resume and the supporting cast is littered by a bunch of great New York character actors: Anne Meara; Ron Carey; Dolph Sweet; Richard Libertini. Anthony Holland is perfect as a hotel desk who, though appearing sympathetic, makes it clear that he could care less.

Well, truth be told, I don't like this movie very much. Now--I'm a HUGE Neil Simon fan, a HUGE Jack Lemmon fan, a HUGE Sandy Dennis fan. How in the world could this movie have gone so wrong? 1. Neil Simon's episodic tale of an obnoxious neurotic and his annoying wife running into one disaster after another in NYC, happening at the rate of probably one screw-up every five minutes, is so relentless--it induced in me a headache of major proportions. The episodes are not really funny, because they are all so unpleasant--seeing Sandy Dennis' foot bleeding after stepping on a twist top bottle cap in the middle of Central Park, watching Jack Lemmon breaking a tooth eating cracker jack, and the relentless parade of stereotypical NYC (circa 1970) loonies contributing to the unpleasant atmosphere of Dante's Inferno transported to Manhattan is so inexorable, one watches the movie in absolute awe at the blatant humorlessness of it all. Instead of being funny, it is noisy, chaotic and relentless. The two hour or so movie feels like it lasts an eternity.2. Jack Lemmon's character is just SO obnoxious and obsessive compulsive and unpleasant, he is a walking talking perforated ulcer. Think of a terrible headache, or earache or toothache that won't go away. That's Jack Lemmon in "The Out-of-Towners"!3. Sandy Dennis says "George" (Jack Lemmon's character's name) I swear to God--maybe 300 or 400 times during the course of the movie. I loved watching Sandy Dennis with her quirks and ticks and unexpected crescendos and decrescendos in her voice in films like "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" and "Up the Down Staircase"--but in this movie, these all just become annoying. But if she didn't keep saying George every 5 seconds in the movie, I probably would have tolerated her a little more. Her final monologue enumerating all the rotten aspects of NYC was a bitter whining recitation at the end of a crappy movie.On paper this movie might have seemed like a sure thing--maybe it read better then the God-awful resulting translation to the big screen. For those of us living in New York City for the past 40 years, this movie feels like a relic from the distant past. In place of the strikes and the crime and the stereotypical rudeness, nowadays, with NY being OZ for most of the rest of the world--the main annoyance in 2010 is that the cost of housing is so exorbitant. But this relic of a film is not a revealing view of NY circa 1970--it's just a dumb trifle, taking pot shots at easy targets, and causing queasiness in the viewing audience. Have your Alka Seltzer or aspirin (mega-doses) at hand when you prepare to watch this movie.