From Deseret News archives:

Almost Heroes

There's little humorous about 'Almost Heroes'

Published: Sunday, May 31, 1998 12:01 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 

Given his reputation for making almost nothing but dumbbell, Z-grade comedies, it would have been a lovely gesture to say something nice about late comedian Chris Farley's final starring role, in the movie "Almost Heroes."

Unfortunately, that would require the majority of film critics around the country to either say nothing about it or lie. In fact, this laughless farce could be the absolute nadir of Farley's career. (That judgment will have to wait until "Dirty Work," which features him in a bit part, is released in June.)

Actually, "Almost Heroes" resembles nothing so much as another similarly themed comedy, "Wagons East," the misfire that was the late John Candy's last movie — except that it makes the latter film seem funny by comparison.

Farley stars with Matthew Perry (from TV's "Friends") as Bartholomew Hunt and Leslie Edwards, respectively, two would-be explorers trying to beat the Lewis and Clark expedition through the uncharted American West.

From moment one it seems like a doomed attempt. Edwards (Perry) first makes the mistake of steering the expedition up the Missouri River, and then confronts an angry conquistador (Kevin Dunn). What's more, he and Hunt don't get along (Hunt is a drunken slob, while Edwards is a prissy fop).

Story continues below

None of the hijinks that ensue are even remotely funny. To give you an idea of the film's level of humor, Farley's performance consists of falling out of trees and stumbling down mountains — when he's not wrestling phony eagle props.

Actually, it's difficult to know who to be more embarrassed for here, Farley or his director, Christopher Guest, whose previous film was the hysterical "Waiting for Guffman."

"Almost Heroes" is rated PG-13 for vulgar jokes and gags, violent fist-fights and pratfalls, profanity and brief male and female partial nudity.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Movie Info
Rated PG for violence, profanity, vulgarity, nudity.

Cast: Chris Farley, Matthew Perry, Kevin Dunn, Eugene Levy
FIND LOCAL MOVIE SHOWTIMES
previousnext

Latest comments

I don't care which players are out IE AK47..You should never loose to a team...

This article is very misleading and wrong. Those who "actually" listen to...

Leave our Senior Citizens alone If you Dems wanna make cuts go after the...

utah storms the field after every single game they win.

is my hero. Follow his example and you will have the biggest carbon...

Kirilenko will not play tonight

And I wish he would tell us. He knows.... I love sloans post game...

Focus: Put Christmas back in stores

This article is and was about the commercialization of Christmas more than...

Give that loss to sloan. AGAIN..... He is the one guy you can count on making...

Bennett seeks to stall N-waste bill

I've always felt kind of in the middle in regards to Bennett. Between him and...

Kirilenko will not play tonight

get ready administration

Advertisements