The year that John Candy left this life, he starred in one of the most atrocious movies that I've ever seen ("Wagons East"), but also directed - and appeared in - this light, interesting TV movie. George Wendt plays a suburban everyman completely fed up with his life. So, he pretends that he's been taken hostage in his house, leading to a media frenzy and the police surrounding everything. Only then, some real thugs take him hostage (Candy plays one of them).
"Hostage for a Day" makes neat use of Wendt's mannerisms, and is a fairly perceptive look at apparent satisfaction in the suburbs masking deeper frustration (along with media hype). Then again, maybe I'm the only person who interpreted it as such. For all that I know, it might have just been intended as a silly comedy. But I still assert that it's worth seeing. Also starring John Vernon.
"Hostage for a Day" makes neat use of Wendt's mannerisms, and is a fairly perceptive look at apparent satisfaction in the suburbs masking deeper frustration (along with media hype). Then again, maybe I'm the only person who interpreted it as such. For all that I know, it might have just been intended as a silly comedy. But I still assert that it's worth seeing. Also starring John Vernon.