Two vacationing Americans returning a lost dog and two compulsive gamblers and their wives become suspects in an elaborate murder plot in this crime comedy shot on location in Rome and Monte Carlo. The film is notable as 'American Pie' actor Eugene Levy's only ever big screen directing effort and the talented cast includes Jim Belushi, Cybill Shepherd, John Candy, George Hamilton, Joss Ackland and Giancarlo Giannini as the ill-tempered detective leading the investigation. The film derives most of its energy though from the myriad of plot twists and turns throughout with the characters feeling compelled to lie to the police since the truth sounds absolutely unbelievable. This presents a curious dynamic with the characters, especially Candy, getting deeper and deeper into wilder and wilder lies that ultimately end up making him sound guiltier than the truth would have, but it is not a dynamic that is used nearly often enough with the film always aiming for laughs first and foremost. There are indeed several humorous moments that work, thanks largely to the often witty dialogue from the same screen writing team responsible for 'Private Benjamin'. The film tends to favour tiresome running gags though, such as Giannini's assistant constantly failing to light his cigarettes and Richard Lewis believing that he is a dead ringer for Al Pacino (he isn't). The pacing is quite brisk though and the lost dog at the centre of the film well-trained (and adorable), so this is a difficult film to dislike even if it constantly feels like it had the potential for more.
Review of Once Upon a Crime...
