Outrageous Fortune

Shelley Long plays Lauren, a "serious" New York City theatrical actress (this was before the term "actor" was coined for both genders), determined to make it in the business -- her main ambition being to play Hamlet on the professional stage. Never mind that she's "been at it for years and has never earned a dime" (her mother's quote), and owes both her parents $32,000.00 from all their help and (literally) support over the years. When the great Vladimir Korzonowski (Robert Prosky), one of the most world-renowned acting teachers, announces he's taking students on a limited basis, Lauren is thrilled. Conning her daddy out of the $5,000.00 fee, she auditions for and gets into the class ...

And meets, at the audition, the outspoken Sandy (Bette Midler), a B-movie style actress ("You saw 'Ninja Vixens?'") who is the opposite of what Lauren believes an actress should be -- Sandy is untrained, undisciplined, and has the vocabulary of a sailor on shore leave. She's also very funny and not nearly as uptight as the rather anal Lauren.

Naturally, the two can't stand each other on sight -- making it sort of a pain when they both get into Korzonowski's class. Soon after, though, Lauren's life takes an upswing when she meets Michael (Peter Coyote), a schoolteacher in need of help to make a pumpkin costume for one of his less fortunate students. The two immediately begin an affair that gets hot and heavy ... and cheers Lauren up considerably.

We soon learn that Sandy, too, has met a man who's sexual prowess keeps her smile lit ... but when it's revealed that her new lover is Michael as well, the stage seems set for one hell of a showdown between the two volatile actresses.

But that's just the beginning -- and also only about the first third of the film. From there, to say much more would give away too much for those who haven't seen it, but suffice is to say, the film doesn't go off in the direction you expect it to ... instead turning into a buddy picture/chase movie that sends our two "bimbo" actresses to Tres Cruces, New Mexico, in a trail of mistaken identities, secret pasts, government conspiracies, secret codes, and attempted murder lead both women to a final showdown in the desert with a man intent on doing away with them both.

Oh yeah, and there are a HELL of a lot of laughs along the way, with Lauren and Sandy trading insults and innuendos all across the country, as they sort of "make it up as they go along" in their search to get to the truth. The second half of the film, although not as constantly entertaining as the first, still completes the picture of a film that's a personal favorite of mine, and one I added to my DVD collection soon as it was released. Shelley Long plays very much her Diane-like character from "Cheers," and Bette Midler ... well, she pretty much plays Bette Midler, which is why she's so great in the film.

The movie's improbabilities will entertain, just don't take them too seriously ... this is sort of a popcorn comedy, filling and satisfying and not to be judged on anything but its own merits. A great little film more people should see (...) --

The scene where they try to get the check-in woman to give them the name of the flight their Dead(?) lover is on, is comedic *brilliance*. If you are a fan of comedy AT ALL, this one is NOT TO BE MISSED!!! You'll love it!

"I paid $5,000 to study with the KGB."