I've noticed, looking back on eighties movies versus today's output, that back then (the best of them) just threw the audience into the action and went from there. There was little in the way of 'back-story' or a long period of the film's run-time dedicated to 'setting up' the characters. We were just sat down with them and left to get to know them.
I watched 'See No Evil, Hear No Evil' many times during my childhood and I've only just re-watched it again (having found it on an online streaming service). I have to say that it's held up over the years perfectly and is still as perfectly funny today as it ever was. Okay, so judging by today's uber politically correct standards it may be a but 'un-PC' here and there, but - in my opinion - that's no bad thing.
It takes two comic legends and puts them together, allowing them to play off each other wonderfully. Richard Pryor is blind. Gene Wilder is deaf. One day, during their job working at a news stand, a murder is committed. They get the blame. Now, it's up to the pair of them to apprehend the bad guys and prove their innocence.
Yes, it's a little far-fetched and 'screwball' in nature and you may have to suspend your disbelief a bit in order to fully appreciate everything that happens (a blind man driving a car for one!). However, it's not meant to be a great work of art with lashings of realism. It's there to make you laugh and if you allow yourself to go along for the ride then laughs you will get.
The plot is driven by the pair's banter between them as they try to get through this ordeal with their respective disabilities and, perhaps more importantly, try to get along with each other's disabilities. The nice thing about 'See No Evil, Hear No Evil' is that it never really makes fun of people with disabilities and provides a small - if humorous - insight into the perils they have to face in life while never showing that they can't achieve great things.
It's worth mentioning the bad-guys (and true killers) who are on their tale the whole time, simply because when I first watched it I never knew either of the male/female actors who played them. Now, I was actually quite amazed when I realised that the man of the duo was none other than Kevin Spacey (sporting a near-flawless British accent). I know these days he's not many people's favourite, so if you can overlook his input (and when judging Spacey on his acting alone I think few can say a bad thing about him) then there's nothing to stop you enjoying this silly, over-the-top (and yet poignant) film from yesteryear. Long may it keep up its sheer playful cheekiness.
I watched 'See No Evil, Hear No Evil' many times during my childhood and I've only just re-watched it again (having found it on an online streaming service). I have to say that it's held up over the years perfectly and is still as perfectly funny today as it ever was. Okay, so judging by today's uber politically correct standards it may be a but 'un-PC' here and there, but - in my opinion - that's no bad thing.
It takes two comic legends and puts them together, allowing them to play off each other wonderfully. Richard Pryor is blind. Gene Wilder is deaf. One day, during their job working at a news stand, a murder is committed. They get the blame. Now, it's up to the pair of them to apprehend the bad guys and prove their innocence.
Yes, it's a little far-fetched and 'screwball' in nature and you may have to suspend your disbelief a bit in order to fully appreciate everything that happens (a blind man driving a car for one!). However, it's not meant to be a great work of art with lashings of realism. It's there to make you laugh and if you allow yourself to go along for the ride then laughs you will get.
The plot is driven by the pair's banter between them as they try to get through this ordeal with their respective disabilities and, perhaps more importantly, try to get along with each other's disabilities. The nice thing about 'See No Evil, Hear No Evil' is that it never really makes fun of people with disabilities and provides a small - if humorous - insight into the perils they have to face in life while never showing that they can't achieve great things.
It's worth mentioning the bad-guys (and true killers) who are on their tale the whole time, simply because when I first watched it I never knew either of the male/female actors who played them. Now, I was actually quite amazed when I realised that the man of the duo was none other than Kevin Spacey (sporting a near-flawless British accent). I know these days he's not many people's favourite, so if you can overlook his input (and when judging Spacey on his acting alone I think few can say a bad thing about him) then there's nothing to stop you enjoying this silly, over-the-top (and yet poignant) film from yesteryear. Long may it keep up its sheer playful cheekiness.