Mr. Wrong (1996)

Very wrong.  Comedienne Ellen DeGeneres makes her feature-film 
debut in this astonishingly unfunny romantic comedy about a girl 
who can't get rid of a guy.  The male in question is Bill Pullman-- 
or is it Jeff Daniels?-- a well-to-do smoothy who initially sweeps 
DeGeneres off her feet, until his increasingly bizarre behavior 
labels him as a card-carrying member of the Psycho Squad.  Director 
Nick Castle (DENNIS THE MENACE) and writers Chris Matheson, Kerry 
Ehrin, and Craig Munson botch it big-time.  The script isn't tight 
enough; the tone isn't right enough; and the comedy isn't black 
enough.  (Most disappointing to me: no references to that other 
stalker movie, CAPE FEAR.)  Ms. DeGeneres makes a bright impres-
sion, sure, but the rest of the cast barely registers.  Joan Cusack 
is a loss as Pullman's crazed ex-girlfriend; Dean Stockwell makes 
no impression as the P.I. that Ellen investigates.  And so on.  
Skip it. (Rated "PG-13"/92 min.)

Grade: D+

Copyright 1996 by Michael J. Legeros

Originally posted to triangle.movies in MOVIE HELL: February 18, 1996