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DEUCE BIGALOW: MALE GIGOLO is deliriously dumb fun. Plunger gags, poo poo gags, used condoms, erect penises, bare butts, wee tee's, kung-fu fighting with hookers in high heels, ice cream-eating dou- ble takes in a hot tub, Norm Macdonald as a bartender (one scene only), and narcoleptic bowling. It's all here and more-- no joke too low, no physical gag too obvious. (And fired at such a rapid clip that the Tedium Factor is never a factor.) Straight man and umpteenth "Saturday Night Live" alumni Rob Schneider-- as a cash- strapped aquarium cleaner fish-sitting for a pay-to-play ladies' man-- takes most of the abuse. He appears in an afro, stripteases using a floor lamp, and has his butt-crack hair ripped out at beau- ty salon. [ Insert appropriate sound effect. ] He (and the audi- ence) also gets an ear-full of profanity, be it a whacko cop (Wil- liam Forsythe) who can't stop talking about his member, or a "date" afflicted with Tourette's Syndrome. (She's a side-splitter, but it's the deadpan sex-slang-- "he-bitch," "man-whore," etc.-- that had this critic crying...) Needless to say, no opportunity to be crude, rude, dumb, or dumber is missed and, yet, the only *real* eyebrow-raiser is the unusual amount of handicapped humor. The mentally ill, the visually impaired, and others all take consider- able lumps here. (And considerably *funny* lumps, as evident by the dialogue-drowning laughter of a packed sneak-peek audience.) However, the film's generous sentimental streak-- involving a sappy romantic subplot and its aw-shucks message of acceptance-- pretty much KO's any perceived cruelty. No that that won't stop some peo- ple from complaining. Or protesting. One question: was that an unbilled Tina Louise as Deuce's first assignment? Or Marlo Thomas? (Rated "R"/~90 min.) Grade: C+ Copyright 1999 Michael J. Legeros Movie Hell is a trademark of Michael J. Legeros
Originally posted to triangle.movies as MOVIE
HELL: Just a Gigolo
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