An eccentric, if not charming Southern professor and his crew pose as a band in order to rob a casino, all under the nose of his unsuspecting landlord – a sharp old woman.
Tom Hanks
Professor G.H. Dorr
Irma P. Hall
Marva Munson
Marlon Wayans
Gawain MacSam
J.K. Simmons
Garth Pancake
Tzi Ma
The General
Ryan Hurst
Lump Hudson
Diane Delano
Mountain Girl
George Wallace
Sherriff Wyner
John McConnell
Deputy Sheriff
Jason Weaver
Weemack Funthes
Stephen Root
Fernand Gudge
Baadja-Lyne Odums
Rosalie Funthes
Walter K. Jordan
Elron
George Anthony Bell
Preacher
Greg Grunberg
TV Commercial Director
Hallie Singleton
Craft Service
Robert Baker
Quarterback
Blake Clark
Football Coach
Amad Jackson
Doughnut Gangster
Aldis Hodge
Doughnut Gangster
Freda Foh Shen
Doughnut Woman
Paula Martin
Gawain's Mama
Jeremy Suarez
Li'l Gawain
Te Te Benn
Gawain's Sister
Khalil East
Gawain's Brother
Jennifer Echols
Waffle Hut Waitress
Nita Norris
Tea Lady
Rappin' Granny
Tea Lady
Maryn Tasco
Tea Lady
Muriel Whitaker
Tea Lady
Jessie Bailey
Tea Lady
Louisa Abernathy
Church Voice (voice)
Mildred Dumas
Church Voice (voice)
Al Fann
Church Voice (voice)
Mi Mi Green-Fann
Church Voice (voice)
Maurice Watson
Othar
Bruce Campbell
Humane Society Worker (uncredited)
Michael Dotson
Angry Football Fan (uncredited)
Director, Screenplay
Joel Coen
Director, Screenplay
Ethan Coen
Original Film Writer
William Rose
September 4, 2023
5
There are some films that ought never to be remade, and many of the charming "Ealing Comedies" are amongst them. This one - originally from 1955 - was maybe not my favourite of these classic stories, but it still in no way deserved this imbecilic remake from the Coen brothers. Tom Hanks ("Prof. Dorr") is a typical Southern gentleman who inveigles his way into the home of elderly Christian lady "Marva Munson" (Irma P. Hall) and under the guise of practising their musical numbers, he and his gang set about committing a daring robbery of a casino located next door. What really wrecks this for me in the constant use of expletives. The original story is simple, slapstick even, with subtly paced humour that allows the story to develop in a gently menacing fashion. This is just a charm-free, in-your-face, frontal attack on your senses that rarely raises a smile, has nothing even remotely touching about it and even the old lady isn't averse to a little bit of angry behaviour that would have had Katie Johnson spinning in her grave. These original films are a crucial piece of the jigsaw puzzle that depicts the evolution of cinema comedy, and this is just a shockingly poor travesty of an adaptation.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$35,000,000.00
Revenue:
$76,700,000.00