Speechless (1994 film)
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Speechless | |
---|---|
Directed by | Ron Underwood |
Written by | Robert King |
Produced by | Geena Davis Renny Harlin |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Donald Peterman |
Edited by | Richard Francis-Bruce |
Music by | Marc Shaiman |
Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
|
Running time | 99 minutes |
Language | English |
Budget | $30 million[citation needed] |
Box office | $20,667,959[1] |
Speechless is a 1994 American romantic comedy film directed by Ron Underwood. It stars Michael Keaton, Geena Davis (who also co-produced with her then-husband, director Renny Harlin), Bonnie Bedelia, Ernie Hudson, and Christopher Reeve.
Plot
Julia Mann (Davis) and Kevin Vallick (Keaton) are insomniac writers who fall in love, but their romance is thrown for a loop because both are writing speeches for rival candidates in a New Mexico election. Julia is working for the Democratic candidate and Kevin for the Republican candidate.
Also complicating matters are Kevin's ex-wife (Bedelia), who is on the Republican's campaign trail, and "Mr. Flak Jacket," television war correspondent "Bagdad Bob" Freed (Reeve), Julia's estranged fiance, who wants her back.
This article needs an improved plot summary. (August 2019) |
Cast
- Michael Keaton as Kevin Vallick
- Geena Davis as Julia Mann
- Bonnie Bedelia as Annette
- Ernie Hudson as Dan Ventura
- Christopher Reeve as Bob Freed
- Charles Martin Smith as Kratz
- Gailard Sartain as Lee Cutler
- Ray Baker as Ray Garvin
- Mitchell Ryan as Lloyd Wannamaker
- Willie Garson as Dick
- Harry Shearer as Chuck
- Steven Wright as Eddie
- Jodi Carlisle as Doris Wind
Reception
The film received mostly negative reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 11% based on reviews from 27 critics.[2] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade B on scale of A to F.[3]
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave it 2 out of 4, and wrote: "The level of humor is dialed safely down to the Sitcom setting, which limits what can happen, and how much we can care about it."[4] Gene Siskel, gave the film 1 out 4 and was critical of the lack of chemistry between the leads and the script, writing: "This script needed to be completely overhauled before filming began."[5] Brian Lowry of Variety wrote: "Never achieves the madcap hilarity of the '40s romantic comedies it seeks to emulate, and some of the dramatic moments feel a bit forced."[6]
Marjorie Baumgarten of the Austin Chronicle gave a positive review and wrote: "It comes down to the charms of Keaton and Davis in the end. You like these characters and root for them to score."[7]
Geena Davis was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for her performance.[citation needed]
Box office
The film debuted at No. 5 in the United States and went on to gross $20.6 million.[8][1] In Latin America, several countries released the film with the title "No se tú", taking advantage of the 1992 hit by Mexican singer Luis Miguel, included in the soundtrack of the film.
Year-end lists
- Honorable mention – Michael MacCambridge, Austin American-Statesman[9]
- 8th worst – Desson Howe, The Washington Post[10]
Soundtrack
The soundtrack included "2 Sides", a track also present on James Armstrong's 2000 album, Got It Goin' On.[11]
Further reading
- Kauffmann, Stanley (January 23, 1995). "Speechless.(movie reviews)". The New Republic.
- Stolee, James (August 28, 1995). "Sleepless or speechless, this is only so-so comedy". Alberta Report / Western Report. United Western Communications Ltd.
References
- ^ a b "Speechless (1994)". The Numbers. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
- ^ "Speechless (1994)". Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^ "SPEECHLESS (1994) B". CinemaScore. Archived from the original on 2018-12-20.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (December 16, 1994). "Speechless Movie Review & Film Summary (1994)". Chicago Sun-Times.
- ^ Siskel, Gene. "CARREY'S `DUMB AND DUMBER' IS SMART ENOUGH TO WORK". chicagotribune.com. Archived from the original on 2015-10-22.
- ^ Lowry, Brian (12 December 1994). "Speechless". Variety.
- ^ "Movie Review: Speechless". Austin Chronicle.
- ^ "Weekend Box Office : Jim Carrey's Not-So-'Dumb' Fee". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
- ^ MacCambridge, Michael (December 22, 1994). "it's a LOVE-HATE thing". Austin American-Statesman (Final ed.). p. 38.
- ^ Howe, Desson (December 30, 1994), "The Envelope Please: Reel Winners and Losers of 1994", The Washington Post, retrieved July 19, 2020
- ^ Skelly, Richard. "James Armstrong". Allmusic. Retrieved October 28, 2010.