Edit
Storyline
This movie tells the possibly true story of Melvin Dummar. Melvin is a nice guy, but he is a total loser: unlucky, impractical and can't keep a job. One night, however, he helps an old man who has had a motorcycle accident in the desert. Melvin laughs when the old man says he is Howard Hughes, the eccentric multimillionaire. But when Howard Hughes dies, Melvin is mailed a will leaving him part of the estate! Written by
Reid Gagle
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Edit
Did You Know?
Trivia
According to the DVD sleeve notes, the film was "inspired by the true-life story of a Utah service station owner who appeared on
Howard Hughes' will".
See more »
Goofs
While the men are in the truck talking, a sandwich being eaten has the bite area alternately changing from one side of the bread between shots.
See more »
Connections
Spoofs
Let's Make a Deal (1963)
See more »
Soundtracks
"Love Can't Hold a Ramblin' Man"
Performed by
Danny Darst (as Daniel Dean Darst)
See more »
The most interesting parts of this film are the beginning and the end, because those are the parts in which Jason Robards plays a morose old man who may or may not be Howard Hughes. Robards' performance is very effective, and sadly it is under-used. The rest of the film concerns the life of Melvin, with very little to do with Howard, and Melvin is by far and away the lesser interesting character of the two. Nothing much happens during the main body of the film: all it shows is the unexciting life of one person. The soundtrack is often noisy, which makes it hard to hear what the characters are say, and Steenburgen goes over-the-top in a role that she very questionably won an Oscar for. Some have interpreted the film as some commentary or satire on American lifestyle and society, but I personally can find little evidence to support that theory, and therefore I only recommend this film to those who want to see one of Jason Robards' best performances.