Sitting Ducks (1980)

Two small-time thieves come together as a bizarre comic duo in a quest to make their childhood dreams come true. In a limousine stuffed with cash stolen from the mob, they take off for ... See full summary »

Director:

Henry Jaglom

Writer:

Henry Jaglom

Stars:

Michael Emil, Zack Norman, Patrice Townsend

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Emil	...	Simon
Zack Norman	...	Sidney
Patrice Townsend	...	Jenny
Irene Cagen	...	Leona (as Irene Forrest)
Richard Romanus	...	Moose Joe Mastaki
Kelly Rogers	...	Sidney's Daughter
John Teranova	...	Mr. Carmichael
Eric Starr	...	Gas Station Attendant
Stasia Grabowski	...	Collector #1
Ellen Talmadge	...	Collector #2
Madeline Silver	...	Secretary (as Madeline N. Silver)
Yoram Kaniur	...	Collector #3
Judith Bruce	...	Head Waitress
Helen McEachrane
Lori Ann Zuker

Storyline

Two small-time thieves come together as a bizarre comic duo in a quest to make their childhood dreams come true. In a limousine stuffed with cash stolen from the mob, they take off for Miami, where they plan to fly to a safe haven in Costa Rica. On the road they pick up a singer/chauffeur plus two unlikely women they meet in a Holiday Inn. Then the fun begins! A zany, hilarious, screwball road comedy about sex, money and vitamins, with an exceptional cast who deliver comic performances of manic perfection!

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Plot Keywords:

con artist | swimming pool | written and directed by cast member | miami beach | new york | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 October 1980 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Kaikkien aikojen kaappaus

Filming Locations:

Miami Beach, Florida, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

International Rainbow, Rainbow Film Company, The, Sunny Side Up

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Who Is Henry Jaglom? (1997)

User Reviews

Quirky Forerunner to the Independent Film Movement

THE PLOT: Two average guys with vastly different temperaments decide to rip off the mob by stealing their entire days collections. They then hide the money in the tires of their car while driving off with it to Florida.

THE NEGATIVE: Michael Emil, who is the brother of the director, is a very poor actor. He comes off as a third rate Woody Allen. He talks incessantly about all his neurotic problems in a very monotone style with no voice inflections or facial gestures. He becomes more boring than funny and is easily outperformed by his co-star Norman. Townsend, the director's then wife, is not much better. She shows no ability at creating a character and seems to just mouth all her lines while having this big smile plastered on her face. The overall production has a very amateurish look about it and the story itself seems like two movies rolled into one. The first part starts out like an intriguing crime caper and then the second part becomes this free spirited road movie. It would have worked better had they taken just one of the story lines to its satisfying conclusion instead of having two unsatisfying half stories. It's like you get this great set-up, but then it doesn't seem to go anywhere with it. The 'big' twist that occurs near the film's final fifteen minutes doesn't work at all and has a bunch of loopholes in it that are a mile wide.

THE POSITIVE: The film has a real nice free form style to it that is lacking in many of today's movies with their rapid machine gun like pace. The characters all have a wide assortment of fun quirks and their offbeat conversations are amusing. Richard Romanus, as the group's chauffeur and struggling musician, comes off best and his songs aren't bad either. The scene where Emil and Norman try having an 'important' discussion while walking through a field of cackling chickens is a gem.

THE LOWDOWN: This forerunner to the independent film movement has a few good quirky moments and characters, but it never comes together enough to be completely satisfying.

THE RATING: 6 out of 10.