Madhouse (1990) User Reviews

The houseguests from hell. (spoilers)

[vertigo_14 · 5/10 · 30 July 2005]

'Madhouse' is a mild comedy made much funnier by the presence of it's two lead actors--John Laroquette and Kirstie Alley--who both have good chemistry together and create the necessary counterweights to a goofy situation comedy.

This is the story of a Californian couple, Mark and Jessie Bannister, who just bought a house in L.A. On short notice, Mark gets word that his wimpy cousin and his irritating wife (John Deihl and Jessica Lundy) are coming to visit. As annoying as the wife may be, these are the least of their worries since they will be followed by a number of other equally annoying characters who the Bannisters just can't seem to get rid of. It is a mild, simple situation comedy, but as the situation becomes more outrageous as the visitors become more numerous and the Bannisters more desperate to get rid of their houseguests from hell who have taken over their once-comfortable home and are slowly invading their lives (including their work). By this point, it's destined for a lot of laughs, especially as the Bannisters become more neurotic.

Fans of late 80s/early 90s mainstream situation comedies should enjoy this one. It's a good weekend afternoon snoozer comedy. It's on the order of oddball disaster comedies like Mystery Date or After Hours (although with much less humor than After Hours).

It's a madhouse...or so they say!

[Hey_Sweden · 6/10 · 21 November 2015]

This engagingly nutty farce stars TV icons John Larroquette and Kirstie Alley as Mark and Jessie Bannister, an average, fairly successful L.A. couple who've just moved into their dream home. Wouldn't you know it: their serenity is almost immediately interrupted by a nonstop barrage of uninvited house guests. Circumstances spiral way out of control, ensuring that these human pests are obliged to stay at Mark and Jessies' place for an extended period of time.

At best, the material by debuting writer / director Tom Ropelewski is no more than mildly amusing. It's certainly not for everybody, considering just how abominable some of these characters are, such as Jessica Lundys' obnoxious Bernice, the wife of Marks' cousin Fred (John Diehl), bratty psycho in training C.K. (Aeryk Egan), the son of the next door neighbour Dale (played by The Exterminator, a.k.a. actor Robert Ginty), or Jessies' spoiled rotten, stuck up, gold digging sister Claudia (Alison La Placa). But the cast is so good that they keep this wacky comedy watchable for 91 minutes.

By the time the movie has ended, we'll see a baby elephant running amok, a pet cat that steadily uses up a number of its nine lives, a police raid, an on air nervous breakdown for reporter Jessie, a harness designed for the pregnant Bernice when she slips and falls, and some remodelling (when Dale and his brood move in, he takes it upon himself to make bleachers (!) for the TV set).

This talented cast makes the most of the situation; Larroquette, Diehl, and La Placa are particularly funny. Also appearing are Bradley Gregg as Claudias' no-good son Jonathan, and Dennis Miller (making his film debut), sporting his ridiculous early 90s hair as Marks' co-worker Wes.

It's all too easy to sympathize with our heroes as they try to take back their house.

Six out of 10.

Not the worst thing ever

[jellopuke · 6/10 · 25 June 2021]

This is one of those late 80's comedies with low stakes, minor stars, and a few laughs. It's even got an animated opening credits. It doesn't aim high, but there's a few good bits so it's not a total waste of time. Don't get me wrong, this ain't shakespeare, but it's a pleasant enough diversion if you like the era.

"If we have a nuclear war, the only remaining living thing will be houseguests"!!

[teenwolf97 · 30 August 2000]

Ah,Madhouse. One of those great movies yours truly can't get enough of. I saw this movie in theaters when I was 11, and it has gotten better with every viewing. The jokes in this movie are hilarious and well-placed. John Laroquette and Kirsty Alley are magnificent in their roles as Mark and Jesse Bannister. They are two,happily married people who have it mad in the shade until Mark's cousin Fred comes to visit on his vacation. Oh, he also brings his wife Bernice and the cat Scruffy. Circumstances beyond their control lead to them staying longer than expected,and this leads to everyone shacking up at the Bannister's like it was a Holiday Inn. Soon,Jesse's sister Claudia and her son Jonathen,and the neighbors all live in the same house,while managing to drive Mark and Jesse out of their ^&%*ing minds. In the end, they manage to stand up against the terror that is their family and friends. *Some of the funniest moments include Jesse's interview segments,the cat and its ability to rise from the ashes,and Mark's scene at the end where his boss attempts to give him a raise.* All,in all a 9 out of 10. Also watch for Monday Night Football's Dennis Miller in a bit part.

You'd have to be mad to visit this 'House'

[moonspinner55 · 2/10 · 19 June 2007]

Great cast of TV-comedy hams can't save this one, a dud written and directed by Tom Ropelewski--it resembles an unsold television pilot sans laugh-track. Married couple John Larroquette and Kirstie Alley are dismayed to find their home overtaken (and positively trashed) by an eccentric assortment of witless relatives and obnoxious friends. Ropelewski apparently didn't learn a cardinal rule of the movie makers' handbook: wild party sequences are rarely ever funny on the screen (and this picture is ninety percent brawling). Too bad; Larroquette and Alley make a potentially funny couple, and dryly disengaged Alison La Placa has a wicked gleam in her eyes (you keep expecting her to say something hilarious until the anticipation itself becomes funny). * from ****

Wasn't John Larroquette's career dead by 1990?

[elvisbloom · 1/10 · 4 January 2005]

Well, if it wasn't this did it. Kirstie Ally (before she became the fattest pig in Hollywood) and Dan Fielding buy a house that nearly bankrupts them. Already this movie sucks. But I'll keep going as there is a ten line minimum. MAYBE this movie could have been good if the cast wasn't such g-listers. Imagine if Ben Stiller played this for laughs. Oh wait...Duplex sucked too. OK. Never mind. But seriously, that cat gag got old the first time it happened. After the fourth I wanted to slit my wrists. And not the "cry for help" horizontal way, but the vertical "I'm looking to drain this sucker and die quickly" way. The top comment says non-stop laughs. ON what planet? Planet unfunny? WORTH WATCHING again and again. Are you a masochist? I hope you have grown a brain since then Barry, because if not, the ironic torture dept. of hell is gonna have a field day on you. After the 9th time you watch this you will be begging for Ernest takes A Poo or Mary Kate and Ashley's Adventure at The Tire Store.

Why!

[aarongreenfoot · 1/10 · 7 August 2020]

I get the whole comedy of the time! Everyone wanted to have the next National Lampon movie. But come on! This was just over the top... Plus the crap kid and the cat killings! Just WHY!

House of laughs

[videorama-759-859391 · 7/10 · 4 February 2023]

Yes, and as we remember Kirstie for films like this, a sort of oddity of a comedy, but a comedy with smart humor, which takes a real crack at invasion of privacy, where near the end, we too affected, feel the hell our two leads have endured. Not one house guest here, you won't wanna kill, as they're truly intolerable. A Club Paradise/Goddfellas moment, near the end, sees poor Laroquette trying to get rid of packages of cocaine, his unwanted nephew has been storing, while cops are surrounding the place. John Diehl such a great reliable character actor, is a scene stealer as Laroquette's brother, which he does grow on us. His crazy wife, I wanted to strangle, a hundred times over, and multiplies the poor duo's hell, skating over the front porch. Madhouse, a more obscure KA flick, has a different kind of comedy, and it's a comedy type I really liked. Zany and cheesy, yeah, but I love good cheese, and a animated movie opening,done to a great Chris Rea song, I'm not complaining. FUN-NY.

Kirstie Alley & John Larroquette were Great!

[whpratt1 · 1/10 · 10 March 2004]

The very beginning of this film was great with Kristie Alley, (Jessie Bannister), "The Mao Game",'99 and John Larroquette(Mark Bannister),"Isn't She Great",2000 were in their own cozy home and happy to be in their bedroom together and making love. It was their first home together away from the apartment scene and they just wanted to be like any other normal couple, ready to make it a love nest. However, the rest of the picture goes completely crazy, it seems that everybody in the neighborhood has to share their home and even their bedroom. The bedroom was also made into a hospital room. It is a very crazy film and depending on your sense of humor, you might enjoy it, but at the same time find it and AWFUL #1. Mark Bannister even breaks up the toilet bowl that seems to be running all the time!

With friends like these...

[Son_of_Mansfield · 6/10 · 1 June 2007]

A happy couple live alone in their house until a series of unfortunate events bring family members and annoying next door neighbors to live with them. It's the ultimate nightmare as the two end up waiting on these people hand and foot until they finally snap. A good idea that has some very funny moments, but is held back by lazy directing. Tom Ropelewski, who would later write and direct Look Who's Talking 3, Lord forgive him, did the same on Madhouse and he doesn't have the same mad glee in directing it as he had in writing it. There isn't any umph to the directing. None of the scenes have the kind of energy that script gives off. About the best thing is the main title theme that I still remember even though I haven't seen the movie in years. The cast, especially leads John Larroquette and Kirstie Alley as the besieged couple, are all good. John Diehl isn't usually in comedies, he is more of a b action movie man, but he gives good shlub and Allison La Placa is the rich husband seeking sister from hell. There is enough here to like, but given the penchant to remake movies, why not do so with one that wasn't done right the first time around? Kaddir: "Don't you choke my cherub! Don't choke my cherub!"

forget it

[SnoopyStyle · 3/10 · 2 October 2023]

Stockbroker Mark Bannister (John Larroquette) and his TV reporter wife Jessie (Kirstie Alley) are the quintessential successful yuppie couple. Mark's school friend Fred comes to visit with his overbearing wife Bernice and their cat. It's a madhouse as the couple gets invaded by other guests.

This is a slightly annoying couple with much more annoying guests. I wasn't sure if I saw this back in the day. I did. I just erased it from my mind... mostly. I do remember Mark being embarrassed as a chubby kid in the balloon parade thing. It's the most charming thing in this movie. I was right to forget this. It's not worth the brain space.

Why oh Why isn't this on DVD yet?

[writer8008 · 10/10 · 24 March 2012]

If you're not a John Larroquette fan nor a fan or Kirstie Alley at her heyday, don't bother to read on. But if you loved John in Night Court and Kirstie in Cheers, you're in for a treat.

This is the best of both of them. And as a couple they really work - the chemistry, the timing, everything. Tom Ropelewski really hit it out of the park in writing and directing this. So many great quotes, so many great characters, and subplots that all come back together at the end.

I've always heard, in writing school, that if you want us to care about a character or laugh at a character, keep making things fall apart for him/her. Well, I've seldom seen things fall apart so many times in a row. Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...it gets worse. Over and over.

Sure, it's as dated as a film could be for its era. The clothes, hair, music, everything. But nobody could play it better. Nobody.

It's a bit PG in a couple of places, where there's a bit of foreplay and one racy part where Kirstie starts to strip, but my 10 and 13 year olds haven't been grossed and they think it's hysterical.

Just showed it to a friend that's 36 (another writer) and he loved it.

So-o-o-o...why isn't this out on DVD yet, when so many people are clamoring for it? I'd sure buy it!

Not Bad- a Nostalgic Blast from the Past

[thedailyintelligencer · 6/10 · 24 June 2023]

Good to see Kirstie Alley in her prime! Some over-the-top, slapstick humor. The world's most durable cat!

John Larroquette and Alley have good chemistry, and some funny scenes.

Not a highbrow or thought-provoking picture, just good fun. Two people living the suburban homeownership dream, until long-lost relatives arrive-and things begin to unravel!

Plot holes, loose ends, unlikely twists, so-so editing, recycled 80's and early 90's tropes, bad synthesizer music, crazy swat team cops, nice California scenery, silly dialog- this movie has them all!

This isn't the greatest comedy in the world, or some of the cast's best work, but it's adequate distraction!

You may like it or not

[estherwalker-34710 · 5/10 · 1 March 2023]

Not as funny as I was hoping, although it tends to get more interesting in the last segment. Basically, 2 sets of relatives plus the next door neighbor family eventually move into the childless Bannister's new home for various reasons and lengths of time, causing various types of havoc. The neighbor's house gets accidentally burned down by the Bannisters, and their own house is partly wrecked due to the activities of the guests and the police, who are clued that Mr. Bannister received a shipment of cocaine from Columbia, thanks to a teen nephew presently living in his house.

Several running gags are included: Scruffy: cousin Bernice's mischievous cat, keeps dying, buried, and mysteriously reappearing. It even goes supersonic in circles when it eats some cocaine. Meanwhile, C. L: the half-grown neighbor boy's string of firecrackers cause several explosions. Then, there's the toilet which people keep forgetting to jiggle to stop the flow of water, which irritates Mark. However, Mark Bannister's treatment of it at the end of the film is unwarranted. Then, cousin Bernice's weeks-long stay after breaking her leg, bed-ridden in a traction contraption, occasions periodic attention.

One of my favorite scenes in when Mark's stock brokering boss, Mr. Grindle, unexpectedly arrives at the Bannister's house with some fantastic news and a promotion offer for Mark. But, Mark is so sure that he has come to tell him he's fired, that he doesn't listen to Grindle's talk, instead backtalking belligerently, with name calling. Finally, Mark's wife tells him to shut up and listen.

This is one cool comedy!

[wishkah7 · 19 January 2000]

This was one hilarious movie to begin the 90's. I've always been a fan of John Larroquette since he appeared on Night Court. This movie rocks! And I was just a pre-teen kid when I saw this in the theater, and it's still funny to me now that I'm an adult!

It's about John Larroquette and Kirsty Alley playing these yuppies who have some relatives visiting, and then before we know it, practically the whole neighborhood becomes their houseguests! Also the news interviews were amusing, too!

So, if you're in a mood for a screwball comedy from this past decade, you're in for a ride with this one! I highly recommend it!

will these awful guests ever leave??

[ksf-2 · 5/10 · 27 July 2023]

The neon, jazzy, animated opening credits that were all the rage for a while. Kirstie alley and john larroquette are the bannisters, jess and mark. When old friends and some family members come for a visit, it turns into a nightmare. Some racial slurs used here and there. A small role for dennis miller. It's listed as a comedy, but for most of the film, everyone is just miserable. Similar to "christmas vacation"... which had just come out the year before. Houses burn down. Someone takes a fall, and now has to stay longer, a "man who came to dinner" reference. Even a "happy homemaker" reference from mary tyler moore. Some of the humor is just silly names. A running gag where horrible things keep happening to the cat. Sometimes it recovers. It's watchable, but not hilarious. Written and directed by tom ropelewski. Alley made this right in the middle of her run on cheers. Which also had alison laplaca (claudia, the sister) as a guest star. It starts slow, but picks up towards the end. When I saw the title, I was hoping it was the 1974 one with vincent price... it's even more fun!

Dr Jack Penix....with an X....

[FlashCallahan · 5/10 · 10 July 2013]

Mark and his wife Jessie have just moved into their own house and are nearly out of money.

But everything is perfect, until Mark gets mail and discovers that his cousin Fred and wife Bernice are coming to stay for a holiday.

Fred used to be a wild-guy but now he is a jobless man with no self-esteem thanks to his dominating wife. Bernice is pregnant, and when she has an accident she ends up in bed for the rest of the pregnancy.

Also, Jessie's gold-digger sister Claudia and son Jonathan and the next door neighbours are forced to stay in the house.

This causes unwanted pressure on Mark as he tries to land an account with a multi- millionaire and the stress causes Jesse to nearly lose her TV job, just as she is ready to hit the big time......

I've always wanted to see this movie, ever since I were thirteen, and the one sheet was outside my local cinema. Now I've seen it, I still prefer the one sheet.

It's one of those weird eighties crossover movies, that had the token yuppies, the big offices, and when Kirstie Alley was still very hot. It's as if the screenwriters have gotten every trope and cliché and threw it onto the screen.

The biggest cliché is Mark and his big deal, in every comedy like this, the main lead always has a something big happening at work, just as something bigger happens at home. See everything starring Steve Martin in the nineties for proof.

Other than that, its not that bad, just not memorable enough, nor bonkers enough, to warrant another viewing. And the ending just seems a little too 'Last House On The Left' to sit well in this type of movie

At least Dennis Miller has great hair.

Excellent feel-good screwball comedy which will leave you smiling!

[Catherine_Grace_Zeh · 9/10 · 28 February 2007]

MADHOUSE, in my opinion, is an excellent feel-good screwball comedy which will leave you smiling! If I had to deal with a bunch of uninvited guests the way that Mark (John Larroquette) and Jessie (Kirstie Alley) did, I would go just as crazy as they did. Still, I say it's always a good idea to be a good Samaritan. Last night, before I had to leave to go somewhere, I watched half of this, and this morning, I watched the whole thing, and I must say that I really enjoyed it. I even purchased it last night. Anyway, if you want to know what kind of mayhem ensues, see the movie for yourself. I guarantee you that you will have a smile on your face afterward.

"Madhouse" has non-stop laughs.

[buppy · 20 December 1998]

John Larroquette, Kirstie Alley, and Dennis Miller star in this incredibly hilarious film. Mark and Jessie Bannister (John Larroquette and Kirstie Alley) have the perfect marriage, a nice house and wonderful jobs. When long-lost relatives Fred and Bernice show up uninvited everything starts to fall apart. Soon they have about 8 guests in their house and have nowhere to go. Then they decide to get even. Filled with a tremendous amount of humor, "Madhouse" is a great comedy that is worth watching again and again.

Madhouse? More like a nut-house to me!

[GOWBTW · 9/10 · 7 June 2006]

I thought I had bad house guests, this movie proves otherwise. It's totally insane and totally outrageous form start to finish. The cast of the movie were great, John Laroqutte of "Night Court" fame and Kirstie Alley of "Cheers" fame make up a good team of a couple who seem to can't enjoy the privacy of their own home. The first guests are Fred(John Diehl, "Miami Vice") and his domineering wife Bernice(Jessica Lundy). Fred lost his job, got travelers checks from a hustler, everything happens to him are in shambles. The only problem that bothered the Bannisters weren't the mooching family and guests is their own toilet. The one time they had a intimacy together is when Jessie did her little striptease to Mark. That scene is memorable, always. Then the gold-digging sister of Jessie's Claudia(Alison La Placa) moves in. OH BOY! Not even worse Mark's nephew moves in, gets to work with Mark, but he was into drug dealing. When all this mess starts embroiling in, the Bannisters start to throw down the gloves, and say "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!" What do they do? throw out all the moochers, they do get an apology from the Police so that's a load off their chest. And Jessie showed off her chest as well to her snooty sister. I wouldn't mess with Jessie Bannister. This movie was funny, I couldn't find anything else to say after wards, that it's downright hilarious! Watch it and see it for yourself. Rating 4 out of 5 stars.

Not a good movie but I'm giving it a 10!

[preppy-3 · 10/10 · 5 February 2004]

Kirstie Alley and John Larroquette get their beautiful dream house which is invaded by friends, co-workers, next door neighbors, relatives etc etc. slowly driving them crazy.

Alley and Larroquette made this when their series "Cheers" and "Night Court" were on the air and big hits. If not for that, this would have gone straight to video. The plot is old hat, production values are nonexistent and it's poorly directed. Also, ALL the humor is either sick, silly or a combo. BUT this movie makes me laugh! I've seen it at least 4 or 5 times and, I have to admit, each time I was laughing out loud. I usually hate sick humor like this but something about this movie really hits me...and I'm really surprised this got by with a PG-13--some of this humor is VERY offensive. Also Alley and Larroquette are very good and make a very pleasing couple. Dennis Miller also pops up once in a while playing the straight man (!!).

So, this is NOT a good movie. It's just a vulgar, offensive comedy...and absolutely hysterical! I recommend this highly...sort of.

"Madhouse": You May Have to Go There After This One

[tfrizzell · 27 November 2000]

Tedious comedy from sitcom actors that is rarely funny and just barely watchable. John Larroquette and Kirstie Alley star as a married couple who just cannot keep their terrible relatives out of their house. The screenplay is annoying and the direction is sour throughout. Dennis Miller does well in a small supporting role, but his character is not utilized as much as he should be. 2 stars out of 5.

This movie sucked

[mebarron · 6 September 2003]

This movie sucked really bad, not only was John L's acting pretty amateur and stiff, it was quite obvious that Dennis Miller belongs on a prime time talk show. None of it was funny, and the cat bit was really cheap. The ending was predictable, and the plot was a little shaky, some kids smuggling dope by using John L's office? Yeah right... not now, and not even then (1990) folks... the only part i like is the parts where they interview people on the street, but even that kind of sucked because the "Question Girl" played by that chick who was in that movie with john travolta, her acting was worse than John L's, my rating, a 0 out of 10

Mediocre

[nike738 · 21 May 2000]

Madhouse is a movie that you will watch one time and be through with it. Yes, parts of it are very funny, but over all, it is not such a great movie.

Mark and Jessie Bannister are a couple that buy a new home. They have great jobs, loving marriage, and are successful. When relatives come to visit, it all changes from there. Pretty soon there are over eight houseguests and Mark and Jesse's life get turned upside down.

If you want to see this movie, see it on t.v., don't rent it. 4/10