Trial and Error (1997)

An actor poses as a lawyer to help his sick friend, and problems develop.

Director:

Jonathan Lynn

Writers:

Sara Bernstein (story), Gregory Bernstein (story),

Stars:

Michael Richards, Jeff Daniels, Charlize Theron

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Richards	...	Richard Rietti
Jeff Daniels	...	Charles Tuttle
Charlize Theron	...	Billie Tyler
Jessica Steen	...	Elizabeth
Austin Pendleton	...	Judge Paul Z. Graff
Rip Torn	...	Benny Gibbs
Alexandra Wentworth	...	Tiffany
Jennifer Coolidge	...	Jacqueline
Lawrence Pressman	...	Whitfield
Dale Dye	...	Dr. Stone
Max Casella	...	Dr. Brown
McNally Sagal	...	Charles' Assistant
Kenneth White	...	Hank Crabbit
Keith Mills	...	Buck Norman
Zaid Farid	...	Bailiff

Storyline

Lawyer Charlie Tuttle is defending his wife's relative Benny Gibbs in a class action fraud suit, but when he gets to the city where court takes place, he gets drunk and the following day, when the hearings begin, his friend, actor Richard Rjetti takes his place posing as Charlie. The bad thing is that Richard doesn't know anything about being a lawyer, and Charlie has to teach him as the court goes on.

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Plot Keywords:

court | gambling | deception | con man | law | 

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Taglines:

What's a courtroom circus without a couple of clowns?

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexual content

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 May 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Advogado por Engano

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$4,903,529 (USA) (30 May 1997)

Gross:

$13,548,764 (USA) (25 July 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Larger Than Life Productions, New Line Cinema

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jennifer Tilly was originally cast as Billie Tyler.

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Quotes

Charles Tuttle: Prior use of the machine is not determinative of possessorary interest.
Tattooed Lowlife: And you a lawyer?
Charles Tuttle: Yes.
Heavy Lowlife, Tattooed Lowlife: [both punch him at the same time]

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Crazy Credits

Sound technician Brian McPherson is credited as "hothead technician."

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Soundtracks

"Teach Me Tonight"
Written by Cahn & Gene de Paul
Performed by Oscar Peterson
Courtesy of Verve Records
By Arrangement with PolyGram Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

Better than most reviews let on

We spend so much time as movie enthusiasts that we often only look for films people would consider revolutionary (e.g. Donnie Darko, Fight Club, etc.) but every once in awhile a noraml run of the mill comedy is nice. Trial and Error, however, had some of the most ridiculously funny scenes I have ever seen Micheal Richards in - his audtion near the beginning, his cross examination of 'Buck.' These scenes a lone are enough reason to see the movie. All said and done, Micheal Richards kills it in this movie... Some people have said that he still is trying to play off his role of Kramer but what we must understand is that regardless the role Micheal Richards constantly brings his own personality to the characters he plays and I wouldn't have it any other way. See it. Twice.