The Westing Game (1997) User Reviews

We read the book then watched the movie

[mlago · 4/10 · 19 May 2005]

I am a teacher who read The Westing Game to his class. Then we watched the movie. I did not feel that the movie did the book justice, but here is what some of my students thought:

The movie was different from the book. Why did you leave out that Turtle won $200 million? Brittany.

I liked the movie, because some of the details in the movie were different, like when Turtle was under the judge's desk and Crow helped her. The book was better, but I wouldn't mind watching the movie again. Shanice

I think the book was better, but the movie was good too. I liked the movie, because it wasn't soooo confusing, and there wasn't much violence. Marisa

I liked the movie, because you can understand it. I liked it because Turtle was such a smart girl, and she helped solve the problems. I liked the boy in the wheelchair (Chris), because he helped solve problems too. I think that Turtle is a funny name. Sandra

I loved the movie, because they have good details and a great plot. Josh

I liked the movie, because most of the information matched the book. Stephen

I think that the book and the movie were both really good. Some parts were in the book and weren't in the movie, like the dressmaker (Flora Baumbach) wasn't Turtle's partner, and she wasn't even in the movie. The movie was more interesting than the book. Sibel

The movie was da bomb--just joking. It was good and so was the book. Turtle was the best part in the movie and the smartest one except for Sandy the doorman. Dakota

I liked the book, but I didn't like the movie as much. I hope they make another movie that is better than this one. I liked the movie because they left out some of the details that I thought were boring in the book. Tyler

I Hate It

[lujlp · 1/10 · 23 December 1999]

The book was far better than this horible theatrical recreation. I makes me wonder if anyone associated with the film has ever read the book. They dropped at least five key characters and then went on to destroy the other characters completly. While the beginning and the end of the movie may have been remotely simmiler to the book, the rest of the movie was a total loss. The book was clevery written leaving you guessing up til the very end with every player intertwining around the others. I was sorley dissapointed, I could see no reason as to why anyone would want to turn such a good book into such a bad movie, It was a complete waste of time and money. Do Not See This Film.

Ruination of a Terrific Story

[Moriachnae · 6 January 2003]

Okay. There were too many characters in the book, too many plot twists and (sadly) too much thinking required on the part of the audience to make a movie of the story as written by Raskin. But why oh why rewrite the whole thing from start to finish? Why make Angela a witchy debutante instead of the goody-two shoes she had been forced to become? Why did Grace Wexler promptly become an interior designer (which is what she wanted to be in the book and instead, she became a restaraunteur while Mr. Hoo became an inventor)? Why throw out Flora (who became a true mother figure to Turtle when it became clear that Grace was the worst mother on record) to pair Turtle with Chris (who was originally partners with Angela's fiance, Dr. Deere)? Why completely subvert the whole premise of Sam Westing's game which was to release Crow from her misguided suffering and free her to live life to the fullest--not to punish her for past misdeeds? The whole story became just another run of the mill kid flick with characters from central casting--no depth, no personality, no nothing.

Someone, somewhere, PLEASE, read the book and make us a far better movie than this mess. Yes, the book was tough to read because of the shifting viewpoints, but this mess cut out all the need to think, inquire or analyze. What a disaster!

Don't be deceived

[abrailey · 3/10 · 4 February 2005]

The Same Movie appears under 2 titles: Get a Clue AND The Westing Game. It is the same cast AND the same movie--just the packaging was different. I ordered the first one (Horrible)so thought the second one might be better. SURPRISE!!! Same movie. I teach the Westing Game, which IS an EXCELLENT book, but just a cursory viewing of the movie revealed over 144 mistakes (Things that were in the book that changed in the movie...) If you're a purist, DON'T watch this! I walked away saying, "Did they even READ the book?" My biggest complaint is the Character of Sam Westing. The movie made him look like a big jerk to Turtle instead of the friend he truly was...

Someone should make a movie of this worthy of the writer1

[TheLadyOzma · 2/10 · 1 August 2002]

Ok well I was overjoyed to find out that someone cared enough about this book to make a movie out of it. But when I watched this I was very disappointed. It was way too short. I wanted it to be just like the book, a mystery. But the way you could tell that Ray Walston was the same 4 people was sad. His black hair Piece for Barney Northrop looked like it was going to fall off and second. My 5-year-old sister figured out the mystery after the first 10 minutes. And his pretrial of Sandy seemed more angry, and selfish then the sweet funny Sandy who always tried to cheer everyone up in the book. Sydelle Pulaski was more like Mrs. Bomback then the ignored, depressed Sydelle in the book. Well to keep this short none of the characters were the same as the book in this movie. The Westing Mansion looked smaller then my house and my house is very small. This movie would be so much better if they made it look more like a movie and less like my little sister going over to someone's house with a camera and trying to film their own version of it with my mom manning the camera, and them improving the script. I wish I could say more about this movie but I can't. Oh wait, Shane West is really sexy in a wheel chair.

the book is way better

[swampfox87 · 7/10 · 21 July 2009]

i read the book the other day and was lucky to catch the movie last night i recorded the movie on the dvr and just started watching it and already im sick of it... the book is way better the movie leaves out key people like chris' brother, mr. hoos wife, mrs. baumbach (baba) the movie is just awful and they switched the partners clues around and pair turtel with chris. and chris isn't a bird watcher he lives alone and is a computer programer come on who far from he book did this movie have to get... not done with the movie and already i hate it i hope someone can remake this and keep it to the book cause the book is really good

Snoor Fest

[lil_acting_guy · 1/10 · 11 June 2005]

This movie put me to sleep when I watched. I was watching it with my friend, and we both woke up about an hour after we started watching it and we both found out that the other one had fallen asleep. Don't watch it. I mean this movie was just to confusing as is the book, now if you like confusing movies I say go for it, you may actually like it, but if I were you I would just avoid it, it is for sure to put anyone of simple mindedness to sleep. If you like movies that will scare you also this movie had one scary part that I can remember and if you like that watch it. I hope anyone out there who watches it enjoys it more than I did, and the people who made this need to "Get A Clue".

Eccentrics unravel clues toward winning an odd game.

[verexal · 10/10 · 10 September 2003]

When I was young I was forced to read "The Westing Game" and couldn't stand it. So I was curious that somebody made it into a movie. Well, forget the book -- it was incomprehensible and petty -- it talks down to people. Not so the movie. It actually condenses the feelings and essence of the book and tells it in a fashion that makes it make sense. Whatever weaknesses it has are a result of trying to stick to the horrible book. There are universally good performances, particularly Ashley Peldon and the funny Billy Morrisette. It has some beautiful photography, odd but effective angles and transitions. There's not much to watch with your kids out there, but this is one you can enjoy together.

Four words: This movie was horrible!

[ayegwen · 3/10 · 5 September 2007]

A couple of years ago, I finished reading the humorous and creative book, The Westing Game. At the end of the school year my 2 teachers let me and my class watch this movie to compare to the book. My teachers had hinted that we would be very disappointed. After watching the movie, the whole class, thought the movie was much, much more than disappointing.

A few reasons why this movie was bad: They excluded many important characters. I understand it would be hard for directors to have many characters, they probably thought it would confuse the audience. The book had clever humor in it and it made you fall in love with the characters and the whole story. Again, this was probably hard for the directors, in the book, there was a narrator.

One of the biggest mistakes that the director made was having Turtle Wexler as the main character. She solved Westing's Game and none of the others seemed important besides Sandy/Westing. The Westing Game was not really about Turtle, it was about all the tenants in Sunset Towers. In the book, she later becomes more of the main character; you follow her story and others.

Many plots were also excluded, many characters, their personalities were changed. For example, Angela Wexler, she was a timid, shy and she had a do-anything-your-mother-says attitude, but not in the movie. I was sorely disappointed with this film and I hope they have a whole new film about the Westing Game and that everyone will eventually forget about this film. It has already begun to fade from my memory.

Why Did They Mess Up A Great Children's Book?

[tjfishstix · 26 November 2004]

I just finished reading the Westing Game a couple years ago, and one day when I was searching on the IMDb for a completely different topic, this movie turned up. I have not seen it, but by simply looking at the cast list, I know they did something wrong. How did they louse it up? Let me count the ways.

CHARACTERS 1 Got Rid Of Madame Hoo (& Thus The Burglary Plot) 2 Got Rid Of Flora Baumbach (& Thus Turtle's Confidante) 3 Got Rid Of Mister Theodorakis (& Thus Violet Westing Connection) 4 Got Rid Of Theo Theodorakis (& Thus Chris' Caretaker) 5 Got Rid Of Edgar Plum (& Thus Somewhat Humorous Idiotic Lawyer)

SUBPLOTS 1 Burglary 2 Stocks 3 Violet Westing & Mister Theodorakis

MISCELLANEOUS 1 And So On

Why Did They Let This Happen To A Great Children's Book? Shame On Whoever Did This!

This Movie was garbage

[eastonblevin · 1/10 · 27 February 2019]

In sixth grade we read the book. The book was ok but then we watch the movie, which made me hate everything the book stood for. This movie is still the worst movie I've seen to date and that's saying a lot. With bland acting, a mediocre plot, and non developed one dimensional characters this movie is the worst movie in existence that I can think of. I can't believe they showed me this in school.

Awful movie

[aemcd · 1/10 · 12 July 2017]

Why ruin my favorite book of all time.

They got rid of 4 characters (Dr. Denton Deere, Flora Baumbach, Madame Hoo, and Chris' and Theo's father).

Destroyed four plots. (Angela's future husband, Turtle's "mom", the burglar plot, and the connection to Violet Westing.

Completely ruined the personalities (and names) of all of the Winsdor THEN Windklopple not whatever stupid last name they have in the movie.

Where did Turtle's braids go? Why is Angela a snob? Why is Grace so friendly? When did Jake work at a store? Why is James skinny? Since when was Doug nice? Why is Angela in love with Edgar Plum? Where did Angela's bombing plot go? Where are the candles made by Turtle? How was this AWFUL movie even released??????!!!!

DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE! WORST MOVIE BY FAR!!!!!!!

Why is it so different from the book?!

[smithkn · 2/10 · 25 May 2022]

Time for a remake!

I am a teacher who read this book with some of my 5th grade students. They were excited about watching this movie because they loved the book. To say they (and I) were disappointed is an understatement. They've already said if it weren't the end of the school year they would rewrite the script themselves.

Rare Improvement on Book

[flatstep77 · 8/10 · 19 August 2007]

Some people on these boards apparently want to maintain their adolescence by believing what they read as children has value in the mature world. I watched this with my daughter the day -- she liked the cover -- and realized that I'd read this when I was in school, a long time ago. I hated this when I was 14 -- too many characters, too many cute elements, such smarmy inside jokes. The whole thing left a bitter taste in my mouth, one that I've been trying to erase for a long time. The movie finally did it. Cute but not stupid, you never felt as if you were out of it because you didn't see what the point was. It never patronized or condescended. It was truly liberating.

Never mind comparisons to the book, which if you hated you'll love the movie and if you loved the book, you'll hate the movie -- twas ever thus; the movie itself was well acted, beautifully shot, cleverly designed and even done where I grew up in Milwaukee. All in all, excellent. My daughter liked it too. She's 9.

Read the book, hated the movie

[painting137starz · 28 January 2004]

The Westing Game was my favorite childhood book, and I saw this movie and bought it, thinking it might be worth it to see it... it wasn't, they cut out key characters, changed things, and even changed the ending. It's awful... don't bother watching it.

THIS IS SO GOOD!

[windegobuisness · 10/10 · 15 December 2021]

This movie is a masterpiece. From start to finish my eyes were appalled and linked to my screen, waiting to see what happened next. The acting was exquisite, they really but so much thought. The book is terrible compared to this great movie contraption. This is a gift from the heavens and back. I love this movie and you should give it a try. It triggers all of your emotions in this action packed movie. It should be a 10/10 on all platforms.

The book is better

[pastaque · 27 July 1999]

This movie has a "made-for-tv" feel to it with mediocre actors and shallow character development. Being a big fan of the book, I was disappointed that the movie made some major changes to the plot and even eliminated some heirs. The joy of the book are the quarky characters and unexpected twists of the story. The movie comes across as more bland and contrived. I didn't really root for any of the characters to win the game. My advice, skip the film and just read the book by Ellen Raskin which won the Newbery Medal.

Disgrace

[TributeToBob · 25 August 2003]

Ellen Raskin wrote an amazing novel that was smart, witty and unpredictable. This movie was a horrible disgrace to the book (as many are.) Only few movies can pull of books (notice the word few) and they are few (few again!) and far between. This is not one of them. Be advised... stay away.

Is it over yet...

[brightlilchica · 27 April 2003]

When I read the Westing Game, I thought the movie was going to be good. Unfortunately, it bit the big one. I'm not one to mince words, so I'll admit that that was one of the worst movies on the planet. Extremely boring, not one interesting part in the whole shmere. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ................

The book is much better.

[MovieAddict2016 · 18 August 2003]

Based on the intriguing children's book, "The Westing Game" fails to deliver everything that made the book so fun to read. This film is just a poor runner-up. Stupid plot twists that are not nearly as believable as those in the book. This is one to skip.

Didn't work, people!

[kkrabby89 · 6 April 2003]

This movie was really weird. It's like they were trying to mix Beetlejuice and Clue, but it didn't quite work. What was Turtle's problem? Why did she keep on kicking everyone's shins? According to the ad and my friends, I was expecting it to be awesome, but I was disappointed. I've seen much better.

The book was great! So stop being negative about it!

[katrina11brain · 9 January 2003]

Hello! If the book stunk then why would it win the newberry award! A bunch of kids loved the book! You are probably one of the few that hated it,just because you hate doesn't mean everyone else hates it! So stop trying to make it sound like the whole world hates it!

The Book Sucked, So What Do Expect From The Movie?

[americanpie7000 · 10 April 2001]

Movies that are based on books are always worse than the book. So when the book sucks, what can you expect from the movie? I read the book The Westing Game in 7th grade. It was boring and stupid. A couple days ago, I saw the movie on TV. Everything that was bad about the book, was ten times as worse here. Characters I don't give a damn about, plot twists that made me laugh because they are so pathetic, boringness, terrible acting, I HATE THIS MOVIE! Why did I waste two hours of my life watching this? I don't know. Don't make the same bad choice I did. Go watch Se7en or Reservoir Dogs. You'll thank me later.