Senseless (1998)

A student gets his senses enhanced by an experimental drug. But abuse is not an option.

Director:

Penelope Spheeris

Writers:

Greg Erb, Craig Mazin

Stars:

Marlon Wayans, Brad Dourif, Esther Scott

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marlon Wayans	...	Darryl Witherspoon
Brad Dourif	...	Dr. Wheedon
Esther Scott	...	Denise Witherspoon
Debra Jo Rupp	...	Fertility Clinic Attendant
Mark Christopher Lawrence	...	Wig Shop Owner
Matthew Lillard	...	Tim LaFlour
David Spade	...	Scott Thorpe
Tamara Taylor	...	Janice
John Ingle	...	Economics Professor
Rip Torn	...	Randall Tyson
Ernie Lively	...	Coach Brandau
Jenette Goldstein	...	Nurse Alvarez
Kenya Moore	...	Lorraine
Constance Zimmer	...	Zestfully Clean Woman
Ken Lerner	...	Dean Barlow

Storyline

Darryl Witherspoon is a young black college student who wants to win annual junior analyst competition, which can land him a job in a big brokerage company. He becomes a guinea pig for the drug developed at the college which is promised to heighten all senses by ten times.

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Plot Keywords:

college | drugs | medical experiment | business | sensory deprivation | 

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Taglines:

A secret experiment gave him super senses. Then came the side-effects.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and sexual content

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 February 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Az érzékek borzadalma

Filming Locations:

Royce Hall - 340 Royce Drive, UCLA, Westwood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$5,337,651 (USA) (20 February 1998)

Gross:

$13,035,599 (USA) (8 May 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dimension Films, Mandeville Films, Gold/Miller Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the scene where Matthew Lillard's character thinks that Darryl has suffered an over dose, his friends that follow him in the room suggest that he needs a shot of adrenaline to the heart. This is a reference to _Pulp Fiction (1993)_ where Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) suffers an overdose and is given a shot of adrenaline to restart her heart. (Side note: this method would not actually work if someone suffered an actual overdose)

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Goofs

When Patrick Ewing throws Darryl onto the court, Patrick Ewings jacket keeps disappearing and reappearing.

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Quotes

Scott: Witherspoon. Rushing as a senior, I see.
Darryl: Hey, just trying to join the frat.
Scott: Right on, have a seat. By the way, it's fraternity, not frat. You wouldn't call your country a...
Darryl: Whoa! Not since the Bush years.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Palmetto/Senseless/Dangerous Beauty/Mrs. Dalloway/Nil by Mouth/Live Flesh (1998)

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Soundtracks

"Look Around My Window"
Written by Ambersunshower (as A. Smith), W. Gaier, R. Hunter, J. Thomas, B. Baker and L. Quinn
Performed by Ambersunshower
Published by Gee Street Music, Inc./Shamalama Publishing, Inc./Famous Music Corporation (ASCAP)/W. Geier,
R. Hunter (AKM)/Alotagood Music Publishing Inc./Next Decade Entertainemt Inc. (ASCAP)
Courtesy of Gee Street Records

User Reviews

Predictable, Juvenile, Entertaining

Yes. This movie is predictable. You do not have to watch very long before you may guess almost everything that will happen, and sure enough, it does. No surprises anywhere. In addition, as in many other movies which Marlon Wayans appears in, a lot of the jokes is pretty juvenile and of "low" quality, focusing on stuff you thought were funny when you were five years old and very tired. The again, some of the jokes, still being juvenile, is actually funny. So, as it turns out, as a whole, the movie is entertaining. Not the best comedy ever made, but I have seen a lot worse too.

Wayans does his stuff as can be expected, not raising any eyebrows (for his performance anyway) nor disappointing. However, personally, I hoped for David Spade to have a bigger role. In my opinion he is a very good comedian but does not have any chance to show it in this movie.

To conclude, do not have the greatest expectations, sit back and enjoy.

5/10