92 in the Shade

Author Thomas McGuane wrote and directed this noticeably laid back, fairly endearing combination of comedy and drama. Real life good friends Peter Fonda and Warren Oates set off sparks as Fonda plays Tom Skelton, a bum from a rich family who decides to get into the fishing guide business. He's soon locking horns with a world weary veteran of the trade, Nichol Dance (Mr. Oates), but vows to make a go of things, with his live wire grandfather Goldsboro (Burgess Meredith) helping a great deal in getting things going.

While the resolution to this film didn't really wrap up individual character stories to this viewers' satisfaction, "92 in the Shade" is overall a nice 91 minute long diversion, touching upon themes like class distinction and the generation gap. Shot by Michael C. Butler ("Jaws 2"), it's a gorgeous picture to look at. Set and filmed in Key West, Florida, it helps one to experience the flavor of this seaside environment. The music score by Michael J. Lewis also helps tremendously in this regard. The film gets serious without ever becoming overly melodramatic, and its comedy content is indeed pretty funny. Mostly, it works as a series of character vignettes, with an extremely rich cast making the most of their colorful roles.

Fonda and Oates are backed up by such sterling actors and actresses as Margot Kidder (as Toms' sweet and sexy girlfriend), Harry Dean Stanton (as Nichols' associate), Elizabeth Ashley (as Stantons' wife, an attractive but unbalanced woman given to parading around in front of others in a cheerleader outfit), William Hickey and Louise Latham (as Toms' parents), and Sylvia Miles (as Goldsboros' secretary). Among this bunch of heavy hitters, Meredith tends to steal the show - that is, until Joe Spinell turns up late in the film as Ollie Slatt, a goofy tourist looking to charter a boat for a day. He's also quite amusing.

Recommended mainly to admirers of the cast, "92 in the Shade" is uneven, but fun as well.

Seven out of 10.