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IMDbPro

Buddy Buddy

  • 19811981
  • RR
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
4.8K
YOUR RATING
Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in Buddy Buddy (1981)
During a high profile Mafia testimony case in California's Riverside County, a hired killer checks into a hotel room near the courthouse, while his depressed next-door neighbor wants to commit suicide due to marital problems.
Play trailer2:14
2 Videos
20 Photos
  • Comedy
During a high profile Mafia testimony case in California's Riverside County, a hired killer checks into a hotel room near the courthouse, while his depressed next-door neighbor wants to comm... Read allDuring a high profile Mafia testimony case in California's Riverside County, a hired killer checks into a hotel room near the courthouse, while his depressed next-door neighbor wants to commit suicide due to marital problems.During a high profile Mafia testimony case in California's Riverside County, a hired killer checks into a hotel room near the courthouse, while his depressed next-door neighbor wants to commit suicide due to marital problems.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
4.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Billy Wilder
  • Writers
    • Francis Veber(play)
    • Billy Wilder
    • I.A.L. Diamond
  • Stars
    • Jack Lemmon
    • Walter Matthau
    • Paula Prentiss
Top credits
  • Director
    • Billy Wilder
  • Writers
    • Francis Veber(play)
    • Billy Wilder
    • I.A.L. Diamond
  • Stars
    • Jack Lemmon
    • Walter Matthau
    • Paula Prentiss
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 30User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:14
    Trailer
    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 12
    Video 29:51
    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 12

    Photos20

    "Buddy Buddy" Jack Lemmon, Billy Wilder, Walter Matthau 1981 MGM/UA  / MPTV
    Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in Buddy Buddy (1981)
    Paula Prentiss in Buddy Buddy (1981)
    Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Klaus Kinski, and Paula Prentiss in Buddy Buddy (1981)
    Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Klaus Kinski, Paula Prentiss, and Bette Raya in Buddy Buddy (1981)
    Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in Buddy Buddy (1981)
    Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in Buddy Buddy (1981)
    Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in Buddy Buddy (1981)
    Walter Matthau in Buddy Buddy (1981)
    Jack Lemmon and Bette Raya in Buddy Buddy (1981)
    Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in Buddy Buddy (1981)
    Paula Prentiss in Buddy Buddy (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jack Lemmon
    Jack Lemmon
    • Victor Clooney
    Walter Matthau
    Walter Matthau
    • Trabucco
    Paula Prentiss
    Paula Prentiss
    • Celia Clooney
    Klaus Kinski
    Klaus Kinski
    • Dr. Hugo Zuckerbrot
    Dana Elcar
    Dana Elcar
    • Capt. Hubris
    Miles Chapin
    Miles Chapin
    • Eddie, the Bellhop
    Michael Ensign
    Michael Ensign
    • Assistant Manager
    Joan Shawlee
    Joan Shawlee
    • Receptionist
    Fil Formicola
    • Rudy 'Disco' Gambola
    C.J. Hunt
    • Kowalski
    Bette Raya
    • Mexican Maid
    Ronnie Sperling
    Ronnie Sperling
    • Hippy Husband
    Suzie Galler
    • Pregnant Wife
    John Schubeck
    • Newscaster
    Ed Begley Jr.
    Ed Begley Jr.
    • Lieutenant #1
    Frank Farmer
    Frank Farmer
    • Lieutenant #2
    Tom Kindle
    • Highway Patrolman #1
    Biff Manard
    • Highway Patrolman #2
    • Director
      • Billy Wilder
    • Writers
      • Francis Veber(play) (story)
      • Billy Wilder
      • I.A.L. Diamond
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Final theatrical feature film writing collaboration of long-time co-writers I.A.L. Diamond and writer-director Billy Wilder.
    • Goofs
      Trabucco does not use the same code to open his suitcase throughout the movie (sometimes the code has more numbers than others)
    • Quotes

      Trabucco: When are you leaving?

      Clooney: I can't leave, I'm wanted.

      Trabucco: Not by me.

    • Alternate versions
      ABC edited 5 minutes from this film for its 1985 network television premiere.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Jack Lemmon/Walter Matthau (1981)
    • Soundtracks
      Cecilia
      Written by Herman Ruby (uncredited) & Dave Dreyer (uncredited)

      Sung by Michael Dees

      Arranged by Pete Rugolo

    User reviews30

    Review
    Top review
    Not As Bad As Its Reputation
    Buddy Buddy (1981)

    ** 1/2 (out of 4)

    Trabucco (Walter Matthau) is a hit-man for the mob who shows up at a motel across from a court house where a man is set to testify. The job is quite simple as he just has to kill the man as he enters the court house. The only problem is that Victor Clooney (Jack Lemmon) is in the next hotel room and his constant suicide attempts are getting int he way of Trabucco doing his job.

    It's kind of weird that BUDDY BUDDY would somewhat become a forgotten film. I mean, it wasn't a hit at the box office when it was first released even though it did get Matthau and Lemmon into the same film again. It also had Billy Wilder back in the director's chair for what would turn out to be the last time. You'd think with those three legends the film would be better known but in America it never even got an official DVD or Blu-ray release as of me writing this. It's hard to believe with the talent involved that this movie has pretty much disappeared.

    The reviews back in 1981 were pretty bad and many people have called this the worst film that Wilder ever made but I think that's being a bit too harsh. If you're looking for a comedy classic then you're certainly not going to find that here and I'd argue that it's perhaps the weakest of all the Matthau-Lemmon teamings and yes that includes the films they'd do later in life. I think the biggest problem with BUDDY BUDDY is the fact that the story itself really isn't all that fresh or original and the film certainly doesn't have enough laughs considering the talent on board.

    With that said, there's still a lot to enjoy here including the two comedy giants. I thought the duo was basically a re-working of their roles in THE ODD COUPLE. If you've seen that film then you'll remember that the Lemmon character was suicidal and they've pretty much taken that and turned it into a full movie. I must admit that I thought both actors were good in their roles and there's no question that they work well off of one another. The two of them certainly manage to get a good number of laughs and they make the film worth watching. I will say that Klaus Kinski is pretty much wasted in his role.

    The screenplay, co-written by Wilder, isn't the greatest as there just aren't enough laughs to make the film work as a whole. I'd also say that the final thirty-minutes if when the film really runs out of gas as the laughs really dry up. With all of that being said, it's still a bit confusing as to why BUDDY BUDDY has pretty much disappeared. It's not a classic or even a good movie but it's certainly worth watching.
    helpful•3
    1
    • Michael_Elliott
    • Dec 3, 2017

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 11, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • A Pain in the A
    • Filming locations
      • Riverside, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Heron Productions
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $7,258,543
    • Gross worldwide
      • $7,258,543
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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