Brain Donors (1992)

Three manic idiots; a lawyer, cab driver and a handyman team up to run a ballet company to fulfill the will of a millionaire. Stooge-like antics result as the trio try to outwit the rich ... See full summary »

Director:

Dennis Dugan

Writers:

Pat Proft (screenplay), George S. Kaufman (screenplay "A Night At the Opera")

Stars:

John Turturro, Bob Nelson, Mel Smith

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Turturro	...	Roland T. Flakfizer
Bob Nelson	...	Jacques
Mel Smith	...	Rocco Melonchek
George De La Pena	...	Roberto Volare
John Savident	...	Edmund Lazlo
Spike Alexander	...	Alan Grant
Juliana Donald	...	Lisa Le Baron (as Juli Donald)
Nancy Marchand	...	Lillian Oglethorpe
Teri Copley	...	Tina
Irene Olga López	...	Pedestrian
Rob Warren Thomas	...	Paramedic
Dick Monday	...	Rob
Katherine Heard	...	Laura
Michael Ciotti	...	Kid
Gary Grossman	...	Father

Storyline

Three manic idiots; a lawyer, cab driver and a handyman team up to run a ballet company to fulfill the will of a millionaire. Stooge-like antics result as the trio try to outwit the rich widow and her scheming big-shot lawyer, who also wants to run the ballet.

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Plot Keywords:

slapstick comedy | ballet | ballerina | lawyer | widow | 

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Taglines:

The producers of Airplane! and The Naked Gun invite you to a night of ballet. Fasten your seat belts.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 April 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lame Ducks

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$918,239

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Zucker Brothers Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although is not said in the official description of the movie, the screenplay and characters are based on the classic comedy masterpiece by the Marx Brothers - A Night at the Opera (1935).

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Goofs

When Lazlo the lawyer is hit over the head with a vase in a doorway, it smashes everywhere. Seconds later, Flakfizer and Mrs. Oglethorpe go through the same doorway and the vase pieces are gone.

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Quotes

Volare: I told you before... Don't hang my tights by the crotch! it throws off my bulge!

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Connections

Spoofs Duck Soup (1933)

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Soundtracks

ALFIE
by Burt Bacharach & Hal David

User Reviews

ATTN: PARAMOUNT RE: DVD

I will add "thanks" to all the users who have already praised this classic, add plead to Paramount for even a generic widescreen DVD release as my VHS gathers dust.

I saw this movie first in the theater, I went with a friend and at most there were a dozen other people there. Like many users, I laughed 'til I cried, and I am one loud obnoxious freak, wired on juvenile remarks, it must have been a spectacle. At least when I left the theater this became an issue, as my friend, who was mostly silent during the screening, said he didn't think it was that funny. I said the other people there were laughing, and he replied, "They weren't laughing at the movie you freak, that were laughing at you." I'll believe otherwise.

If you just want something funny, silly and fast, you gotta give "Brain Donors" a shot. The jokes overlap and are delivered so straight that it does require repeat viewing to catch the wonderful sight gags that are easily lost to laughing at the dialog so hard you cant see the screen.

Pat Proft, a writer who is certainly hit or miss, is really at the top of his game here, closer to "Bachelor Party" and "Hot Shots" than "Police Academy". And everyone has already cited Turturro, whose movements (chasing ambulances, sitting in chairs) are as classic as his delivery.

So watch it, and Paramount, release it, I'm ready to buy (again).