Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992)

After a freak accident, a yuppie turns invisible and runs from a treacherous CIA official, while trying to cope with his new life.

Director:

John Carpenter

Writers:

H.F. Saint (book), Robert Collector (screenplay)

Stars:

Chevy Chase, Daryl Hannah, Sam Neill

5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chevy Chase	...	Nick Halloway
Daryl Hannah	...	Alice Monroe
Sam Neill	...	David Jenkins
Michael McKean	...	George Talbot
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Warren Singleton
Jim Norton	...	Dr. Bernard Wachs
Pat Skipper	...	Morrissey
Paul Perri	...	Gomez
Richard Epcar	...	Tyler
Steven Barr	...	Clellan
Gregory Paul Martin	...	Richard
Patricia Heaton	...	Ellen
Barry Kivel	...	Drunk Businessman
Donald Li	...	Cab Driver
Rosalind Chao	...	Cathy DiTolla

Storyline

Nick Halloway is accidentally made invisible during an accident. When Jenkins finds out about Nick, he set out to recruit him into the world of espionage, seeing the potential for an invisible CIA agent. When Alice Monroe falls in love with Nick, they are forced to flee the attentions of Jenkins. Nick also has the problem of living invisibly whilst trying to find a cure.

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Plot Keywords:

invisibility | lingerie | sexy woman | blonde | bra | 

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Taglines:

Women want him for his wit. The C.I.A. wants him for his body. All Nick wants is his molecules back.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA France

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 February 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Memoirs of an Invisible Man

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,601,954, 1 March 1992

Gross USA:

$14,358,033

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,358,033

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Canal+, Regency Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The soundtrack by Shirley Walker was the first major Hollywood studio picture with a complete orchestral score written by a woman.

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Goofs

When Nick wants to be seen, he wraps outer clothing over himself. But, when Nick is not trying to be visible, he still wears clothing in the movie, yet he cannot be seen. It would be impossible to avoid being seen when wearing some types of clothing, yet be seen wearing other types.

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Quotes

[Nick is invisible]
Alice Monroe: How am I going to explain this to my mother?
Nick Halloway: Just tell her that you met someone, you really like him, you think it's serious, he's transparent...

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Crazy Credits

Over the first minute or so of the end credits we see Nick skiing in snowy mountains, his head and face covered with a hat, goggles and scarf. He comes to a stop outside a large cabin. Alice comes out, evidently pregnant. Nick lifts his goggles and pulls the scarf down from around his face, but of course he is still invisible. Alice kisses him, and takes his gloved hand and holds it to her belly, so he can feel the baby kicking...

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Alternate Versions

UK cinema and video versions were edited to remove 'fuck you' in order for the film to receive a PG rating. The 2003 DVD was uncut and upgraded to a 12 certificate.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Memoirs of an Invisible Man/Under Suspicion/The Mambo Kings/This Is My Life (1992)

User Reviews

Outta sight.

My Take: It' ain't great, but its funny and interesting, and packed with wildly imaginative special effects.

Part-Hitchcockian manhunt thriller, part-James Whale and part-screwball special effects comedy, John Carpenter's 1992 misunderstood MEMOIRS OF AN INVISIBLE MAN is a delightful although not entirely great comedy. Or was it really meant to be a comedy? Although it's obviously a Chevy Chase vehicle pumped up by (for-the-time) groundbreaking special effects. But was it really a comedy? John Carpenter refuses to tell us exactly what the identity of, not the character, bu the movie. It was both a thriller, a comedy and a love story at the same time. And, although Carpenter wasn't able to balance all three genres together and make them mesh together completely, he does provide an interesting and skillfully-made little film. The special effects are dated compared to today's standards (By the following year, these kind of special effects would be extinct and would make way for CGI with JURASSIC PARK) but they are still quite convincing at some scenes. As a matter of fact, they're actually quite funny in some scenes (The scene where Chase sees the food he just ate digesting was pretty hilarious). The performances are decent at best, with Sam Niell in fine form as the antagonist, a ruthless undercover agent, and Daryll Hannah as a fine damsel-in-distress. Chase is pretty good too, although due to his comedic screen presence, it's quite hard to take him seriously during his scenes that are meant to be serious.

Although flawed, MEMOIRS OF AN INVISIBLE MAN is a skillfully-paced and hilarious film. It might be an overstatement to say Carpenter was in control here, but no one can say he didn't at least do a passable job.

Rating: *** out of 5.