I knew the leading star of this film, and had a vague idea of the second name in the cast, so I was looking forward to trying it, from director Roger Donaldson (Dante's Peak, The World's Fastest Indian). Basically Joey 'Joe' O'Brien (Robin Williams) - who talks to the audience a little - is a sleazy car salesman trying to sell a car in almost any situation he can find, even something like a funeral will do. He is having troubles, his ex-wife Tina (Bean's Pamela Reed) is demanding cash for maintenance, his daughter is missing and he has married Joy Munchack (Fran Drescher) and single Lila (Lori Petty) as two mistresses wanting him. But he also has work problems, he has two days left to sell twelve cars, or lose his job, oh, and apparently there's a Mob boss he owes or he'll lose his life (but I didn't hear that mentioned much). On the day of Joe's deadline, a big dealership car sale, the dealership is crashed into and off the motorbike comes Larry (The Shawshank Redemption's Tim Robbins) with an AK-47 and some bad marital issues. Larry believes his wife Donna (Annabella Sciorra) is having an affair, and Joe manages to convince him that he is the one doing it, and not to harm any of the other hostages. Then the police show up outside, guns pointing, and Larry being a pretty petrified assailant has no idea of what to say or do to get out of this situation he has put himself in. Joe however is reluctant to help him get him out of it, possibly for his own sake as well, but never mind, he is managing to keep Captain Mason (Anthony Powers) and the cops calm. Joe is starting to bond with Larry knowing he was pressured himself by so many problems, and slowly his persuasion gets the other hostages let out. Eventually, all the hostages are out of the dealership until just Joe and Larry are left, but the police believe the gun Larry has is still loaded, and they mistakenly wound him. In the end, Larry is fine and on his way to hospital, and Joe reunites with his wife and daughter, and drives away as the hero of the day, job intact, and passing his business card to Captain Mason. Also starring Zack Norman as Harry Munchack, Paul Guilfoyle as Little Jack Turgeon, Bill Nelson as Big Jack Turgeon, Eddie Jones as Benny, Mimi Cecchini as Ma, Tristine Skyler as Lisa and Judith Hoag as Molly. Williams with his comedic and acting skills manages to make his somewhat sly character very appealing in the situation he is placed, Robbins is also very good at being the inexperienced gunman, while this isn't hilarious, it's certainly a film with some good giggles. Worth watching!
Review of Cadillac Man
