Mr Magoo is one of my favourite comedy films, released in 1998, and it’s rare that I will actually find a supposed ‘comedy’ film funny and worth watching again. It stars Leslie Nelson as the main character of Mr Magoo, of whom, is based on the cartoon character of ‘Quincy Magoo’. The film starts with a little opening with this cartoon character before the actors take over. Neilson brings warmth and humour to the character, as well as a tonne if laughs. He plays the part so well!
Magoo is a very rich partially blind man who has made his fortune from canned veg. This isn’t a major factor in the film, other than the fact he drives a giant aubergine shaped car! The humour relies on the partial blindness of Magoo and also, his bumbling charming character that appears quite dippy but at the same time, heart-warming - you can’t help but love him! He adamantly refuses to wear glasses thus, drives
another car with a widow screen made of type of glass from spectacles.
Magoo is cared for by his nephew, ‘Waldo’ - a lad of about 21 years old who also comes across as dippy but charming. The film follows his rather bashful attempts to impress a Chinese girl who he meets and becomes acquainted with in their mission.
Yes - there is a mission and Magoo is the most unlikely man for the job! A very rare expensive diamond has been stolen- ‘The star of Kuristan’. One of the thieves is a female woman, called ‘Prunella’(Kelly lyunch) who is very shrewd, sexy and devious. Her sidekick is somewhat less intelligent and he plays the role of the clumsy idiot, a bit like Pinky and the Brain. He brings a lot of dim witted humour which is very silly, hyperbole and childish but I still found it really entertaining.
The diamond happens to fall into the possession of Mr Magoo. Of course, he’s oblivious to the fact he’s in possession of a multi billion pound worth diamond but the thieves aren’t and Prunella figures the only way to get the stone back is to sexily seduce him by pretending to be in love with him. Magoo is hooked lined and sinkered with this but her attempts to retrieve the stone turn this film into a cat and mouse battle. Magoo foils her every attempts without even realising. Yes,t his brings some very funny scenes, which includes Magoo kissing a fish, which Prunella quickly shoves in Mago’s face to think he was kissing her.
However, Magoo also has the cops on his case, who think HE has stolen the stone. Again, the police are a little dim witted and add humour to the part. When the stone is finally stolen back by the thieves, Magoo, Waldo and of course, his trusty companion ‘Angus’ the bull dog, must get the stone back, and how they go about it, with a partially blind man, makes the film side splitting. .
As I’ve mentioned, the humour is over exaggerated but that seems to be what makes it so addictive. The overage ratted clumsiness of the characters is in no way annoying as I find with some films; it’s actually witty. Every person in the film has an individual character and personality that you can love or hate. Even Agnus the Dog has the most adorable character and displays human emotions add his bumbling masters idioticy and it’s his duty to take care of him. Neilson is perfect in everyway. I can’t fault his performance. He stays in character throughout and brings life to Magoo making him very believable.
Prunella is the bady you love to hate and there are several twists with her character which leave us wondering which side she is actually on.
I even like the policemen , Agent Chuc Stupak and Agent Gus Anders (played by Stephen Tobolowsky and Ernie Hudson) who are more intent on trying to solve the case before the other one so as to prove that the ‘CSA’ is better than the ‘FBI’ force. Combining forces and somewhat dippiness makes it entertaining to watch.
The whole film is really family funny and is brilliant and easy to follow from start to end and was nominated best family comedy in 1999. It’s only 87 minutes long, packed full of laughs to lighten your mood! Thoroughly worth watching!
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Nov 2nd, 2009
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