Mousehunt

When this movie came out, it was okay. A few years later, it became hilarious. Now however, it has fallen once step down to just funny. I think it is because of my years in film school. Still, "Mousehunt" has too many funny moments to mention all of them. The film also has a little heart that makes it enjoyable. The chemistry between Nathan Lane and Lee Evans is also well accomplished.

The opening scene is not what we expect to see. The funeral and they way it is depicted seems out of place at first until the body falls into the sewer. The introductions of Ernie and Lars are well scripted. For example, Ernie says something in the kitchen of his restaurant that tells us that he wanted to make his father proud of him but now it is too late. This shows why he is so bitter about his father's death and legacy. This also shows us that Ernie has some goodness. We might have thought otherwise earlier in the film. He needs to be redeemed of his bitterness. He also must be taught that there is something better than financial success: family. Lars on the other hand is too naive in life and needs his brother to become successful. Both men need each other to achieve greatness. One thing I notice about the story of "Mousehunt" is that their father has influence beyond the grave. The portrait is one example and another is the cockroach from his cigar box that indirectly leads to Ernie's unemployment. Other evidences to the fact that Rudolf Smuntz has authority from beyond the grave come when Ernie shouts at his father in the mansion and the coin balances on its edge. Then comes what we all came to see: slapstick comedy. The various sequences are just as funny as "Tom & Jerry", "Wile E. Coyote & the Road Runner" and "Sylvester & Tweety" because they are in live action. A gag that I like is when Ernie is trying to use a broom to swat the mouse and he launches a bowl into his own face. One might ask: "Why go to all this trouble to kill a mouse?" After what happened at the restaurant, Ernie is taking no chances. Then, after going through so much, Ernie and Lars become obsessed with this seemingly impossible task. An important trait in the aforementioned cartoons is that all characters are likeable. We must have sympathy for the mouse as well as for the Smuntz brothers. The little area that the mouse has made for himself to sleep in depicts him as likeable. The mouse doesn't take this war personally until Lars accidentally destroys his home with the nail gun. After that point, the mouse sets out to take revenge starting with the tub. I love how the cost of the tub ironically is the amount they need to pay the mortgage. Catzilla is one of my favorite parts of "Mousehunt". The name, look and attitude of this cat are just too good. Another really great gag is when "The Big One" is about to be shot and Lars yells, "Fire!!!" Then comes the ironic moment when the mouse is hit by the orange and the brothers can't bring themselves to kill the now helpless creature. I love how Ernie describes the mouse in this scene: "Hitler with a tail...'The Omen' with whiskers...Nostradamus didn't see this thing coming!" My favorite gag in the whole movie is the fact that they try to mail the mouse to Fidel Castro. If only all dictators could be overthrown that way. One really stupid mistake is that a return address was put on the box. Why would Lars do that? The climax is funny but doesn't surpass the humor we saw earlier. The resolution at the end is nice but feels a little lazy from a writing standpoint. The best part of the movie is the middle. One problem that the movie has is that it lacks some focus. Is the central feature of the story the relationship between Ernie and Lars or is it the battle against the mouse?

The talented people behind this funny show help make it what it is. Nathan Lane was a great choice for Ernie and due to his staring role; "Mousehunt" contains two references to "The Lion King". We have Ernie Sabella (aka Pumbaa) as the cat pound owner and Lane says "Hakuna Matata" to one of the bidders at the auction. I love Lee Evans' facial expressions and explosive reactions because they contrast Lane's comedic acting. This contrast allows for great chemistry between Lane and Evans, which is very important to the success of the movie. This was the first film of Michael Jeter's that I saw but he didn't get my full attention until "Patch Adams". Caesar is my favorite character that Christopher Walken has ever played. He is so funny in "Mousehunt". Composer Alan Silvestri really adds a sense mischievousness and suspense to the film. Stan Winston's studio created quite a realistic mouse. Many people may not know that the director of this movie is Gore Verbinski, who would later go on to direct the "Pirates of the Caribbean" Trilogy and win an Oscar for "Rango".

The teamwork of Lane & Evans, the humor and the story of two brothers trying to work together make "Mousehunt" fun and entertaining. The movie has its shortcoming but I can overlook them thanks to the slapstick and comedic acting.

3.5 Stars