Man Trouble (1992)

Synopsis: Nicholson and Barkin ask themselves that age-old question (XXXXXX?)

Blurb From the VHS Jacket: “JACK NICHOLSON is Harry Bliss, a wisecracking con-man and the owner of the House of Bliss Guard Dog Agency. ELLEN BARKIN is Joan, a single, sexy singer who discovers that her Hollywood Hills house was burglarized. Terrified, she enlists Harry’s help to protect her. But the more he tries to help, the worse things get!”

What Did I Learn?: 1) Very few Asian women appreciate being addressed as “Iwo Jima”. 2) If a woman asks you a difficult question you don’t wish to answer, the proper response is: “I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but I notice you have exquisite hands!”

You Might Like This Movie If: you loved Trouble Man.

Really?: 1) So wait, there’s a creepy, masked attacker tormenting Joan, and she just happens to have an ever-so-nice, sweater-wearing male friend who complains she never confides in him anymore? Hmmm... 2) Isn’t the attacker taking a rather big risk in chopping up Barkin’s car when he knows she has a big, well-trained German shepherd nearby? 3) Isn’t Jack a little, um....old to be romancing Ellen Barkin?

Rating: While Man Trouble received scathing reviews when it was released two decades ago, it isn’t that bad a film (although it isn’t great, either). Nicholson is charmingly sleazy, Barkin is sexy, and you could describe Man Trouble as a nice, romantic comedy with a few good moments. Alas, the movie also isn’t terribly interesting or funny, the plot is a tad predictable, and the ending is downright lazy. Save Man Trouble for a rainy Sunday afternoon. 6/10 stars.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104804/