Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)

The montage of Lawrence (Michael Caine) teaching Freddy (Steve Martin) how to be a refined gentleman reminded me of the montage of Mr. Miyagi teaching the Karate Kid.

I guess I have mixed feelings about this one. Although I've seen it a couple of times before and remember enjoying it, I didn't really remember much from it -- other than the scene with Freddy, as Ruprecht, going to the bathroom at the dining room table.

This time around, I found myself enjoying the opening, not being that engaged during the middle, and then liking the ending. What happens towards the ending is rather predictable, but I do like the ending.

Caine looks older, and I take it his character is supposed to be older, but in reality, he's only two years older than Martin, whose character, I'm guessing, is supposed to be younger -- in 1988, Caine is 44 and Martin is 42.

What I didn't realize until now is that this film is a remake of Bedtime Story (1964), which stars David Niven and Marlon Brando.

The more movies I watch, the more I learn. It's just bizarre that I can watch a movie a couple of times, and it still takes almost 40 years before I learn it was a remake.

One of the issues I have with the film this time: Steve Martin is acting more like the Steve Martin from The Jerk and less like the more refined actor-version of Steve Martin. Of course that's appropriate for this role, because he needs to be the polar opposite of Michael Caine. Nevertheless, I don't enjoy watching the obnoxious Steve Martin, unless it's part of his "wild and crazy guy" stand-up persona.

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