The purpose of the hotel scene was for him to come clean about what he does for a living. He was completely unprepared for her dance routine and probably expected something closer to what she started with, then to tell her the truth. That was a stab at marital communication from a guy already proven to be somewhat…

Is it xenophobic to depict terrorists as being Arab/Muslim? The movie came out in 1994, two years after al-Qaeda terrorists killed six people trying to destroy the World Trade Center using a car bomb, and four years after the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole killed 17. Of course, in 1994, the most striking examples of…

so many jokes are just straight up cartoon logic, too. obviously there’s the uzi falling down the stairs bit, but for my money when the bird lands on a truck and then it falls and explodes? that’s the good stuff. that’s literally looney tunes.

Regarding the xenophobia, I think it’s reasonable to point out the characterization of these particular Muslims was based upon their fanaticism / extremism and not meant to be reflective of the region as a whole. I didn’t come away from, for instance, Patriot Games thinking all Irish are IRA assassins.

I have the exact opposite take - it was a wake-up call for a neglectful husband who thought everything he did was global life and death, and what she did was zero stakes (e.g. her going with the made-up copier excuse for why she was leaving the office when unbeknowst to her he stopped by). He was completely caught…

I love Heston’s dressing-down of Faisil (hat tip to the author for that info nugget) after Schwarzenegger and (T) Arnold’s deflections on what a mess they made. “What makes you think the slack I cut him in any way translates to you??”

Yeah but the joke is consistently on Harry. He’s the one who is suspicious and paranoid. He’s the one who gradually realizes that his neglect of Helen is what might be driving her to cheat. He’s the one who’s surprised both at her outburst in the interrogation room and when her dancing in the hotel room evolves as she…

The best thing they did with his character was later reveal him to be a competent agent with surprising depth. His lecture to Arnold about Curtis cheating landed with unexpected emotion. “What did you expect, Harry? She’s a flesh and blood woman and you’re never around.”  It’s also what set the pretend spy plot thread…

Da briddgggeeeer iss ouuuuttttt

Oh, that makes more sense.

OP is referring to *Tom*Arnold.  Not Arnold Schwarzenegger

I can’t speak for his real-life personality (certainly having an affair, and child, with his maid, whom he had power over, wasn’t cool), but Arnold always had a pretty good comic sensibility. Not just here, but in Last Action Hero, Twins, and Kindergarten Cop, for example.

I don't see the abuse of Dushku as something the viewer has to deal with. I'd bet most people aren't even aware.

bill paxton describing jamie lee curtis as having ‘an ass like a 10 year old boy’ remains the craziest thing in this movie.

I appreciate your thoughtful take. I felt the same about his apology letter - that it was self-reflective, contrite, remorseful, etc. His wasn’t a small mistake, but he seemed to genuinely realize that, and how it affected his peers, and that at least counts for something. (I also acknowledge that this contrition came…

The “lack of consequences” argument is what I always found weak. What exactly did we expect from incidents that never went to court? Louis C.K. used to be everywhere! He was running multiple shows at once, while continuing his stand up career, and was a regular of every talk shows around. Since then, he is no longer…

Yes, I know from the tone of your comments that you’re not engaging to have a discussion so much as to toss off a fun little bon mot here and there, but I’ve written repeatedly that the letter was an unfairly criticized good start and post-comeback there was a shift away from that incisive self-reflection and remorse.

There are way more than 3 stand-up comedians on earth.  Try expanding your horizons.

Now I *kinda* want to hear that set...

no it was the version that screened at tiff. that was the finished copy.