X
- 1993
- PG-13
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- 1 h 31 m
- 1993
- PG-13
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- 1 h 31 m
Summary A spoof on thrillers from before 1993 such as Fatal Attraction (1987), Basic Instinct (1992), Chinatown (1974) , Cape Fear (1991) etc. A cop/lawyer cheats on his wife and she on him and plans to kill him for the insurance.
Directed By: Carl Reiner
Written By: David O'Malley
- 1993
- PG-13
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- 1 h 31 m
- 1993
- PG-13
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- 1 h 31 m
Fatal Instinct
33
User Score
Available after 4 ratings
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Where to Watch
Summary A spoof on thrillers from before 1993 such as Fatal Attraction (1987), Basic Instinct (1992), Chinatown (1974) , Cape Fear (1991) etc. A cop/lawyer cheats on his wife and she on him and plans to kill him for the insurance.
Directed By: Carl Reiner
Written By: David O'Malley
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 24 Critic Reviews
33
8% Positive
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
38% Mixed
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
54% Negative
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 24 Critic Reviews
33
8% Positive
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
38% Mixed
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
54% Negative
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
The best things about this movie are first-rate comic performances by Young, Sherilyn Fenn (as Assante's worshipful secretary), Kate Nelligan (Assante's absurdly faithless wife), and by Assante himself. We knew he was a great straight man, but who would have guessed he had the timing for this? He has it. And Fatal Instinct has its moments. [30 Oct 1993, p.G1]
What Fatal Instinct seems to overlook, though, is that erotic thrillers such as "Basic Instinct" and "Fatal Attraction" do a pretty good job of parodying themselves. Rather than really develop any of their setups, writer David O'Malley and director Carl Reiner seem to think it's enough simply to cite the originals. [29 Oct 1993, p.51]
Carl Reiner's hit-or-miss film noir parody, a collection of gags that vary much too wildly in terms of timing and wit. All that hold this comedy together are a playful outlook and a conviction that detective stories are intrinsically funny, especially if the detective is as much of a blockhead as Ned Ravine.
Armand Assante, on the other hand, is one of the best movie actors of his generation. But he isn't very funny in Fatal Instinct.
A more pointed genre parody intent on proving there’s noir business like show business could’ve been ripping fun. But director Carl Reiner is more intent on offering Cliff’s Notes for VCR couch spuds than satire. It’s the kind of endlessly referential, toothless spoof that sticks an elbow in your side every 20 seconds or so: “Now we’re doing the ‘Body of Evidence’ candle wax scene! Recognize the funny-hats montage from ‘Sleeping With the Enemy’? Get it?”
Carl Reiner's Fatal Instinct is about as awful a movie parody as you'd ever want to see, but the guy certainly deserves some points for persistence. [29 Oct 1993]
Fatal Instinct isn't funny, which in a comedy is a slight problem. The movie isn't funny for several reasons, but the most important reason is that the jokes aren't any good. [29 Oct 1993, p.C3]
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