Out-of-Towners, The

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey

Strictly a middle-aged comedy, which consists of more easy lobs than sharp smacks, but manages to get the job done.

Variety Joe Leydon

Lightweight but likable entertainment.

Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

Ragged as some of it might have been, that old "Out-of-Towners" had a unified and surprisingly dark comic vision to go with its nifty one-liners. This big, glossy picture is set in movie-movie land, that shiny, peachy place where a celebrity -- like Mayor Rudy -- waits around every corner. [2 April 1999, Friday, p.A]

Dallas Observer Michael Sragow

As the harried household head in The Out-of-Towners, the thrill is gone. Martin's character is dull, and his performance is fatigued -- Hawn, a trouper, locates all the available giggles and wins applause for her big tantrum scene. And John Cleese is riotously funny.

San Francisco Examiner G. Allen Johnson

Competent, to be sure, with some good lines.

USA Today Susan Wloszczyna

The only possible reasons to do this concept again is sheer laziness (it's easier to borrow an idea) and pure greed (it's cheaper to borrow an idea). [2 April 1999, Life, p.6E]

San Francisco Chronicle Peter Stack

The movie is a mess of bits and pieces that try to gel but don't. Still, it is stupidly fun.

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

You may want to take a chance on this new Out-of-Towners because of its stars, but keep in mind that while its characters take chances, the picture itself plays it awfully safe. [2 April 1999, Calendar, p.F-12]

Entertainment Weekly Alice King

Don't hate yourself for chuckling at this sweetly anachronistic update of the 1970 Neil Simon comedy.

Austin Chronicle Russell Smith

A slight, oddly lifeless movie with dubious appeal for even the most incorrigible Simon devotees.

Film Threat Ron Wells

It's a little frightening to watch Hawn be "bubbly" at her age.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

Jogs doggedly on the treadmill of comedy, working up a sweat but not getting much of anywhere.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

Unremarkable. A more honest description would be to label it as mirthless, pointless, and banal.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Nathan Rabin

Director Sam Weisman's pushy, subtlety-free direction certainly doesn't help. Martin is still capable of making a decent film, but The Out-Of-Towners isn't it.

Salon.com Stephanie Zacharek

A dismally unfunny comedy, but that's not what's depressing about it. Worse by far is the palpable desperation in Goldie Hawn's performance.

The New York Times Lawrence Van Gelder

Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin are appealing performers, but none of the energy, professionalism and gameness they display -- can surmount the mess that surrounds them in this misguided comedy.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

The only serendipitous touch is the casting of New York's "quality of life" watchdog, Rudolph Giuliani, as himself.

Chicago Reader Lisa Alspector

Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn are too good for this embarrassing remake.

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

There are a few clever lines and Cleese has some sensational moments, but that's not enough to make the farce seem fresh.

Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan

There was absolutely no reason to make a new version of the 1970 comedy.

Washington Post Stephen Hunter

The film has about seven minutes of good material, mostly provided by John Cleese.