Robert Benton, director of Kramer vs. Kramer and Places in the Heart, tries to lighten up with a comic thriller that's sort of like Hitchcock crossed with Leo McCarey (or, in short, sort of like Stanley Donen). But he hedges his bet by still retaining Nestor Almendros as cameraman. Photography this fine -- with its radiant lighting, waxy color, and postcardy rectangles of American Gothic -- is not normally of much use to comedy this light. But when the funny stuff floats away like bubbles, or (more often) bursts like them, it's nice to have something else to hold on to. One chase scene is amusingly slowed up by klutziness, a rickety ladder, and a tight skirt; and the selection of old cars and old clothes is enjoyable. But why -- except that Benton hails from round about there, round about then -- is it set in Texas of the 1950s at all? And why is Kim Basinger's accent thicker (by several slices of ham and one of process American cheese) than anyone else's? With Jeff Bridges, Rip Torn, and Gwen Verdon. (1987) — Duncan Shepherd
This movie is not currently in theaters.