What's The Worst That Could Happen? 

View Date: June 1st, 2001

Cast :

Directed by: Sam Weisman 

It would be too easy to respond to the question in the movie’s title, as I’m sure others may do.  The fact is, this isn’t the worst thing that could have come of this movie, since there are a few redeemable performances and moments of slight smiles, tongue in cheek nods, and light laughter.  But in the pairing of two performers who have gained success in either supporting roles, or in teaming with someone else, this film suffers from a lack of leadership and a steadying influence.  The direction is inconsistent, the chemistry between Lawrence and DeVito is non-existant, and in a fitting sense of irony, the best things in the film come from the supporting characters.  The stumbling, senseless conclusion reflects more the mess that the film became, and less what it could have been. It could have been a comic teaming, similar to Lawrence and Robbins in Nothing to Lose, or a strong showcase of supporting performers, like Ruthless People.  Instead, it has some shimmering moments of potential, sandwiched in between some crude, unfunny, and inconsitantly paced interactions based a story idea that barely could carry an SNL skit.

Lawrence and DeVito enter no new territory playing a con-man and a wealthy insensitive sexist egomaniac respectively.  DeVito catches Lawrence during a robbery, and steals the ring that Lawrence’s new girlfriend has given him.  Since the police are more likely to believe a businessman than a criminal, DeVito is allowed to keep the ring, and Lawrence vows vengeance to retrieve his property.  This is the simple premise of the film, which may have worked better, had one of its two participants been able to carry it, while one played off him.  But alas, the scenes of the two together rarely generate laughs, the humor comes from supporting characters played by Glynne Headley, as DeVito’s sex-obsessed assistant/mistress, Nora Dunn, as his put-upon wife more concerned with social stature than love and most notably William Fichtner as a effeminate, sensitive detective with his own theme music.  The title suggests a caper movie that exploits and has fun with worst case scenarios that get out of control.  Instead, the story takes its one-note premise and goes nowhere with it, turning it into a game of cat and mouse oneupsmanship that never really has any spark or humor in the series of situations presented.  Then, as the movie gets its flow towards the end, comes a ludicrous final scene that nearly unravels what little promise the movie still had left.  It is insulting, lacks little thought, and leaves an even worse taste than the movies failed attempts at humor already had.  Granted, this is not supposed to be Oscar material, with in-depth plots, character development or shocking twists, but it is a summer comedy, which should show some sense of thought behind its jokes and execution, instead of prolonging a one-note joke, and hoping that the stars previous characters and reputations would do the rest.  ($$ out of $$$$$)

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