SNMR 2.9: "Get Shorty"

Tonight's SNMR feature is "Get Shorty" (1995, R, 105 minutes), starring John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo, Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, Dennis Farina, Delroy Lindo, James Gandolfini, David Paymer and Martin Ferrero. The film was directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. I'm watching the 2 disc widescreen Collector's Edition.

I had never watched this movie in it's entirety before tonight. I think that my ex rented it once and I caught bits and pieces of it here and there. Maybe we even saw it on television or something. I can't remember.

From the DVD's dust case:

Loan shark Chili Palmer (John Travolta) is bored with the business. So when he arrives in LA to collect a debt from down-and-out filmmaker Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman), Chili talks tough...and then pitches Harry a script idea. Immediately, Chili is swept into the Hollywood scene: He schmoozes film star Martin Weir (Danny DeVito), romances B-movie queen Karen Flores (Rene Russo) and even gets reservations at the hottest restaurants in town. In fact, all would be smooth for this cool new producer, if it weren't for the drug smugglers and the angry mobster who won't leave him alone.

From Martin & Porter's DVD & Video Guide 2006, p. 436:

John Travolta solidified his status as the comeback king of the 1990's with his performance in this smart, often outrageous screen adaptation of the Elmore Leonard novel. Travolta plays Chili Palmer, a collector for the mob who, after being sent to Hollywood to collect some outstanding debts, decides to go into business for himself - specifically the movie business. This is the best insider's look at the sleazy side of Tinsel Town since Robert Altman's The Player.

The movie was entertaining, though not as good as I thought it would be, considering the great cast. I thought the movie would be much funnier than it was. The writing was decent, I suppose. I've not read Leonard's novel, so can't say how much was added or removed from book to film. I think part of my problem with the film is that there were several scenes that really could have been done away with, rather adding to the further development of the main characters. I'll give this movie three out of five stars.