Well! Apparently I am (at the moment) the only person who remembers this humiliating effort from Elliot Gould, Kate Jackson & Rich Little.
Let me say,I saw a great many films at the movies in 1981 and given my lack of knowledge about "good comedy" and "great acting",I ended up seeing a number of really bad films. Even with the "thumbs down" of Roger Ebert & Gene Siskel, I still went.
This became the biggest case of bad judgment I ever made! I've only seen it once on late night TV since seeing it at the movies and thankfully, that was over 10 years ago. (2006)
The plot is this, Elliot Gould is a College teacher "Professor Chandler" of Governmentand / or History and talks to his class about "revisionism". Changing known history to suit one's own ideas. Suddenly, a letter condemning George Washington as a traitor shows up out of the blue!
Also,"suddenly" Kate Jackson, playing reporter Karen Polly , finds out about Elliot Gould's discovery and wants the scoop for her news show. (I don't know who could have told her... the student who presented him with the letter was killed!)
Gould's friend, Robert Brenn who seems to be another teacher (but I'd hate to be "his" student) , is played by Rich Little. He simply seems to be in the way here and, adds nothing to this mess.
Gould & Jackson are also trying to track down an expert to verify that the letter is real. But that proves not to be easy , in fact nothing goes easily.
Then along come the bad guys! Now, WHO likely all saw Karen's news report about the letter and Professor Chandler. Gould and Jackson (Chandler & Karen) are pursued by 2 men (dressed like Freddie Mercury circa 1981) looking to harm or kill them for the letter in question! Also the Mob is in on it and more.
At one point, our leading man & lady, are chased through the gym of the school and for no reason, except someone thought it would be funny, Gould grabs the basketball out of a players hand, dribbles down the court and makes a shot.
One of the baddies (a mob guy) shoots a hole in the ball! The shoddy editing of that scene makes the ball appear re-inflated after going through the hoop almost flat! (I could see one of the young teen extras laughing in the scene).
In another scene Karen is ranting on about how this will help her career and other related stuff and he suddenly punches her in the jaw to shut her up.
Oh, nice Elliot, nice...not.. : (
In the end , when they're cornered by the bad guys and (and no,I don't think it matters that I'm telling you).... Elliot Gould solves the problem by eating the letter! (You could have done that over an hour ago Elliot!) .
Well , enough said here but if you see this on video or TV anywhere.....RUN for your sanity!
Let me say,I saw a great many films at the movies in 1981 and given my lack of knowledge about "good comedy" and "great acting",I ended up seeing a number of really bad films. Even with the "thumbs down" of Roger Ebert & Gene Siskel, I still went.
This became the biggest case of bad judgment I ever made! I've only seen it once on late night TV since seeing it at the movies and thankfully, that was over 10 years ago. (2006)
The plot is this, Elliot Gould is a College teacher "Professor Chandler" of Governmentand / or History and talks to his class about "revisionism". Changing known history to suit one's own ideas. Suddenly, a letter condemning George Washington as a traitor shows up out of the blue!
Also,"suddenly" Kate Jackson, playing reporter Karen Polly , finds out about Elliot Gould's discovery and wants the scoop for her news show. (I don't know who could have told her... the student who presented him with the letter was killed!)
Gould's friend, Robert Brenn who seems to be another teacher (but I'd hate to be "his" student) , is played by Rich Little. He simply seems to be in the way here and, adds nothing to this mess.
Gould & Jackson are also trying to track down an expert to verify that the letter is real. But that proves not to be easy , in fact nothing goes easily.
Then along come the bad guys! Now, WHO likely all saw Karen's news report about the letter and Professor Chandler. Gould and Jackson (Chandler & Karen) are pursued by 2 men (dressed like Freddie Mercury circa 1981) looking to harm or kill them for the letter in question! Also the Mob is in on it and more.
At one point, our leading man & lady, are chased through the gym of the school and for no reason, except someone thought it would be funny, Gould grabs the basketball out of a players hand, dribbles down the court and makes a shot.
One of the baddies (a mob guy) shoots a hole in the ball! The shoddy editing of that scene makes the ball appear re-inflated after going through the hoop almost flat! (I could see one of the young teen extras laughing in the scene).
In another scene Karen is ranting on about how this will help her career and other related stuff and he suddenly punches her in the jaw to shut her up.
Oh, nice Elliot, nice...not.. : (
In the end , when they're cornered by the bad guys and (and no,I don't think it matters that I'm telling you).... Elliot Gould solves the problem by eating the letter! (You could have done that over an hour ago Elliot!) .
Well , enough said here but if you see this on video or TV anywhere.....RUN for your sanity!