My Movie Review on Mousehunt · 10:39pm Feb 5th, 2019
What’s up, you guys! A Man Undercover in the house!
Today, I will be reviewing “Mousehunt”!
In this film directed by Gore Verbinski, when their string magnate father, Rudolf Smuntz, dies, brothers Ernie (played by Nathan Lane) and Lars (played Lee Evans) are forced to move into his decrepit mansion after they lose what they hold most, Ernie’s career as a famous chef gets devastated, and Lars’ wife kicks him out of his own house. Struggling to keep a promise to never sell the now unprofitable string factory, the brothers decide that restoring the house, the last built by a famous architect, could bring them a great deal of money.
But, during their restoration attempts, Ernie and Lars are continually frustrated by a mischievous and smarter-than average mouse that keeps destroying their efforts, driving them to lengths that ultimately lead to disaster.
Firstly, I have to be honest, the only problems I have with this film are just a couple of certain moments.
One moment is that after Lars loses his clothes to the string-making machine by accident, he enters his office to find his good-for-nothing-cash-hungry-wife there. And while they’re together, about the money Lars and Ernie need to keep the auction going and to pay off a jacuzzi Ernie got without paying for it, April takes off her clothes, exposing her undergarments. After that, it can be quite obvious they had sex. A good thing the scene switched so that we wouldn’t have to see what else happens.
The other moment comes during the auction for the house. While Lars and Ernie secretly try to catch the mouse after seeing him again, the mouse ducks into the cleavage of a woman to hide. With that, Lars puts his hand into the cleavage to try to catch the mouse, much to the shock of the auctioneers. Ernie kinda does the same thing to another woman, especially after she purposely puts his hand on her.
Despite these setbacks though, the film is extremely fun!
The comedy, especially the slapstick and moments with the mouse, Ernie, and Lars are really well-thought and perfectly timed. I literally couldn’t help but laugh throughout the film, and I’m sure you guys will certainly get a kick out of it.
The story and plot line of the film was also well-done, one reason being because Adam Rifkin was able to successfully expand it into something that would have otherwise been a mere six to seven minute short reminiscent to cartoons like Tom and Jerry.
The direction by Gore Verbinski (who also did Rango & three Pirates of the Caribbean films), was also done brilliantly! He gave everything such a great classic feel, and he was able to aid the script in helping the film as a whole work. I can very much also say it isn’t bad for a first-time director, mostly considering he directed commercials before helming this film.
Finally, it all comes down to the cast, characters, and performances. To tell you the truth, I think they’re the best part of this film!
Every actor and actress gave their character such great personality to make them memorable, and they projected such realistic emotion. They especially played their characters like they were meant for them. Even the minor actors did a great job at doing all the things I mentioned above, really (Spoilers: Ernie Sabella, who co-stars with Nathan Lane in “The Lion King”, stars as the owner of the city’s cat pound, and Christopher Walken, whom I know best for his work in the 2016 Jungle Book film, stars as an exterminator who tries to catch the mouse).
The ones who particularly stood out to me the most, of course, are Nathan Lane and Lee Evans with their characters of Ernie and Lars, as well as the mouse himself.
I love how lovable, naive, and innocent Evans made Lars, and how comedic, sarcastic, and dry Lane made Ernie. All two of the characters were ones to root for, and they both had great development throughout, that development being that they both realize they need each other, and that they must work together as a family when it comes to certain things. And, when a family works together, they can accomplish so much more than doing something alone.
The mouse was also really fun to watch. I love the smart-alec side of him, and the insight that there’s so much more to him has been translated so well into the film. And, of course, I love how he begins to find in the end that it’s better to help Ernie and Lars more than give them a problem. His expressions throughout the film, such as being able to open and close his eyes, was also really phenomenal. So, all in all, I love the combined use of live and animatronic mice.
In the end, while there are some things you need to have your eyes peeled for, this comedy starring Nathan Lane, Lee Evans, and the mouse, is definitely worth your time.
So, I rate “Mousehunt” 4 1/2 out of five stars.
I always recognized Nathan's voice, I always do. It's hard, it's rough... it's New York.
This might be interesting. I’ll check it out someday!
This movie was one of my favorites growing up, to me this is a movie that combines 'Laurel and Hardy' with 'Tom and Jerry' style comedy (Ironic because Ernie represents Hardy and Lars represents Laurel, given the whole British-American duo). To me, what really draws my attention with this movie is the slapstick style comedy and all the feeble attempts the duo make trying to take down a mouse. The movie has a way of being funny and dramatic at the same time, the struggles of trying to abide by the wishes of a dying father while dealing with their own ambitions of life. And ironically, it's the dealings with this mouse that somehow brings the two together.
I haven't seen the film, but I find this movie absolutely hilarious.