- Actors: Jeff Goldblum, Rowan Atkinson, Emma Thompson, Geraldine James, Emil Wolk
- Directors: Mel Smith
- Writers: Richard Curtis
- Producers: Paul Webster, Tim Bevan
- Language English
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Universal
- VHS Release Date: 10 April 1995
- Run Time: 92 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004RQLB
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 9,067 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The first feature to be directed by comedian Mel Smith, The Tall Guy is a blithely ramshackle comedy, essentially a vehicle for the gangling, geeky charms of Jeff Goldblum. He plays an American actor in London, living in a scruffy flat in Camden Town and stuck in a wretched job as sidekick to an obnoxious, egomaniac comedian (Rowan Atkinson). To compound his misery, he doesn't have a girlfriend--until, that is, he encounters a brisk, pretty nurse (Emma Thompson) with a refreshingly no-nonsense attitude to sex. Then, fired from his job, he lands the title role in a big-budget musical version of The Elephant Man (entitled Elephant!)--only to have his leading lady make a play for him.
The Tall Guy, as you might gather, isn't long on originality and Smith's direction is serviceable at best. But it boasts an intelligent and intermittently witty script from Richard Curtis (his first for a feature film), and coasts through on the charm of the two leads, a ripely self-mocking performance from Atkinson and some diverting set-pieces--not least a spoof sex-scene where Goldblum and Thompson, in the urgency of their rampant lust, demolish the contents of an entire room. (This scene was replayed in deadly earnest in Chen Kaige's calamitous excursion into English-language thrillers, Killing Me Softly.) Smith and Curtis also have fun sending up various types of theatre: there's an audition for a Steven Berkoff production where the actors are required to scream "Fuck off" at each for minutes on end, and the musical (hit song "I'm Packing My Trunk") wickedly spoofs the Andrew Lloyd Webber school of composition.
On the DVD: The Tall Guy offers no extras except the theatrical trailer. The transfer is full-width, and both sound and visual come up cleanly. --Philip Kemp
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
When i was seven, my brother introduced me to my favourite movie of all time bar 'aliens' and 'the fly'. 'The Tall Guy' has an outstanding pair of co stars, never have i seen a movie in which a pair of actors have ever worked so well together. Jeff Goldblum is cast as a struggling actor in need of inspiration and a big break. It just so happens that he meets Emma Thompson who manages to make his life everything it is not. This movie gave Goldblum his amazing reputation of being one of the best actors this world has produced. With the terrific love song 'It Must Be Love' by Madness, and the squishing of an unsuspecting orange carton -you have to watch to find out- this is a heart rendering romantic comedy. With smashing scenes from 'The Elephant Man' in which Jeff Goldblum's character stars, this is the best movie for a night in with a loving partner. This movie makes me feel all warm and squishy inside - it must be love.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The Tall Guy was a favourite with my family when we were younger so it was with some trepidation that I bought it recently. However I can honestly say that I enjoyed it just as much watching it in my 30's as I did back then.
Emma Thomson - although not among my favourite actors - is great in this role. Her way-too-honest and abrupt manner is somehow refreshing and you genuinely like her. Jeff Goldblum is an american actor lacking in confidence who plays an unnoticed side-kick in Rowan Atkinson's character's stage show.
A lot of this movie is focussed on the production of a musical based on the Elephant Man - which frankly is reason enough to watch it. It's just so offensive - it's wonderful!
A very good movie. Very British and maybe slightly dated but still very good fun.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Jeff Goldblum plays Dexter King, a tall American in London trying to establish himself as an actor. For the last two years he's been getting by playing stooge in the comedy act of a monumentally self-centered comedian, Ron Anderson, played by Rowan Atkinson. He meets Kate Lemmon, a nurse at a local hospital. In short order, he falls in love, gets fired by Anderson, is hired to play the lead in a London musical, has a fling, loses Kate, wins Kate back.
The movie is funny and a bit whimsical, very clever, and is merciless at poking fun at the theater establishment. Dexter's big break, for instance, is playing John Merrick in Elephant!, a musical based on The Elephant Man. Think of third rate (or even first-rate) Andrew Lloyd-Weber. The book and songs are so awful and ponderous they're fascinating. Dexter's face makeup, in addition to huge lumps and ears, includes what looks like a small elephant's trunk attached to his nose.
Goldblum narrates the movie and comes across as slightly neurotic but endearing, unsure of himself but able to come through when it counts. Emma Thompson's character is all brisk common sense with a big helping of drollness. They go to bed on their first date because, as Kate explains, it eliminates all the awkwardness later on. Their love making is hilarious and could have been directed by Buster Keaton. Rowan Atkinson, as usual, almost steals the movie. He has two or three routines on stage, one with Goldblum as stooge with both playing singing, dancing off-color nuns. "Is something bothering you, Dexter?" Atkinson's character asks solicitously afterwards backstage. "Well, yes there is," Dexter says. "Then sort it out," Atkinson snarls, "before I sack you and hire a lobotomized monkey to play your role." The happy resolution of the movie takes place in the emergency room of Kate's hospital where various badly damaged people are being brought in...maimed accident victims, a heart attack case, a fellow with a vacuum cleaner pipe lodged up his bottom. Somehow it all works out.
This is a sweet, funny, intelligent movie with three first-rate lead actors. The DVD looks very good.
The movie is funny and a bit whimsical, very clever, and is merciless at poking fun at the theater establishment. Dexter's big break, for instance, is playing John Merrick in Elephant!, a musical based on The Elephant Man. Think of third rate (or even first-rate) Andrew Lloyd-Weber. The book and songs are so awful and ponderous they're fascinating. Dexter's face makeup, in addition to huge lumps and ears, includes what looks like a small elephant's trunk attached to his nose.
Goldblum narrates the movie and comes across as slightly neurotic but endearing, unsure of himself but able to come through when it counts. Emma Thompson's character is all brisk common sense with a big helping of drollness. They go to bed on their first date because, as Kate explains, it eliminates all the awkwardness later on. Their love making is hilarious and could have been directed by Buster Keaton. Rowan Atkinson, as usual, almost steals the movie. He has two or three routines on stage, one with Goldblum as stooge with both playing singing, dancing off-color nuns. "Is something bothering you, Dexter?" Atkinson's character asks solicitously afterwards backstage. "Well, yes there is," Dexter says. "Then sort it out," Atkinson snarls, "before I sack you and hire a lobotomized monkey to play your role." The happy resolution of the movie takes place in the emergency room of Kate's hospital where various badly damaged people are being brought in...maimed accident victims, a heart attack case, a fellow with a vacuum cleaner pipe lodged up his bottom. Somehow it all works out.
This is a sweet, funny, intelligent movie with three first-rate lead actors. The DVD looks very good.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A TALL STORY..
A struggling young American actor in London who is stage stooge to a really popular but horrid star wonders what on earth he is doing there.
Jeff Goldblum. Rowan Atkinson. Read more
Jeff Goldblum. Rowan Atkinson. Read more
Published 2 months ago by DOGBERRY
Almost unwatchable
This is an absolutely awful film, which proves that nothing dates as badly as certain types of comedy. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Guv
Jeff Goldblum is The Tall Guy
Funny, quirkily humourous, just the way Jeff is. I really like this film, with its unexpected theme. What is there not to like about it? Read more
Published 22 months ago by Jan L.
gentle comedy
Good script, great cast and a cracking soundtrack. Mel Smith's directorial début, assisted by yet another vintage Richard Curtis script ensures a feel-good factor. Read more
Published on 2 Nov 2009 by lord crossway
Richard Curtis' greatest film!
This is a very underrated movie! It is very different to Richard Curtis' other movies becuase it was not written for an American audience, as his other (more famous) movies... Read more
Published on 9 Dec 2005 by Mr. G. Patterson
Intriguing debut from the Curtis / Working Title stable
Richard Curtis, eventual architect of 'Four Weddings', 'Notting Hill', 'Love Actually' and bits of 'Bridget Jones', kicked off his filmwriting career with this 1989 debut. Read more
Published on 3 Jun 2004 by Gavin Wilson
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