In preparation for his daughter's wedding, dentist Sheldon Kornpett meets Vince Ricardo, the groom's father. Vince, a manic fellow who claims to be a government agent, then proceeds to drag Sheldon into a series of chases and misadventures from New York to Central America.
Acting
Falk and Arkin's volcanic chemistry—two masters at peak chaos
Writing
Andrew Bergman's debut script, every line a ticking absurdity bomb
Director
Arthur Hiller
Peter Falk
Vincent J. Ricardo
Alan Arkin
Sheldon S. Kompett D.D.S.
Richard Libertini
General Garcia
Nancy Dussault
Carol Kornpett
Penny Peyser
Barbara Kornpett
Arlene Golonka
Jean Ricardo
Michael Lembeck
Tommy Ricardo
Paul L. Smith
Mo
Ed Begley Jr.
Barry Lutz
James Hong
Bing Wong
David Paymer
Cabbie
Rosanna DeSoto
Evita
Art Evans
Driver
Jim Goodwin
Guard
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Falk and Arkin were so combustible that Hiller just let cameras roll on their improvisations, keeping only the most unhinged takes.
This basically invented the 'normal guy dragged into spy chaos' template that Midnight Run and every Shane Black film would later perfect.
US
