Say Yes (1986)

Directors:

Larry Yust
Peter Ferrara

Writers:

Larry Yust (written by)
Peter Ferrara (additional writer)

Release Date:

12 June 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A rich man leaves all his money to his grandson on the condition that he must be married within 24 hours...

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film

Cast

Ian Anderson	...	Crewman
Joe Barnaba	...	Reporter
John C. Becher	...	Bride's Father
Al Berry	...	Second Skipper
Jan Bina	...	Christian Lady
David Bond	...	Annie's Uncle
Maryedith Burrell	...	Gladys
Robert Lee Campbell	...	Ralph
Nick Cinardo	...	Bus Driver
Ralph Clift	...	Lawyer
Mark Colicci	...	Chauffeur
Jensen Collier	...	Belinda
Jacque Lynn Colton	...	Answering Service
Johnny Crear	...	Piano Player
Dee Croxton	...	Annie's Mother

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:PG-13

Company:

Cinetel Films

Soundtrack:

Say Yes

Don't go out of your way

This is one of those movies you would have to be crazy to buy, if you actually could, unless it was at a dollar store. Then it would be worth it. Or to rent. But if you stumble on it on TV and there is nothing else on, and you have nothing else to do, go ahead. You might actually enjoy it. Heck, you can always turn it off. But the fast pace of the goof ball insanity might keep your trigger finger off the off button.

Being a goof ball comedy, the director seems to think most of the actors don't need to know how to actually act, at least the goof ball characters, and it appears they don't. The big exception is of course Jonathan Winters. Watching his facial expressions and animal mimicry is a delight, as always. They are toned down enough from his usual comic routines to be especially fascinating.

But for a goof ball comedy to work, you need some straight men and women. Art Hindle is OK, in a fluffy sort of way. He seems like a normal, decent sort of fellow, which is what the character calls for. And Lissa Layng does a commendable job as the one sane woman in his life, striking a good balance between shy and sensibility.

The plot is complete far fetched nonsense. But its kinda fun, in a distracting, escapist way. So the movie is watchable, in an emergency. Speaking of emergencies, I wouldn't recommend it for an in-flight movie.

Looking back on the film, I think it could have been better. Goofball comedies with absurd plots can be made to work. The problem is that most of the acting is bad, painfully bad, to be blunt, almost porno movie bad. Given that most of the enormous cast are actually professional actors, I have to assume the fault lies with bad directing. There's too much hamming it up.

With better comedic acting in the secondary roles and some improvements in the script, this movie might have reached a level of respectability.