Just the Ticket (1999/I)

Director:

Richard Wenk

Writer (WGA):

Richard Wenk (written by)

Release Date:

26 February 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Irresponsible, Unreliable, Unpredictable and totally Irresistible.

Plot:

A ticket scalper wants to make one last big deal on the pope's visit to finally do something worthwhile about his relationship.

Plot Keywords:

Ticket Scalping | Con Artist

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Andy Garcia	...	Gary Starke
Andie MacDowell	...	Linda Palinski
Richard Bradford	...	Benny Moran
Alice Drummond	...	Lady with Cash
Fred Asparagus	...	Zeus
Louis Mustillo	...	Harry the Head
Anita Elliott	...	Refund Lady at the Met
Patrick Breen	...	San Diego Vinnie
Laura Harris	...	Alice / 'Cyclops'
Don Novello	...	Tony
Ron Leibman	...	Barry the Book
Michael Willis	...	TV Customer
Jack Cafferty	...	Newscaster
Molly Wenk	...	Catholic Schoolgirl Fanny
Daniella García-Lorido	...	Catholic Schoolgirl Lucy

Also Known As:

Gary & Linda (France)
The Ticket Scalper (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

Argentina:115 min | Spain:116 min | USA:115 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Denmark:7 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:M | Spain:T | USA:R | Brazil:12

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Canal+

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Tracey Fragments (2007)

Soundtrack:

Big Date

Not A Great Film But A Good Film

In England they are known as Ticket Touts, but whether you know them as Touts or Scalpers the character is the same. Unpleasant. So an unlikely candidate as a leading character in a romantic comedy? Maybe so, but this is one of the things that sets this film apart from the average romantic comedy. Another is the performances. Not Oscar winning stuff maybe, but they all seem to be getting the most out of their roles. While the focus is on the relationship between Garcia and McDowell, the relationship between Garcia and his pal/father figure Benny underpins the film and ultimately is the catalyst which is the reason for the ending. Benny is ably played by Richard Bradford, at last being given a chance to stretch his wings outside of the corrupt coppers he is usually asked to play, and you would have to be a hard hearted person not to be touched by his portrayal. It is such a shame that so much of "Benny" ultimately ended up on the cutting room floor and so we are only given a glimpse of why Garcia takes him under his wing.

If you want your intellect stretched, look elsewhere. But if you want to curl up on the sofa armed with a box of Kleenex and a box of chocolates, you could do a lot worse than let this film into your living room.