Lady Killers (2003)

User Rating:

2.6/10   

Director:

Gary Preisler

Writers:

Michael Canale (story)
Gary Preisler (writer)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

A comedy about two guys who'd do anything to be on top.

Plot:

A pair of losers marry two elderly sisters, thinking they'll inherit their fortune and Beverly Hills estate. |

Plot Keywords:

Loser | Hookah | National Lampoon Series | Friendship Between Men | Beautiful Woman

Cast

Will Friedle	...	Calvin Menhoffer
Chris Owen	...	Leonard Smallwood
Louise Lasser	...	Doris Mundt
Renée Taylor	...	Betty Mundt
Nikki Schieler Ziering	...	Charlene (as Nikki Ziering)
Rudy De Luca	...	Uncle Walt
Jack Ong	...	Mr. Woo
J.J. Cole	...	Minister
Carmen Twillie	...	Gospel Singer
Gabriel Bologna	...	Jail Guard
Mary Albee	...	Woman on the Street
Draegin	...	Bruno 'The Dog'
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Akira Lane	...	Fantasy Girl (uncredited)
John Paul Lubran	...	Young Leonard Smallwood (uncredited)
Rena Riffel	...	Fantasy Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
Gary Preisler

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Michael Canale		story
Gary Preisler		writer

Produced by
Don Ashley	....	producer
Dean Blagg	....	co-producer
Amy Greenspun	....	producer
Brian Greenspun	....	executive producer
Howard Houng	....	co-producer
Charles V. Kinstler	....	executive producer
J.B. Moresco	....	associate producer
Kami Norton	....	co-producer
Gary Preisler	....	producer
Leland Preisler	....	executive producer
Michael T. Rutter	....	associate producer
Nick Goodwin Self	....	line producer

Original Music by
Chris Horvath

Cinematography by
Thomas L. Callaway

Film Editing by
Robert Brakey

Casting by
Aaron Griffith

Production Design by
Terrence Foster

Set Decoration by
Melanie Jones

Costume Design by
Ellen Falguiere
Rachel Sage		(re-shoots)

Makeup Department
Danielle Friedman	....	special makeup effects artist
Cindy Miguens	....	personal makeup artist: Louise Lasser
Erica Pearce	....	makeup artist
Kathleen Toner	....	hair stylist
Kathleen Toner	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Kami Norton	....	post-production supervisor
Kami Norton	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Lu	....	second assistant director: pick-ups
Dawn Stewart	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Pedro Barquin	....	stand-by greensman
Joshua T. Duman	....	propmaker
Greg Finnin	....	property master
Tom Gould	....	assistant property master
Regan Redding	....	carpenter
Jason Puga	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Doug Andham	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Doug Andorka)
Lisa Hannan	....	sound effects editor
Markus Innocenti	....	supervising sound editor
John Kohlbrenner	....	sound effects editor
George E. Marshall Jr.	....	boom operator
Sterling Moore	....	boom operator
Mike Welker	....	first assistant sound editor
Nelson Ferreira	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Owen Demers	....	3D paint lead: ESC Entertainment
David Emerson	....	optical and digital line-up
Scott Fritts	....	modeler
Shane Roberts	....	matte painter

Stunts
Mary Albee	....	stunt performer
Ben Bray	....	stunt coordinator
Max Daniels	....	stunt performer
Denney Pierce	....	stunt performer
Lori Seaman	....	stunt double
Ray Siegle	....	stunt performer
Lisa Varga	....	stunt performer
Frank Torres	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Derek Lee Bell	....	grip
Mike Booth	....	electrician
Cris Borgnine	....	electrician
Rocky W. Ford	....	key grip
Saul Herckis	....	grip
Craig Kief	....	gaffer
Paul Marshall	....	best boy electric
Craig Price	....	dolly grip
Michael Rha	....	grip
Eric Sievering	....	electric swing
Eric Sievering	....	grip
Charles M. Smallwood	....	key grip
C.J. Julian	....	electrician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Erika Munro	....	costumer

Music Department
David R. Barkley	....	orchestrator
Gerry Gershman	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
George Bolton	....	transportation captain
Abiff Salcedo	....	talent driver
Mario Simon	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Leonid Choub	....	location manager
Jill Coughlin	....	stand-in
Harold De Jesus	....	title designer
Myles DeRussy	....	stand-in
Judy Dixon	....	unit publicist
Leia Dunlap	....	production assistant
Jeff Eveleth	....	production assistant
Eric Fierstein	....	supervising location manager
Vanessa Grayson	....	stand-in
Jennifer S. Jackson	....	script supervisor (as Jennifer Helmuth)
Scott Jolgen	....	production assistant
Timothy Kiley	....	assistant location manager
Marcel Valcarce	....	title designer
Julie Anne Wight	....	script supervisor: pick-up shots

Production Companies

• Winston Davis and Associates

Distributors

• P&A Distributors (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Lady Killers Productions LLC

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Deluxe Post-Production  sound post-production
• Hollywood Caterers  catering

Also Known As:

Gold Diggers (USA) (alternative title)
National Lampoon's Gold Diggers (USA) (new title)
National Lampoon's Lady Killers (USA) (complete title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, and some drug related material.

Runtime:

USA:90 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

UK:12 | Finland:K-11 | Australia:M | Singapore:M18 | USA:PG-13 | USA:Unrated (unrated DVD version)

Company:

Winston Davis and Associates

Trivia:

One of only six theatrical wide releases on record in the United States to average less than $600 US Dollars on its debut weekend per theater in the past 25 years.

Goofs:

Continuity: Early in the movie where we see how bumbling the two guys are in their acts of crime, Leonard grabs a purse that is attached to a woman's prosthetic left arm. When he brings it back to her, she beats him with a right arm (the hands have switched).

Quotes:

Leonard Smallwood: Cal's built like a stallion!
Calvin Menhoffer: A black stallion.
[snorts like a horse]

Movie Connections:

References Urban Cowboy (1980)

Soundtrack:

Lady Killers

Could be worse, but could be much better

First of all, I'd like to establish that the outrageously beautiful Nikki Ziering doesn't play a big part in this movie, though she's plastered on the DVD cover. But hey, what's going to sell the movie better? An outrageously beautiful woman like herself or two old ladies? Luckily, if you rent the unrated version, you will get the see her topless. I'm guessing they CGI'd a bikini top on her for the theatrical PG-13 version, because she seems to be topless in all but one scene in the movie.

All film aesthetics aside, the problem with "National Lampoon's Gold Diggers" is the fact that it's about two young guys who have to marry, wine, dine and copulate with two old ladies. That's just disturbing. Not funny, just disturbing. I found the scenes where the women each engage in sexual roleplaying with the young men more gag-inducing than funny.

Other than the distasteful premise, the movie is written and directed in an amaeteurish fashion. I'm guessing the National Lampoon's franchise has taken a huge nosedive, ever since "Christmas Vacation." We went from "Animal House" to this? I probably look at comedies in a more analytical fashion than most people, and many of the gags are badly executed. Surely, I've seen much worse, but the comedy still never rises above direct-to-video standards. And of course, there are some cheap gags involving things like old people farting (Wow, that's soooooo original). If you're an old person, I suggest you don't see the movie, because you'll probably be offended. Like most movies aimed at young people that have elderly characters in them, the elderly are portrayed in a purely stereotypical fashion.

The cast is not bad. Louise Lasser has certainly done much better films than this (she was great in Todd Solondz's "Happiness"), but I'm sure it's harder for her to get decent roles in her old age. When I found out Will Friedle was in the movie, I was really afraid, but his performance is actually pretty decent in this movie. I guess as he matured with age, his comic timing has improved. I couldn't stand seeing him on "Boy Meets World" and in that awful comedy "Trojan War" (made even more awful by his hammy performance). Luckily, he's gotten more subtle with his comedy, and he manages to deliver some funny lines in the movie. Chris Owen, on the other hand, is virtually comatose in his performance. He seems totally bored throughout the movie. Maybe he's just not cut out for starring roles. He was good in his supporting roles in movies like "American Pie" (as the infamous Sherminator). I don't remember the actor's name, but the black guy who played the preacher was pretty damn funny, and steals in the show in the few scenes he's in.

"National Lampoon's Gold Diggers" is not as bad as I thought it would be, but I wouldn't rate it as a must-see. And for the guys, you may want to keep your finger on the rewind button during the scenes with Nikki Ziering.