Tin Men (1987)

Very disappointing...

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

If you wanna kick back, relax, and really have a great laugh, this is the movie for you.Set around 1962, the title, Tin Men, refers to aluminum siding salesmen. This is the profession of both BB and Tilley, although they work for rival companies. Throughout the movie, we are treated to different shady tactics employed by these salesmen to peddle their wares. A wonderfully funny movie, Dreyfuss and De Vito play their parts so well, taking two fairly unscrupulous characters and making them somewhat likable. They are supported by an excellent cast including Barbara Hersey as Tilley's wife, John Mahoney, Jackie Gayle, Seymour Cassel, and Bruno Kirby. Overall, terrific performances by Barbara Hershey, Richard Drefus, Danny De Vito and, above all, the British-born actor, John Mahoney, make this film a treat at every viewing. Mahoney, whom no one would ever identify as anything other than 100 percent American in looks and in voice, almost steals the show with his portrayal of Moe, Dreyfuss's patient partner in scam.This is a great movie that stands alone in dozens of ways. It will remain one of my all time favorite period pieces. Great sound track, great acting, great capture of the early 60's.Overall rating: 7 out of 10.

Yeah I finally watched it. I heard my Dad commend it back a couple of years, after it's late 87 cinema release. Coincidentally it opened up the same day as Hellraiser, which is kind of what these two, smooth talking aluminum salesmen (better known in the field as tin men) bring down on each other after a little vehicular ruckus. Both roles are filled with the right shoes, that of talented Devito, as the ill cautious, and accidental hitter, Tilley and Dreyfuss, overzealous, fired up, BB as the reckless, backer out er, in what is a rental car too. What ensues, is a warring feud of car wreaking and insults, and near punch ups. Dreyfuss, the real eager vengeful beaver, ups the revenge, when he makes a move on Devito's wife, Nora (the always great Hershey, who like her co stars and some others were enjoying the fruits of their careers thanks to Touchstone video) Of course, he falls in love with her, and as for Devito's reaction, you could say it was like that of Ruthless People. Look, I did enjoy tin men up to a point. It just didn't live up to my expectations. Not enough things happened for starters, between our rivals, like a consistency of revenge tricks and stunts. There were not enough plot turns, or developments, or things happening in the movie. There was like holding back, where I did feel, short changed. The dialogue, although very good, was too serious to be funny, I only cracked a couple of laughs throughout the movie. What I did like, funnily enough, was Dreyfuss and Devito's reconciliation, where they finally made peace, and Hershey as the woman in the middle, made the right choice, I think. I loved the reconstruction of the period, 1963 (same as in The Wanderers) that was excellent, and I really enjoyed John 'Frasier' Mahoney's performance as tin man legend, Moe, one of BB's mob, as I did enjoy Brad Sullivan, (Slapshot's dirty old man) as the Grill chief of the union. Too the much missed J.T Walsh, a great actor way too soon. Take Tin Man, an entertaining well shot film noir, comedy drama, where if a salesman, you can draw your own verdict. Fine Young Cannibal's string of appearances in this, go together like chips sprinkled with sugar.

A chance car prang by the two main protagonists leads to a drawn out snoozathon which seems to last way longer than its 110 minutes.Despite fine performances from both Devito and Dreyfuss, and the very occasional flash of laugh out loud humour in the script, serious flaws make this almost unwatchable.Firstly the characters' unbelievable reactions to events. Are we really to believe Devito is so unphased by a man stealing his wife? And are we to believe the wife Dreyfuss stole is really going to forget everything and marry him so easily, after she discovers he has lied and deceived his way into her pants simply to annoy a man who reversed into his car? And secondly, the two men's occupation hardly elicits shudders of excitement in the audience. At one point Dreyfuss says, to one of the undercover agents looking for corruption in his trade, something along the lines of: "we only sell aluminium siding. Why are you so interested?". He may as well be addressing the audience directly.Unbelievable, soporific nonsense, that cannot be saved by a fine cast and a few good jokes.

I love this movie. It's one of my all time favorites. Levinson's use of music and arrested adolescent imagery (cars, diners, women, cars and more cars) is subtle and hilarious. The film looks gorgeous and has a sadness that hangs over it as we can literally see change surrounding these men who refuse to be men. The home improvement commission, the new car that is the Beetle, actually loving a woman... all of this is new and scary to Dreyfuss and Devito. Devito especially is funny in how obstinate he is in ignoring the change around him.DeVito's buddy who I think is played by the old comic Jackie Gayle is particularly funny. "I can go for some Won Ton soup..."It's a wonderful movie. And the specifics are laugh out loud funny. This and Diner are the best of Levinson's Baltimore movies.