Mr. Magoo (1997)

best movie i've ever seen.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Mr. Magoo (1997): Dir: Stanley Tong / Cast: Leslie Nielsen, Kelly Lynch, Malcolm McDowell, Ernie Hudson, Stephen Tobolowski: One joke comedy about sight impaired Mr. Magoo who is accidentally present during a jewel theft, and the ruby that ends up in his tackle box. Villains attempt to nab the ruby but with no success and the police bug Magoo's house believing him to be a suspect. Boring plot with no signs of potential with many predictable developments structured around Magoo's various misunderstandings and mishaps. Directed by Stanley Tong who previously made one of Jackie Chan's worst films, First Strike. Here he not only proves to know little if anything about the cartoon, but he also makes one of Leslie Nielsen's worst films. There are actors who do shitty films without the name stamping director to imply it. Magoo's nephew Waldo looks nothing like the guy in this film. He doesn't even act like the guy in this film. The river raft parachute scene also doesn't work. Leslie Nielsen would seem ideal choice to play Magoo but he is recycling variations of other roles in films much better and funnier than this. Even his bald headed makeup isn't convincing. Kelly Lynch, Malcolm McDowell and Ernie Hudson are wasted in pathetic cardboard supporting roles. Pointless portrayal of a cartoon that proves that more than Magoo had bad eye sight. Score: 1 / 10

Back in the day, Mr. Magoo was very well popular during his time. The running gag in the cartoon was that Mr. Magoo couldn't see well and always ended up colliding into all kinds of mayhem. As for this film, which is live-action, director Stanley Tong did a good job keeping the realism of the cartoon the same. Mr. Magoo still goes up, down, left and right in this film like he was on an invisible roller coaster. What surprised me the most about this film was that Disney sponsored it.Starring as the infamous Mr. Magoo is Leslie Nielsen. What's neat, is that in beginning you actually get to see the transition from cartoon life into real life. Of course not many people will notice at first, but cartoon Magoo doesn't have hair but when Leslie Nielsen is on screen, he does have hair. Even I didn't notice until much later, so my question remains, who forgot to make this cartoon look as accurate as possible? Its not really a big deal because Disney made the same mistake two years later when Inspector Gadget (1999) was made and they had Dr. Claw right out in the open; oh well. The other thing that's sort of ridiculous about the film are the physics behind certain scenes. Again, this is a cartoon adaptation so things are kept unrealistic but still some scenes come off as being almost impossible.This whole movie is made to look like everyone is idiotic. I must say that it was done well because everyone in this movie are idiots, but they are funny idiots. Nielsen is good at making it look like he knows whom he's talking to even though he doesn't. The two spies played by Ernie Hudson and Stephen Tobolowsky are funny to watch too. They either end up knocking each other over just to see who can get to the finish line first or they end up knocking each other out altogether. Nick Chinlund who plays another doofus named Bob Morgan tries to get his hands on Mr. Magoo. What a wreck that guy was.Miguel Ferrer, from RoboCop (1987), plays the main villain in this film. His character is called Ortega Peru and although he's a mean villain, he doesn't impose himself as a bad guy. I guess that's what you get for being bad guy in a silly Disney comedy. The music is good too; it has a giddy jumpiness to it, which goes well with what Mr. Magoo does in this film. Not every scene will have big laughs but it's a cute, goofy, and fun filled movie for the family. Kids will definitely love it.Disney took a chance and although they failed to impress critics and the majority of Magoo fans, it still has a little charm to it. The movie is silly fun that makes Magoo look like he can handle anything that's placed or thrown in his way, even though he can't which makes it all the more unrealistic for a live-action cartoon.

Mr. Magoo is at times silly, and at others, very silly. But always funny.I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a late-night movie. But if your looking for a substantial movie with anything serious about it, forget it! This is a movie for when you're staying up way too late and need some good laughs, or any time you need some good laughs for that matter!Larry Nielson is in high form, with marvelous comedy from the supporting cast, a winner in my opinion: don't hesitate to take this one home with you!

if you're expecting a comedy in the caliber of Naked Gun then you'll definately be disapponted. if your looking for something light and silly then this may be the film for you. Has the feel of some of the 60's disney films...simple plot, cartoonish villains, etc.Nielsen's portrayal of Magoo is more than adequate, and he was given ample room for comic buffoonary. everything else is just filler.I loved the tattoo he drew on himself for the hot tub scene.5/10 (as a family film)