National Lampoon's Gold Diggers (2003)

Crappy film

Beautiful, moving film.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

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.

On RottenTomatoes, this film is ranked as one of the worst movies of all time with 44 negative reviews and zero positive reviews. It seems to not be that well known of a film seeing as how there's only 18 reviews here (well 19 counting mine). It's amazing that we have such a massive number of National Lampoon movies and most of them (especially the later) are horrible. It's gotten to the point where I've seen so many awful comedies I don't even really care anymore. This movie's plot has these two guys who marry these old ladies thinking they're going to inherit a fortune. They plan to kill each other.I sincerely do want to see everyone dead by the end of it. We get these two scenes where a murder attempt kills these two guys. Gee, I wonder what happens in the next scene with another failed murder attempt? Another guy dies and by being bitten on the crotch, how highbrow. 30 minutes into the movie it appears as though the old ladies die and it honestly seems like we'll have a new interesting plot. Too bad, it was all just a dream and we have to deal with the further idiocy of this film. I recognized Will Friedle in live-action as he voices Ron Stoppable from "Kim Possible". It's easy to say this is the worst thing he's ever been in. Much of the movie's humor goes through how these old women want to seduce these young men and it's as disgusting as it sounds, especially the whipped cream scene, which I don't want to elaborate on. These characters are such idiots as they throw away lemonade that they think tastes good...for some reason? I just know that after saying when life gives you lemons, she'll say you kill someone. I wish Mike Nelson had seen this as I couldn't see how anyone would stomach this more than "Little Nicky". 1/2*

A friend of mine had seen this film in the theater and told me it was hysterical. Not a "Lampoon" movie at all, but in a good way. It's more of a cult film, than a typical main stream "studio" comedy. I think a lot of the bad reviews come from people thinking they were going to see Van Wilder or Animal House and then comparing those films to this one. First off, this is clearly an indie movie with a very small budget. It looks great, but is still a small, contained movie. I thought the acting was really sharp all around. Louise Lasser is really brilliant in this. Whenever you see this kind of movie, it's always old men and young women, but this really turns that on its head and these women are not 40's or 50's, but really in their 70's. The film goes for it and you have to respect that (the wedding and honeymoon sequence is laugh after laugh). I'm sure some people might find the overall concept of 20 year old guys with 70 year old women disgusting and if you're looking for a Nikki Ziering romp with young girls, don't waste your time. It sorta reminded me of early Woody Allen ala Take the Money and Run or Bananas (wild, odd, insane humor). The scene after the guys mistakenly give poisoned lemonade to the gardener and he stumbles to his death in the background while they sit eating lunch talking about their respective sandwiches is bloody hysterical! When both couples enter their master bedroom from different doors all carrying shotguns and proceed to blow the bed to hell had me on the floor. Don't be fooled by the misleading marketing. This is a throw back, 60's-esque cult comedy. It's just plain funny, fresh and certainly different. Well worth the rental.

Despite the bad reviews for this movie, I found this movie momentous. The only way you can find this movie bad is if you are...jealous of Eric Matthews devilish good looks and dashing hair. He is the best actor to grace this Earth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am appalled there is no golden statues or shrines devoted to this god amongst men. Breathtaking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We should start a religion around this legend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyone who insults this movie is going straight to the fiery depths of Hell for insulting God's only son!!!! Also, they have no sense of humor!!!!!!!!!!!! This movie had it all drama, action, love, deception!!!!! Twists and turns that would engross any true movie fan!!!!!!!! People who give bad reviews don't comprehend the complexity of this one of a kind masterpiece!

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.