Outrageous Fortune

A fairly forgettable buddy comedy, Outrageous Fortune follows squabbling actresses Lauren (Shelley Long) and Sandy (Bette Midler) as they discover they’ve both been sleeping with the same man (Peter Coyote’s Michael) – with the pair forced to reluctantly team up after Michael is seemingly murdered in an explosion. There’s little doubt that Outrageous Fortune is at its best during its erratic yet mostly entertaining first half, as Long and Midler’s strong chemistry together paves the way for a series of funny and, occasionally, exciting sequences – with the watchable vibe heightened by an eclectic supporting cast that includes Robert Prosky, Anthony Heald, and George Carlin. It’s only as the picture moves into its progressively action-packed third act that one’s interest begins to demonstrably flag, as it becomes more and more difficult to work up any interest in or enthusiasm for the protagonists’ perilous exploits (ie there’s a repetitiveness to these scenes that just grows exhausting). The fairly absurd climax ensures that the whole thing finishes on a seriously underwhelming note, with the end result an almost passable caper that could (and should) have been so much better.

** out of ****