Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Michael Caine and Steve Martin star in this clever and funny remake of the 1964 film Bedtime Story about two con men in a fierce competition.  Caine plays Lawrence Jameson, a wealthy man who lives in Beaumont-sur-Mer, a veritable palace in the French Riviera.  Here he runs his operations, scamming women who come to this place with the help of corrupt police official Andre.  He lives off of his ill-gotten gain, and life couldn’t be better for him.

That is, until Freddy Benson (Steve Martin), shows up in the Riviera and begins working the place.  Jameson suspects that this man is “The Jackal”, an infamous con artist who is extremely talented.  Initially, he feels threatened by the competition, and imprisons Freddy.  But he soon releases the man and puts him on a plane, assuming his troubles are over.  However, Freddy runs into one of Lawrence’s former marks and discovers the truth.

He returns to Beaumont-sur-Mer and finds Lawrence, and they eventually come to an agreement: the two men will choose a wealthy woman and compete to get $50,000 from her.  They soon find Janet Colgate, a young American soap queen (Glenne Headly), and the delightful competition begins, as each one attempts to get the money from her in a series of increasingly elaborate and brilliant schemes.  Indeed, watching them attempt to one-up each other is easily the most enjoyable aspect.

This film, directed by the legendary Frank Oz couldn’t have a better cast. Caine, Martin, and Headly all have such wonderful chemistry together, and the locales are beautiful. But it’s the story, with its multiple twists and turns, that is truly wonderful, and the actors are all right at home in it. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels certainly won’t leave viewers feeling cheated.

Rated PG

1 hour, 50 minutes