Simply Perfect

Sadly Over-hyped

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Lonely spoiled daughter wants rich daddies attention and in order to get that she fakes a kidnapping. This is what already happens in the first 5 minutes of the movie. After this already bizarre beginning the story unfolds in even more hilarious and unforeseen ways. I love this script!Is it straight comedy? No. But it sure is hilarious at times. Is it a tough heist movie? No.But everything and everybody gets kidnapped and stolen. Is it a romantic comedy? No. But there is some blossoming romance. It is hard to label Excess Baggage, but one thing is for sure it is one of my favorite screenplays. The writer Max Adams is now teaching how to write screenplays to students, but I wish we had been fortunate to see more of her writing gems turned into movies. The acting in Excess Baggage is superdelicious. Everyone is topnotch. But how much words shall I use to describe the brilliantly cool and scary Christopher Walken. His performance alone makes this movie worth watching. But added to that there is the droopy looking Benicio del Toro:Mr cool number 2. This man has got a charisma that lifts up any movie he plays in. Magnificent in "slow" acting. I love that man. All in all Excess Baggage is one lovely piece of superbly written hilarious script, brilliantly performed. Enjoyable from beginning to end. Just great fun!

There is a touching moment that Walken brings to this movie that transcends the material. It's a strange Walken-esque love that only he can muster. And it runs deep for the character of Emily.This was my college girlfriend and I's favorite movie, because it was so off-beat. Like our relationship. It is clearly an agenda movie for Silverstone (as she is also the producer). Something about a father/daughter misunderstanding, cold and distant relationship that some actresses tend to gravitate to. It exists in this movie. There are a lot of "precious" moments. And a lot of nostalgia looking back at it now. Is it a good movie? Yes. It's not's great, but it is entertaining.The chemistry between Benicio & Silverstone is a bit weird at times. Curious to know what in the original script drew Del Toro to the part (as he is known to be elusive to commercial movies).It is a decent time wasting movie on a slow night.

Okay, so people might think I'm crazy for voting this 10 out of 10. The usual response and comment everywhere I look seems to be a negative one. But I was sitting here the other night, we just moved into a new house. I love the new environment, and I was ready for the new year. I was up late, as always, and this movie came on TBS. I had just watched Clueless with Alicia in, and I thought if I could stay awake long enough, I would watch this. I love Walken and Silverstone, but had never seen Toro in much. So I started watching it. I thought at first it was funny, hilarious, and enthralling. The way the girl tied herself up and put herself in the trunk, and was extorting her dad for money. I first thought she really wanted the money. Then I figured out it didn't matter, she wanted attention. It was a cry for help. Then I see sexy del Toro steal the car and freak out when he opened the trunk and saw her in there. The scene where Uncle Ray (Walken) saw she framed her fire news article...was hilarious and brilliant. And the scene at Knotty Pines where she said "you don't have to be drunk to kiss me"...and he said "I'm not drunk"...absolutely brilliant. Not too much love scene, then the scene the next morning by the lake was touching. I loved it whenever he's talking to her dad, and he says, "Are you telling me I've only known this girl two days and already I care more about her than you do?" Wonderful. And the scene at the end of the movie...I TOTALLY knew he was in the trunk. And they're sitting there in the trunk and he says "what a view"..she says "What makes it a view?" he says "You" and then Dave Matthews starts playing "Crash Into Me"...perfect song, then he goes to kiss her and he does that "come on, come on, come on, come on, come on" thing...and they close the trunk. Perfect ending. Okay, so I loved the movie. I think that's clear. But if any person watched this and hated it, they need to go back and watch it again without thinking too hard about it. You won't hate it then!

I first saw this movie late at night on TBS. I read the info. of it and wanted to check it out just because Alicia Silverstone and Christopher Walken was in it. Once it started I instantly thought it would come out OK, the plot was great. It was hilarious when Alicia tied herself up then locking herself in the trunk. All of a sudden this actor comes along, I assumed it was Benicio Del Toro cause thats what the info said. Anyway I knew I'd seen him somewhere and thought this would be interesting. The acting responses he gave were great and at first I thought he couldn't speak English cause he doesen't say a word till he goes to the diner for coffee, waiting for the telephone. Anyway the fight scene with them is great, I love how as they stick together they gradually become friends, then well you can probably guess but I wont say. Anyway I too gradually came to really liking Del Toro till he became one of my favorite actors!!!:) This was such a movie worth staying up for!! the acting and chemistry between Alicia and Benicio I think it's great, you see for yourself and if you don't agree than poor you!!! love it!!!! First Benicio movie I'd ever seen!!!