On his first day after being released from jail for 14 armed bank robberies, Lucas finds himself caught up in someone else's robbery. Perry has decided to hold up the local bank to raise money so that he can keep his daughter, Meg, and get her the treatment she needs. Dugan, a detective, assumes Lucas helped plan the robbery, and hence Lucas, Perry and Meg become three fugitives.
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Truly Dreadful Film
Best movie of this year hands down!
If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.
An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.
Lucas (Nick Nolte) gets parole after 5 years in prison for armed robbery. He catches a ride from detective Duggan (James Earl Jones) and his partner Tener (Alan Ruck) to the bank to open an account. Suddenly, incompetent robber Ned Perry (Martin Short) rushes in. He takes Lucas hostage but everybody assumes that Lucas is the robber. Ned is struggling to get the money for his daughter Meg's medical treatment. He had a nervous breakdown after his wife's death and she hasn't said a word since then.The initial joke is a gruff, angry Nolte constantly beating up on Short. That may be funny for awhile but even that doesn't last. The movie tries to win over our hearts with a cute little girl. I don't have anything mean to say. The movie is trying really hard to pluck those heart strings. The odd couple gets separated for long stretches. They're not that funny even when they're together. These two with a little girl has that light 80's comedic feel but it fails to deliver much comedy.
After five years in prison and 14 armed robberies, wavy-haired Nick Nolte (as Daniel Lucas) is out on parole. His cell-mates are going to miss those golden locks. Dressed for success, Mr. Nolte gets a ride to the bank from former arresting officer James Earl Jones (as Dugan). Nolte hopes to open an account with his prison paycheck - he earned 25 cents an hour working in the laundry. While opening his account, Nolte is taken hostage by bumbling bank robber Martin Short (as Ned Perry). The men become unlikely partners because police think Nolte must be the mastermind...Mr. Short planned the heist to get money for his mute daughter Sarah Rowland Doroff (as Meg). She hasn't spoken since the death of her mother. The plot follows writer-director Francis Veber's original French-language version, "Les fugitifs" (1986). This is the one area where "Three Fugitives" could have been made more distinctive. The little girl is amazingly cute and adds a high level humanity to the co-stars, but that could have been handled in other ways. Imagine the little girl as a sassy young teenager revealed to have prompted papa to hold up the bank - inadvertently, of course...Another suggestion would have been to add some make-up and more womanly features to Short's disguise when he and Nolte are posing as husband and wife. This is something a teenage daughter could have helped with. Still, Martin Short is a very, very funny fellow and Mr. Veber directs everyone well. Finally, "Three Fugitives" gives supporting actor Kenneth McMillan (as Doctor Horvath) a great last role. His first appearance was on the fantastical TV serial "Dark Shadows" as a sailor frightened by the arrival of Leviathans. Always an asset, he's an old veterinarian, herein.******* Three Fugitives (1/27/89) Francis Veber ~ Martin Short, Nick Nolte, Kenneth McMillan, James Earl Jones
A bit funny, a bit emotional feel-good movie. A few scenes are hilarious. It's a remake of a French movie "Les Fugitifs". I've seen the original years ago, as a kid. Watching the remake almost felt like watching the same movie again. Which is not surprising considering that both of the films were directed by Francis Veber, the writer of the movies. The characters were chosen very appropriately. And congrats to both Martin Short and Nick Nolte they both played they roles exactly as they should. If you like this movie you might like others written by Francis Veber. Several of his French movies were remade in United States. I think there is another movie where Pierre Richard was replaced by Martin Short.
This movie has to be up there as one of the best ever made. Nick Nolte and Martin Short put in some magnificent performances to make it all the more enjoyable. Oh, and there's James Earl Jones who also brightens up the picture. Now, I must say, it starts very funny. You know, the robbery and all that, but then you kind of feel sorry for the guy. The girl and her problem and how much he cares for her. So that's the sad bit, and we sort of forget the light-hearted introduction. But who cares? It's still really enjoyable but the bad language at times is inappropriate. This should have been made to be more suitable for younger audiences. You know, the family kind of film. Nonetheless, a magnificent film executed to perfection and you know what, is a trillion zillion killion billion miles ahead of most crap that comes out in the cinema today. Other thing is that its sad people like Martin Short don't get more prominent parts in more major pictures. Let's say that he is much better and I mean much better than many of the supposedly top actors these days.