Male Trouble (1992)

Directed by: Bob Rafelson | 100 minutes | comedy, romance | Actors: Jack Nicholson, Ellen Barkin, Harry Dean Stanton, Beverly D’Angelo, Michael McKean, Saul Rubinek, Viveka Davis, Veronica Cartwright, David Clennon, John Kapelos, Lauren Tom, Paul Mazursky, Gary Graham, Betty Carvalho, Mark J. goodman

Much was expected from the 1992 film ‘Man Trouble’ before its release. The script, written by Carole Eastman, had been on the shelf for years, waiting for it to finally be made into a film. Several directors were linked to the screenplay, including Jonathan Demme (“The Silence of the Lambs”) and Lawrence Kasdan (“The Accidental Tourist”). In the end, Bob Rafelson took on the task. Eastman and Rafelson previously worked together on the classic ‘Five Easy Pieces’. The lead actor from that film, Jack Nicholson, decided to re-establish a partnership after rejections from, among others, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. According to the makers, his star power would attract enough audience that a preview for the press was not necessary, it was said. Evil tongues, however, claim that they did not dare to show the film to critics for fear of bad reviews…

Ellen Barkin plays Joan, a classically trained singer who is in the middle of a divorce with her husband – who also happens to be the conductor of the orchestra. When her house is ransacked by burglars, she suddenly no longer feels safe. She moves into her sister’s house, but she also feels vulnerable there. She decides to get a guard dog and thus comes into contact with dog trainer Harry Bliss (Jack Nicholson). The two obviously fall for each other like a rock. But Harry finds himself on slippery slopes when he is approached by well-known billionaire lawyer Redmond Layls (Harry Dean Stanton), who wants to prevent Joan’s hysterical sister Andy (Beverly D’Angelo) from publishing an incriminating biography of him. Harry is therefore hired to steal the manuscript. But how does he tell Joan that?

It’s hard to imagine, but even a film with a cast consisting of acting talents like Nicholson, Barkin, Stanton and D’Angelo can really disappoint. The story is wafer thin and the camera work often leaves much to be desired. The film constantly navigates between different genres (comedy, drama, thriller) and that shows its indecisiveness. The film is never really funny, dramatic or exciting. In fact, the humor is cringe-inducing at times. For example, Harry is actually still married to his Asian wife, who is trying to save their marriage with the help of a relationship therapist. Harry invariably calls his wife, whose real name is Adèle, Iwo Jima derogatory. This is of course one of the things Adèle raises during the sessions. But Harry slips up so consistently that even the psychologist calls the woman Iwo at one point. Hilarious… But not really. Rather, it seems a bit racist and leaves a bad taste in the mouth of the viewer who expects to be presented with a fresh comedy. In addition, the acting performances are clearly below par. Shocking when you see what kind of quality is present. It is clear from Jack Nicholson that he only cooperates in the film to do a favor to Rafelson and Eastman, whom he still knows from the days of ‘Five Easy Pieces’. He gives an uninspired impression. Ellen Barkin has an extremely thankless role and is never given the opportunity to show what she has to offer. Harry Dean Stanton also looks bored, as if he wants to show that he is participating in the film against his will. The dull acting is one of the aspects that shows that ‘Man Trouble’ lacks a heart and a soul. The makers have shed no blood, as little sweat as possible and hardly any tears when making this film and that is noticeable in everything.

If you don’t see ‘Man Trouble’, you won’t miss much. The film is yet to be watched, but that’s about it. It is a trifle that will never stick, the story is too marginal for that. Nicholson and Barkin try to save what can be saved, but in vain…