Mixed Nuts (1994)

By Greg
Score: 4/10

This is a film that should have been great, a satire with a dynamic cast and a director(Nora Ephron) just coming off a huge hit. (Sleepless in Seattle) The film should have been a household name and viewed traditionally every Christmas. But the film is weak and sadly I am going to blame the cast, crew and director. On the plus side, the film does have moments that aren't altogether bad.

Like myself, for those who are un-familiar with the film, it takes place on Christmas Eve in Venice Beach. A crisis helpline, Lifesavers, is in need itself, it is facing eviction. Plus socially inept Phillip (Steve Martin) runs the hotline, he has two assistants Mrs. Munchnik (Madeline Kahn) and Catherine (Rita Wilson) who have no clue to the eviction and too have social issues. Catherine is single and lives with her mother and secretly desires Phillip. Mrs. Munchnik is trying to visit with her deceased husbands family. Problems ensue for her and her attempt to make it, in the elevator or a fruit cake smashing her windshield. Then we meet Gracie (Juliette Lewis) and Felix (Anthony LaPagalia) a dysfunctional couple trying to work things out, plus Gracie is pregnant. She is trying to get away from Felix so she heads to the hotline's location to be with her friend Catherine, whom she met at an AA meeting. Catherine was trying to meet a man, not because she had a drinking problem. Plus landlord Stanley (Garry Shandling) evicting the entire building, Louie (Adam Sandler) a lousy singer/songwriter with a ukulele and Mr. Lobel (Robert Klein) a dog walker with hatred towards Lifesavers. There are the rollerblading materialistic couple (Parker Posey and Jon Stewart) trying to get the perfect Christmas Tree to their house only to be foiled by Felix three times. Finally we meet a caller, Chris (Liev Schreiber), with an identity crisis, who adds an extra stir to this wondrous bowl of "mixed nuts."

I'd say the Chris character steals the movie, Liev Schreiber plays the character perfectly, a man who plays a woman, struggling with this life choice, its comedic perfection. He is worth a viewing all on its own. Mrs. Munchnik is a treat, just because it Madeline Kahn. She has this ability and a voice that pierces deep within. Even a one line cameo by Haley Joel Osmont in his second film, is better than other supporting actors. The rest of the cast, just seem to fawlter. With weak performances and a sloopy editing, this I felt fell upon the director. It may have been the overwhelming cast or poor comedic timing, it was just enough for the film to be forgettable, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.


Starring: Steve Martin, Madeline Kahn, Rita Wilson, Juliette Lewis, Anthony LaPagalia, Liev Schreiber, Adam Sandler, Garry Shandling, Rob Reiner, Parker Posey, Jon Stewart and Robert Klein
Directed by: Nora Ephron, also wrote it with sister Delia Ephron
Budget/Gross: $15,000,000 (estimated)/ $6,798,240 (USA)
IMDB Rating: 5/10
Tomatometer: 7% critics / 46% audiences liked it