An Exercise In Nonsense

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

It is a brave move to remake such a classic George Cukor comedy film, and this was a challenge to see if the makers could create the near same enjoyment that I remember from the original. It follows the same premise, Billie Dawn (Melanie Griffith) is the girlfriend of construction planner and corrupt crook Harry Brock (John Goodman), and she is not all that intelligent about certain things, and is causing embarrassment. So Harry pays $5000 to Paul Verrall (Don Johnson) for him to teach Billie things she should know to make her look more acceptable and intelligent. As she learns more and more, Billie doesn't seem to be so thick after all, and it is obvious the teaching from Paul is turning into something more passionate. Billie is soon intelligent to know that Harry is bribing senators, and making her sign documents that make her owner of his illegal matters, and she plucks up the courage to refuse. In the end, Billie hands in the incriminating evidence to Paul to give to the press to finish Harry, and she says she will only give back small portions of his empire back as long as he leaves them alone. Also starring Ri¢hie Ri¢h's Edward Herrmann as Ed Devery, Max Perlich as JJ, Michael Ensign as Phillipe, Benjamin C. Bradlee as Sect. of the Navy Alex Duffee, Sally Quinn as Beatrice Duffee, William Frankfather as Sen. Kelley, Fred Dalton Thompson as Sen. Hedges and William Forward as Sen. Duker. Griffith is quite likable as the ditsy-turned-smarter bimbo, but she doesn't have lacks the comic timing of Oscar-winning Judy Holliday, in fact, she was nominated a Razzie? However, Goodman is a great and nasty as Broderick Crawford was, and the highlight for me was the 27 Constitutional Amendments song, to the tune of the 12 Days of Christmas, a pretty good comedy remake. Worth watching!

Basically this is a watchable enough movie that however as a comedy is too lacking in humor and it suffers from some poor character treatment.It's by no means an horrible movie but it's one of those movies that make you wonder why it was made in the first place. The movie as a whole makes a pointless and redundant impression, especially when considering that this is a remake as well, of a 1950, multiple Oscar nominated, movie.It's not a comedy with over-the-top humor or characters are comical situations. Instead its humor is more subtle with as a result that this movie doesn't provide one big laugh. The humor lacks some real creativity, even though the actors try really hard to make the humor still work.Without the fine actors the movie really would had been a lesser one. John Goodman, Melanie Griffith, Don Johnson and Fred Dalton Thompson are all fine actors. They still give the movie some flair and joy. However their characters don't really work out as good as they could had been.Griffith's and Johnson's roles are too blank and boring. Almost as if they were holding back. John Goodman's character is a hard one to understand. It's unclear whether the movie makers wanted to make him look sympathetic or like a ruthless hard corrupt business man. You don't know if you're supposed to like or hate him, which also does provide the movie with some uneven moments. Some serious poor character treatment if you ask me.But despite all its flaws, this movie still remains a perfectly watchable one. After all it's not a movie that will bore you to death or will make you cringe. However it's also a movie that you can easily do without seeing it.5/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

Born Yesterday is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen!! Melanie Griffith is terrific as she plays dumb Billie Dawn who is constantly mocked for her lack of political knowledge. Her boyfriend, played by John Goodman, wants to smarten her up and goes to great lengths to do so. What happens from there may surprise you!! The plot is intriguing and keeps you interested the entire time. Great movie to show at parties. I've hosted a number of parties over the years, and people seem to like this movie the best, so now I only show this at parties. Can't go wrong with Born Yesterday!! It's a great comedy with two very talented actors.

I think this remake of 1950's "Born Yesterday" with Judy Holliday is better than the original! Melanie Griffith is great as Billie Dawn, because she's so sweet and soft-spoken at the end...you can really see the transformation! And I think John Goodman is really funny when he goes on his tirades. I especially like the part when Paul arrives after going to the newspaper office. He and Billie are carrying on a simple conversation about each other's health. Harry (Goodman) keeps looking and them, then says abruptly, "OK, can the tea party crap!!". I just think that's so funny! =)I also think Don Johnson is great as Paul. He should wear those glasses all the time! But even though I like this version better, I still think William Holden was better in the original.Therefore, I give "Born Yesterday" a 10 out of 10!