Sleevenotes:

Eddie Muntz is a great salesman. Unfortunately he is an arms salesman - a man who makes money by promoting conflict and, ultimately, death. This most ambitious black comedy is the brainchild of screenwriter Paul Brickman (Risky Business) and director William Friedkin (The Exorcist, The French Connection) who have taken a frighteningly serious subject and created a thought provoking, funny and occasionally poignant film. Chevy Chase is Muntz, a man who inadvertently gets involved in the Deal of the Century, selling remote controlled nuclear strike aircraft to a half-mad Latin American dictator. It is only after the deal is finalised that Muntz realises he must sell arms to the other side as well in order to prolong the war and keep the deal alive - it is then that he sees the absurdity of his position. With a magnificent supporting cast led by Sigourney Weaver (Ghostbusters) as a ruthless widow who tricks Muntz into giving her a piece of the action and Gregory Hines as Muntz's partner, an ex-test pilot whose unstable conscience leads him into a mid-air dogfight with alarming consequences. Deal of the Century is a very funny film about a very serious subject. If you find yourself getting a little nervous, don't worry. As director Friedkin says "This is all true".

Review:
This film isn't shy about getting it's message across but between all the anti-war propaganda there lies a quite enjoyable film with some nice performances. Outside Chevy's superb turns in his major comedies I think this is some of the best acting I've seen from him and he looks to be quite enjoying the role. There aren't really a shed load of great one-liners in this movie but there's some nicely thought out scenes and funny cameos from the likes of Wallace Shawn and Richard Libertini. Gregory Hines too has fun in his role alongside Chevy Chase and Sigourney Weaver who don't let the serious tone of the film detract from their enjoyment. This is a much maligned film from Chevy's history but I think it's been a little unfairly treated and if you can track it down on TV or video I would give it a go.

Funniest scenes:
Chevy gives a "live" sales demonstration to prospective clients from his hotel room - "Order forms are in the catalogue gentlemen, I hope we can do business together".

Chevy reverses the situation when being mugged on the street - "It is a pleasure for me to give my gun to you".

Ray and his flame-thrower deal with an angy car driver after their cars have a minor crash - "I see you got a nice flame job here, I'm gonna give you a little touch-up".

Chevy demonstrates an explosive urinal to a puzzled audience.

Ray flips out. While piloting a fighter plane.

Top lines:
Eddie: "She shot me!"
Ray: "Where did you shoot him?"
Catherine: "In the foot."
Ray: "Too kinky for me Ed."

Eddie: "You sure you wouldn't be more comfortable in there?"
Catherine: "Where will you be?"
Eddie: "Where it's more comfortable."

Eddie: "The future of the Free World's at stake and I get Don Rickles answering service."

Frank: "We've got all the buyers in the World out there and all we have to do is bring down one crazy spade in an F-19X."

Fletch UK Rating: 7 out of 10

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