Excess Baggage (1997 film)

Last updated

Excess Baggage
Excess baggage poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Marco Brambilla
Screenplay by
Story byMax D. Adams
Produced by
  • Bill Borden
  • Carolyn Kessler
Starring
Cinematography Jean-Yves Escoffier
Edited by Stephen Rivkin
Music by John Lurie
Production
companies
Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing
Release date
  • August 29, 1997 (1997-08-29)
Running time
98 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$14.5 million [1]

Excess Baggage is a 1997 American crime comedy film, written by Max D. Adams, Dick Clement, and Ian La Frenais, and directed by Marco Brambilla about a neglected young heiress who stages her own kidnapping to get her father's attention, only to be actually kidnapped by a car thief. The film stars Alicia Silverstone, Benicio del Toro, and Christopher Walken. Upon release, it was a critical and commercial failure.

Contents

Plot

Emily Hope stages her own kidnapping to get the attention of her wealthy, corrupt father, Alexander. Using a gadget that disguises her voice, she instructs Alexander to drop $1 million onto a barge passing under the bridge where he is standing. Alexander does as he is told. Emily tells Alexander that his daughter can be found in the trunk of her BMW 850i, parked in a nearby garage.

Before calling the police to come "rescue" her, Emily tapes her ankles and mouth and hides in the trunk of her car. Police descend on the BMW, but before they can get to Emily, professional car thief Vincent Roche steals the vehicle, unaware that someone is in the trunk. As he exits the parking garage, the police pursue him, thinking he is Emily’s kidnapper. Vincent manages to get away when the police crash into each other. The police also bungle the attempt to recover Alexander's money for him.

Alexander, who must be in Brussels to close a business deal in two days, arranges the help of Emily’s "Uncle" Ray to find her and bring her home. Meanwhile, Vincent discovers the surprise "baggage" when he heads back to his warehouse hideout and opens the trunk. At the first sight of Emily, Vincent slams the trunk shut and resorts to contacting his partner in crime Greg for help on how to deal with his dilemma. Emily escapes from the trunk and finds her cell phone, learning her father has sent Ray after her.

When Vincent returns, Emily accidentally burns down his warehouse with a stray cigarette. The two are forced to go on the run together from Ray and his henchmen.

Cast

The film features cameo appearances by voice actor David Kaye and April Telek, both of whom are uncredited.[ citation needed ]

Production

The script for Excess Baggage was the winner of the first annual Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition where it was picked up by producer Barry Josephson when he was working at Sony Pictures. [2]

This was the first film produced by Alicia Silverstone under her production company First Kiss. [3] [4] [5] Benicio del Toro was handpicked for his role by Silverstone after she had seen his 1995 film The Usual Suspects . [4]

Excess Baggage was filmed in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. [6]

Reception

Box office

Excess Baggage debuted in theaters on Labor Day weekend of 1997, opening in the #6 spot. [7] By the end of its run, it grossed $14.5 million domestically. [1]

Critical response

The film received mostly negative reviews from critics and holds a 32% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 31 reviews, with an average rating of 4.6/10. The site's critics consensus states: "Struggling to find a romantic spark in a seedy premise, Excess Baggage is weighed down by a lot of comedic dead weight." [8] On Metacritic, the film holds a score of 34 out of 100, based on 16 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews". [9] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B‒" on an A+ to F scale. [10]

The Hartford Courant gave a positive review, commenting "What could have been a silly premise succeeds because of the chemistry between Silverstone and Del Toro, who won good notices for his work in 'The Usual Suspects'...Their exchanges are witty and sharply delivered." [11] On the August 30, 1997 episode of Siskel & Ebert , Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel gave the film two thumbs up, with Siskel labeling it "much better" than Brambilla's previous 1993 film Demolition Man . [12] In his review for the Chicago Sun-Times , Roger Ebert stated that Silverstone was so "wonderful" and entertaining in Clueless that no followup could possibly satisfy audiences. [13] Ebert mentioned Silverstone is "OK" in Excess Baggage, but "no better than OK" as he felt that she was miscast. [13] James Berardinelli praised the cast but found the script "frustratingly ordinary and unambitious". [14]

Del Toro was nominated for an ALMA Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Crossover Role in a Feature Film. [15] Silverstone was nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Actress where she lost to Demi Moore for G.I. Jane . [16]

Home media

Excess Baggage was released on VHS and DVD in February 1998. [17] It was released on Blu-ray by Mill Creek Entertainment in June 2019, as part of their "I Love the 90s" line. Reviews of the Blu-ray release described the picture and sound quality as "heavily processed" and "a mess". [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alicia Silverstone</span> American actress (born 1976)

Alicia Silverstone is an American actress. She made her film debut in the thriller The Crush (1993), earning the 1994 MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance, and gained further prominence as a teen idol when she appeared in the music videos for Aerosmith's songs "Cryin', "Amazing" and "Crazy". She went on to star as Cher Horowitz in the teen comedy film Clueless (1995), which earned her a multi-million dollar deal with Columbia Pictures. In 1997, she starred in the superhero film Batman & Robin, playing Batgirl.

<i>Clueless</i> 1995 film by Amy Heckerling

Clueless is a 1995 American coming-of-age teen comedy film written and directed by Amy Heckerling. It stars Alicia Silverstone with supporting roles by Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy and Paul Rudd. It was produced by Scott Rudin and Robert Lawrence. The film is a loose adaptation of Jane Austen's 1815 novel Emma. The plot centers on a beautiful, popular, and rich high school student who befriends a new student and decides to give her a makeover while playing a matchmaker for her teachers and examining her own existence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benicio del Toro</span> Puerto Rican actor (born 1967)

Benicio Monserrate Rafael del Toro Sánchez is a Puerto Rican actor. He has garnered critical acclaim and numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe, and a Silver Bear for his portrayal of the jaded but morally upright police officer Javier Rodriguez in the film Traffic (2000). Del Toro's performance as despairing ex-con turned zealot Jack Jordan, in Alejandro González Iñárritu's 21 Grams (2003), earned him a second nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

<i>The Funeral</i> (1996 film) 1996 film by Abel Ferrara

The Funeral is a 1996 American crime-drama film directed by Abel Ferrara and starring Christopher Walken, Chris Penn, Annabella Sciorra, Isabella Rossellini, Vincent Gallo, Benicio del Toro and Gretchen Mol.

<i>Bad Boys</i> (1995 film) 1995 action film directed by Michael Bay

Bad Boys is a 1995 American buddy cop action comedy film directed by Michael Bay in his feature directorial debut, produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, and starring Martin Lawrence and Will Smith as two Miami narcotics detectives Marcus Burnett and Mike Lowrey. The film received mixed reviews from critics, but was commercially successful and spawned two sequels: Bad Boys II (2003), Bad Boys for Life (2020). A fourth film titled Bad Boys: Ride or Die is set to release in 2024.

<i>Frantic</i> (film) 1988 film by Roman Polanski

Frantic is a 1988 American-French neo-noir mystery thriller film directed by Roman Polanski and starring Harrison Ford and Emmanuelle Seigner. Ennio Morricone composed the film score. Although a commercial failure, the movie was a critical success, and has since gone on to become somewhat of a cult classic, with Morricone´s score being hailed as one of his best.

<i>Fathers Day</i> (1997 film) 1997 American film

Fathers' Day is a 1997 American comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and starring Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Nastassja Kinski. It is a remake of the 1983 French film Les Compères.

<i>That Darn Cat</i> (1997 film) 1997 American film by Bob Spiers

That Darn Cat is a 1997 American mystery comedy film directed by Bob Spiers, written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, and starring Christina Ricci and Doug E. Doug. It is a remake of the 1965 film That Darn Cat!, which in turn was based on the 1963 book Undercover Cat by Gordon and Mildred Gordon.

<i>The Way of the Gun</i> 2000 American film

The Way of the Gun is a 2000 American neo-Western heist action thriller film directed and written by Christopher McQuarrie in his directorial debut. It is about two low-level criminals who kidnap a woman pregnant with the child of a mafia money launderer, only to find themselves facing a more complex and dangerous situation than they first realized. Taye Diggs, Nicky Katt, Scott Wilson, and James Caan play supporting roles.

<i>The Money Pit</i> 1986 film by Richard Benjamin

The Money Pit is a 1986 American comedy film directed by Richard Benjamin and starring Tom Hanks and Shelley Long as a couple who attempt to renovate a recently purchased house. The film is a loose remake of the 1948 Cary Grant comedy film Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, and was filmed in New York City and Lattingtown, New York, and was co-executive produced by Steven Spielberg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thad Luckinbill</span> American actor

Thaddeus Rowe Luckinbill is an American actor and producer best known for playing J.T. Hellstrom on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless, from August 1999 to November 2010. He reprised the role of J.T. in December 2017 and 2023.

<i>Windows</i> (film) 1980 film by Gordon Willis

Windows is a 1980 American psychological thriller film directed by Gordon Willis and starring Talia Shire, Joseph Cortese, and Elizabeth Ashley. It was the only film directed by Willis, who is better known as a cinematographer for such films as The Godfather series and several films by Woody Allen.

<i>Turbulence</i> (1997 film) 1997 American film

Turbulence is a 1997 American action thriller film directed by Robert Butler, and starring Ray Liotta and Lauren Holly. It was distributed by MGM Distribution Co.

<i>B.A.P.S.</i> 1997 female buddy comedy film by Robert Townsend

B.A.P.S is a 1997 American female buddy comedy film directed by Robert Townsend and starring Halle Berry, Natalie Desselle, and Martin Landau. The film was written by Troy Byer and was her first screenplay. The film received largely negative reviews from critics, although it has since been considered a cult classic, especially for Black Hollywood. In total it earned $7.3 million at the box office worldwide.

<i>Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas</i> (film) 1998 American film by Terry Gilliam

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a 1998 American stoner road black comedy film adapted from Hunter S. Thompson's 1971 novel of the same name. It was co-written and directed by Terry Gilliam, and stars Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro as Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo, respectively. The film details the duo's journey through Las Vegas as their initial journalistic intentions devolve into an exploration of the city under the influence of psychoactive substances.

<i>Just You and Me, Kid</i> 1979 film by Leonard B. Stern

Just You and Me, Kid is a 1979 American comedy film starring George Burns, Brooke Shields, Lorraine Gary, Ray Bolger, Leon Ames, Carl Ballantine, Keye Luke and Burl Ives. It was directed by Leonard B. Stern and was released in July 1979 by Columbia Pictures.

<i>Year of the Gun</i> (film) 1991 film by John Frankenheimer

Year of the Gun is a 1991 American spy action thriller film directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Andrew McCarthy, Sharon Stone and Valeria Golino.

<i>Sicario</i> (2015 film) Action thriller film directed by Denis Villeneuve

Sicario is a 2015 American action thriller film directed by Denis Villeneuve, written by Taylor Sheridan and starring Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, and Josh Brolin. The film follows a principled FBI special agent who is enlisted by a government task force to bring down the leader of a powerful and brutal Mexican drug cartel. Sicario was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. It began a limited release in the United States on September 18, 2015, followed by a nationwide release on October 2, 2015.

Excess Baggage may refer to:

<i>Reptile</i> (film) 2023 film by Grant Singer

Reptile is a 2023 American crime thriller film directed by Grant Singer in his feature-film directorial debut, from a screenplay he co-wrote with Benjamin Brewer and Benicio del Toro, and a story he co-wrote with Brewer. The film stars del Toro in the lead role, alongside Justin Timberlake, Alicia Silverstone, Eric Bogosian, Ato Essandoh, Domenick Lombardozzi, and Michael Pitt.

References

  1. 1 2 "Excess Baggage (1997)". Box Office Mojo . September 26, 1997. Retrieved October 9, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Austin Film Festival spotlight screenwriters". The Hollywood Reporter . September 28, 2007.
  3. ↑ "Silverstone, the Star...but the Producer?". Los Angeles Times . August 4, 1997. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Vincent, Mal (August 30, 1997). "Alicia Silverstone: No Longer Clueless". The Virginian-Pilot . Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Does This Woman Look Clueless?". Hartford Courant . August 31, 1997. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  6. ↑ Welkos, Robert W. (October 30, 1996). "'Baggage' Production Reportedly Troubled". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  7. ↑ "G.I. Jane' Proves Its Mettle in Second Week at Box Office". Los Angeles Times . September 2, 1997. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
  8. ↑ Excess Baggage at Rotten Tomatoes
  9. ↑ "Excess Baggage". Metacritic . Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Cinemascore". Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Silverstone Ably Carries 'Excess Baggage'". Hartford Courant. August 29, 1997. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  12. ↑ Ebert, Roger; Siskel, Gene (August 31, 1997). "She's So Lovely/Hoodlum/Excess Baggage/Paperback Romance/M/Le Samurai". Siskel & Ebert . Event occurs at 7:45. Buena Vista Television. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  13. 1 2 Ebert, Roger (August 29, 1997). "Excess Baggage". Chicago Sun-Times – via RogerEbert.com.
  14. ↑ Berardinelli, James. "Excess Baggage". Reelviews. Archived from the original on February 22, 2007.
  15. ↑ "1998 ALMA Award Nominees". almaawards.org. Archived from the original on October 5, 2002. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  16. ↑ "1997 Archive". razzies.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Excess Baggage". DVD Release Dates.
  18. ↑ "Excess Baggage". Blu-ray.com. June 18, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.