The Master of Disguise

Rating:
Summary: Terrific Kid's Movie!
Review: I read all the horrible reviews in the newspapers, but went anyway when the temperature got over 100 and there was nothing else to take the kids (4, 9,10) to see. I'd have to say all the reviewers missed the point of this movie. It's a wonderful movie for the right audience; kids about 12 and under. I guess that many people see Dana Carvey's name and expect to find a movie targeted to the Wayne's World/ Austin Powers demographic but that simply is not the case. The kids were laughing out loud many times during the movie and the end credits. The story is easy enough to follow, the humor in not too cruel or scatological, and the jokes are right up a kid's alley.
I think the filmmakers blew it a bit in the trailers for the flick. Too many adults went expecting this would be for them, but come to think of it, the only time I saw previews for this was during movies for kids. Dads, take your younger children and they'll have a great time. My 4 year olds favorite part was the way the evil villain kept ending his devious laugh. It made me laugh too.

Rating:
Summary: Screwed up Austin Powers for the PG audience
Review: Dana Carvey. What was he last in? Wayne's World with Mike Meyers? I think he might have had a role somewhere in Austin Powers, but they got drunk one night and eventually Meyers kicked him out. So Carvey tried to copy Meyer's idea after he saw that it could be a franchise, and made this. Many of Carvey's impersonations (Turtle Guy, Gammy Num-Nums, Cherry-Pie Man, Cow-Pie Man) are targeted for the little kids, some are for the 6-10 range (Terry Suave, George Bush, Arab) and others are not-so-subtle references to other flicks (Robert Shaw from Jaws, Al Pacino from Scarface). As if the average 6-10 year old has seen Jaws or Scarface. Carvey seems to try to give something for everyone. Funny parts also involved Pistachio's general ineptness and Bowman and his, er, habit.
Dana Carvey is a young man who works in his father's Italian meatball bistro. His name is Pistachio Disguisey, and he has been ostracized by other children all his life. (Can you imagine hearing a spectacled Italian teenager saying, "Hi, my name's Pistachio and I'll be serving you tonight, may I take your order?" And immediately afterward, having him mock your request? His name alone would be enough to set him apart.) One night, as he feels friendless and alone (both of which are true), a few thugs grab his dad and chloroform his mom. It turns out that Fabrizzio Disguisey, Pistachio's dad, is part of the Disguisey legacy of people who can disguise themselves by tapping into Energico, which serves no purpose in the story other than being like the Force. Devlin Bowman, a megalomaniac (emphasis on maniac) who captured Fabrizzio, is interested in exploiting Fabrizzio's talent in order to "obtain the world's rarest treasures." And if Fabrizzio doesn't want to? Well, then his wife will have an accident or two. Fabrizzio, disguising himself as Alicia Simpson, Jesse Ventura and Michael Johnson, obtains tresures, all right, such as the Liberty Bell, the Apollo Lunar Module, and the U.S. Constitution.
But there is another Disguisey. Grandfather Disguisey, figuring out somehow that Pistachio's parents are in trouble, begins to train Pistachio to become a Master of Disguise, so he can save his parents. He also learns the Disguisey martial art of slapping, which apparently lets an opponent keep his dignity. Yeah, whatever. Soon, however, Pistachio gets an assistant, in the form of Jennifer Esposito as a woman named Jennifer Baker. Well, she's nowhere near as good as Heather Graham was. And Bowman is no Dr. Evil. But I'm off topic. Through along series of disguises, which include a cherry pie and a cow pie. Aside from pies, he also becomes a Bovarian tax authority, an old woman with a lust, Robert Shaw from Jaws, Al Pacino from Scarface, Dubya, and a man who resembles a turtle. In the end, he dispatches a team of ninjas by slapping them silly, and frees his father, mother and Jennifer, who gets kidnapped part way through.
Bowman is a disappointing villain, his distinguishing characteristic involving flatulence. He has one funny line. One. And that's not very funny. I won't tell you it so you'll put up with him long enough to hear it. If only he were more like Dr. Evil, or at least one of the interesting Bond villains. A cross between Mr. Tinkles (from Cats and Dogs) and Bowman would be a PG version of Dr. Evil, and all the kids I know who can't see Austin Powers (stupid nude scene) will have someone they can crack up about. I know the whole Mini-Me thing is old, but this could be funny during the scene in which Fabrizzio thinks he's Bowman.

PISTACHIO: Don't you know me, Papa! You are not Bowman! You're my father!
FABRIZZIO: You are not my son! I have a son, and I shall call him Mini-Me.
PISTACHIO: There is no Mini-Me! I am your son! This is not Austin Powers! Oh, yeah, I forgot, I told everyone to make this as much like Austin Powers as possible. But I'm not Scotty!
FABRIZZIO: Why not? Mike Meyers played four people in his movie. You can play Pistachio and Scotty!
PISTACHIO: Only my real father would be so cruel as to remind me how successful Mike Meyers is doing. It is you!

That's how stupid the movie is. It's really just Austin Powers with a bunch of references to other stuff. Austin Powers in Goldmember comes out this year. Spend your money on that. And kids will want to see Spider Man, Attack of the Clones, Stuart Little 2... Rent it. Please.

Rating:
Summary: The Master of Disgust
Review: I was thinking this movie was going to be silly and childish because of Dana Carvey's character he portrays in Waynes World and I was right. Look at Mike Myers in Waynes World and how he plays a goofy "James Bond" in Austin Powers. The movies preview did show some promise but the actual movie wasn't as great. I would of rather watch the preview 500 times than watch the movie.

Rating:
Summary: Great kid's movie and parent's guilty pleasure
Review: I had heard horrible reviews about this movie constantly, but my kids and I laughed so hard at the previews we just had to watch it. I am a HUGE Dana Carvey fan, but I was worried that this would be a 2 hour long fart and stupid joke fest. I was sure that there would be mild profanity, and that is the main reason I was leary about having my kids watch it. We never saw it in the theatre, but rented the DVD. We all (including mom) laughed so hard we were sick. It is totally CLEAN!!!! Except for the "little weiner and tiny nuts" part which is so mild and hysterically funny. We have watched this over and over and still belly laugh over every funny part (even the farts that I was dreading). I am so disappointed that this didn't do so well on the theatres. I hope there is a sequel!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: For kids and for those who appreciate the genius of Carvey!!
Review: I can see that most grown-ups expecting Dana to pull an Austin Powers in this movie would go disappointed but if you happen to be a die-hard Dana Carvey fan as I am, you would enjoy what he has produced. Perhaps the only regret is that we (Dana Carvey fans) can see that he is capable of much more and his genius has been grossly underused in this production. Having said that, one can get a glimpse of his talent from the various characters that Dana has come up with in this feature. Clearly, this movie was aimed for the kids and they would definitely enjoy it...a lot!!! There are no scenes that parents need to be concerned about which makes it a very family-friendly feature. I hope we get to see more of Carvey in the future, very certainly he is among the most talented of contemporary comedians!

Rating:
Summary: Ed Wood would think this incoherent...
Review: Poor Dana Carvey, once he was funny, and maybe still is, but you'd never know it from this wreck of a movie. After the mildly interesting Pop-up book style credits, the movie has nothing going for it beyond Jennifer Esposito's comeliness. Otherwise, you get endless mugging, scenes paced for comedy if you find "Teletubbies" intentionally hilarious, and a painfully unfunny flatulence gag every time Brent Spiner's evil genius gives his evil laugh. Every time. It happens a lot. Brent Spiner looks embarassed every time, and I'm not sure it was acting. Supposedly this is for kids, but I can't see it working that way except as a bright, shiny, goo-goo-ga-ga time keeper for infants who have no awareness of the movie's context. In short, the cinematic equivalent of a mobile. Not recommended for anyone old enough to understand what a well-executed fart gag is.

Rating:
Summary: Painful To Watch; See "Opportunity Knocks" Instead
Review: "Master of Disguise" features ex-Waynes World and SNL member Dana Carvey as an Italian waiter Pistachio Disguisey, whose families have long been protected the world from evil using the art of disguise. Pistachio himself is not aware of this family secret until one day his father and mother are kidnapped by a megalomaniac villain Devlin Bowman.

The story above is nothing but an excuse for showcasing the impersonations by Dana Carvey. He disguises himself as George W Bush, Al Pacino (Latin version), and a cherry pie. Surely some of them are funny at first, but many adult fans soon find him irritating or even pathetic.

The reason is that you cannot make movies in this way. The film is only 80 minuites, and that includes very extended end credits including deleted scenes and outtakes. This fact betrays that the film is too thin in contents, but they should have known that from the first.

Of course, kids might think it is funny (and it is notable that the film collected more than $40 million in USA alone, which is a considerable figure). But think this way. The opening scene of the film has Bo Derek (yes, that's her!) as a cameo. I don't think that kids would get it (not many of them recognize her). SO, for whom is this film made?

Carvey impersonating Robert Shaw (from "Jaws") is certainly funny, and he is good at it even though the gag would fly over the head of the kids, who would rather prefer "Turtle Guy." And many adults in turn would find it very ... boring.

The film is based on a misguided idea -- impersonation, which means playing someone else. Dana Carvey should have found his own voice first. Like Mike Meyers who found in Austin Powers; like Harrison Ford in Solo and Indie; like Cameron Diaz in Charlie's Angels and dangling hair-gel. Without a good character you cannot sustain the whole 80 minutes and the audiences' attention. Impersonation is alright as long as you do it in your own way. Now see TV shows, and many non-professionals do pretty good impersonations. But Mike Meyers created Austin and Dr.Evil which none of them could not produce.

You see supporting cast such as Brent Spiner (Data of "Star Trek") and Jennifer Esposito. They are sadly wasted, both in a very embarrassingly underwritten role. And the cameos like Jesse Ventura, Paula Abdul, and Jessica Simpson do not help at all.

I know Dana Carvey underwent several surgeries in the past several years before making this film. I know my review would sound harsh, but you cannot send a wrong message, saying that this is very funny. It is not. His fans should see his earlier film "Opportunity Knocks" he made about ten years ago, instead. That is not a masterpice, but far better and enjoyable.

Rating:
Summary: Fun for all, breaks the mold
Review: Finally, a break from the let's-make-money-so-don't depart-from-the-formula films for kids featuring super evil characters, fractured families, and redundant plots. Dana Carvey comes to the rescue! No worries here--completely succeeds for families and children (and it says so right on the box, folks, even a Canadian-G rating). It's not deep, but plenty of creative laughs. We only hope more movies like this are forthcoming and this venture doesn't get critiqued into submission. Carvey's legend grows.

Rating:
Summary: I'm so disappointed...
Review: Let me first say that Mr. Carvey is absolutely hilarious. On SNL. I was shocked to see that he has made such a horribly unplotted, thrown-together-in-a-few-days, and especially unfunny movie.

First of all, instead of just saying "Worst movie ever" and clicking "Send", I'd like to point out why I'm stating my opinion. I noticed a previous reviewer used the words, "The film offers something for everyone: a superhero who does not need excess violence..., a heartwarming love story..., and literary aspects to accent a hilarious script that the whole family can enjoy..." Well, if you can even catch the movie as it plays (the film is over faster than you can say "This sucks!" and tries to compensate with 5 mintues of an intro of a book flipping the cast's names and 20 minutes of the end credits and a midget chasing Pistacio) you'll notice that there is actually NO trace of love interest (he just marries his assistant at the endfor some reason), heroism, or a humorous script. Dana must have said one day, "Hey, I wanna get rich like Myers. Let's do a movie that I can milk from toys and crap." You get a sense that the whole thing was improvised from beginning to end, and you're left wanting your money back.

In conclusion, the kids will probably like it. But what happens when they get older and wonder, "Was I on pot? Why did I like this movie?"

Rating:
Summary: Insuring a Legacy.
Review: There are a lot of people who think that Dana Carvey is washed up. For them, THE MASTER OF DISGUISE has cemented that fact. After all, THE MASTER OF DISGUISE is not a great movie. In fact from a cynical, adult perspect many would say that it is a terrible movie. However, THE MASTER OF DISGUISE wasn't made for cynical adults. It was made for the youth of America. Sure there are references that only those over 18 will get (e.g. the allusions to The Sopranos), but those were thrown in to appease parents who would be watching this film with their children. Therefore, THE MASTER OF DISGUISE is brilliant work.

Brilliant? Brilliant? Yes, brilliant. Dana Carvey has made a movie that has made him an icon for a whole new generation of Americans. The popularity of this movie among youth is astounding; I haven't heard so much buzz with the youth of America since HOLES (the book, not the movie) came out. Kids all across the country are quoting this movie. Even though many adults have not allowed themselves to enjoy the movie, lines from THE MASTER OF DISGUISE will become a permanent part of the American lexicon. Even though the movie didn't do very well at the box office, based off the success of the video and how popular the movie is with youth I wouldn't doubt if a sequel will soon be in the works.

Based upon the usual technical aspects of filmmaking and the things that make a good movie, I wouldn't rate this movie above 3 stars. However, seeing how it has reintroduced me to the genius of Dana Carvey and the brilliant way that he has established his career for years to come, the movie gets 4 stars.