Young college student Clark Kellogg (Matthew Broderick) has just arrived in New York from Connecticut to study filmmaking at NYU.
Within 20 minutes of arriving in NYC, he has fallen victim to an unscrupulous cab driver. Bereft of his luggage and all his money, Clark meets his wacky but well-meaning roommate Steve Bushak (Frank Whaley) and his pompous film professor, Arthur Fleeber (Paul Benedict).
While explaining his travails to the uncaring Fleeber, Clark spots the cabbie, Victor Ray (Bruno Kirby) and breathlessly chases him down. Victor appears contrite but admits he has already gambled away Clark’s college funds.
He promises, however, to get Clark a job with his influential Uncle Carmine.
Crime boss Carmine Sabatini (Marlon Brando) – who looks uncannily like Don Corleone (the script repeatedly plays on this and the joke never gets old) – takes a shine to Clark and offers him a job.
And though Clark suspects that Carmine is not the legitimate businessman he represents himself to be, the offer is one that he can’t refuse (to coin a familiar phrase) – $1,000 a week to “run a few errands”.
The movie is basically a collection of gags, many of which arise from the interaction between the innocent freshman and the wily godfather. There’s also some byplay between Clark and Tina (Penelope Ann Miller) – “Carmine Sabatini’s only daughter”, as she’s fond of describing herself – who insists she wants to marry Clark as soon as she meets him.
Tipped off by his cold-hearted stepfather (Kenneth Welsh), the authorities are soon pursuing Clark and pressuring him to turn in Carmine or face a two-year jail term. His loyalty to Carmine, who has shown him more fatherly affection in a few days than his stepfather has in several years, is put to the ultimate test.
Brando is a phenomenally witty actor, and Broderick’s performance represents some of his finest work to date.
Carmine Sabatini
Marlon Brando Clark Kellogg
Matthew Broderick Victor Ray
Bruno Kirby Tina Sabatini
Penelope Ann Miller Steve Bushak
Frank Whaley Chuck Greenwald
Jon Polito Arthur Fleeber
Paul Benedict Lloyd Simpson
Richard Gant Dwight Armstrong
Kenneth Welsh Liz Armstrong
Pamela Payton-Wright Edward
BD Wong Larry London
Maximilian Schell Bert Parks
Himself Leo
Tex Konig Lorenzo
Leonardo Cimino Maitre D’ Gourmet Club
Gianni Russo Father Frank
Warren Davis Aunt Angelina
Vera Lockwood Hunter
Jefferson Mappin Mr Glassman
Doug Silberstein
Director
Andrew Bergman
You May Also Like
Naked Gun, The (1988) Based on short-lived TV comedy Police Squad, and pulling on a tradition stemming from the success of…
Monkey's Uncle, The (1965) An eccentric young inventor helps a couple of classmates pass an exam using a study-while-asleep technique…
Munchies (1987) While exploring caves in Peru with his annoying doofus son, Paul (Charles Stratton), eccentric "space archaeologist"…
Sounder (1972) Nominated for four Oscars, director Martin Ritt's powerful drama, based on the 1970 Newbery Medal-winning novel…
Revenge Of The Nerds (1984) "It's time for the odds to get even". Gilbert Lowell (a pre-TV hunk Anthony Edwards who…
Jacob's Ladder (1990) Jacob’s Ladder is a horror movie as an ethereal journey. Most of the film takes place…
Crime boss Carmine Sabatini (Marlon Brando) – who looks uncannily like Don Corleone (the script repeatedly plays on this and the joke never gets old) – takes a shine to Clark and offers him a job.
