When his long-suffering schoolteacher girlfriend Betsy (Sarah Jessica Parker) threatens to leave him if he doesn’t marry her, small-time gumshoe Jack Singer (Nicolas Cage) – who is terrified of commitment – breaks a promise he made to his dying mother that he would never wed, and proposes.
But when the two arrive in Las Vegas for the quickie ceremony, Jack loses Betsy for a weekend in a bad $60,000 bet with mobster Tommy Korman (James Caan) after a game of poker.
Initially disgusted, Betsy becomes captivated by Korman, leaving Jack having to fight to win her back.
Director Andrew Bergman remains a much-underrated talent and expertly blends the classic elements of farce with a healthy dash of eccentricity to produce a delightful comedy.
Bergman largely steers clear of the gloopy sentimentality that blights so many other romantic comedies and stages a stunning finale with parachuting Elvis impersonators.
There are also some fine supporting performances from the distinguished cast, which includes Anne Bancroft, Peter Boyle, and Seymour Cassel.
Jack Singer
Nicolas Cage Tommy Korman
James Caan Betsy Nolan/Donna
Sarah Jessica Parker Mahi
Pat Morita Johnny Sandwich
Johnny Williams Sally Molars
John Capodice Sidney Tomashefsky
Robert Costanzo Bea Singer
Anne Bancroft Chief Orman
Peter Boyle Roy
Burton Gilliam Vern
Brent Hinkley Lyle
Dean Hallo Tony Cataracts
Seymour Cassel Sid Feder
Jerry Tarkanian Eddie Wong
Keone Young Niko
Danny Kamekona Chris
John Mcmahon Laura
Lisa Ann Poggi Walter
Ben Stein David
Teddy Bergman
Director
Andrew Bergman
Related Posts
Jack (1996) In Big (1988), Tom Hanks played a boy in the body of a man. This comedy-drama repeats the trick by casting…
New Jack City (1991) Mario Van Peebles made his directorial debut with this hard-hitting mix of crime thriller and social drama, which is as…
Dick Tracy (1990) Comics had been made into movies for decades but it was Warren Beatty's production of Dick Tracy (1990) that ultimately made the…
Bugsy (1991) Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel (he hated the nickname and was known to physically assault anyone unwise enough to use it in his…
Last Action Hero (1993) An Arnold Schwarzenegger backlash had been on the cards for some time and when this extravaganza was released the knives…
Jack Frost (1997) With no pretension to anything other than the basest Z-movie thrills, this tale of a wise-cracking homicidal snowman is not to be…
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) Director James Foley, working with a highly resonant screenplay by David Mamet, here brings a palpable cinematic tension to what…
Hearts of Fire (1987) Bob Dylan is the reclusive ageing rocker Billy Parker who is coaxed out of retirement on a Pennsylvania chicken farm…
