Finders Keepers

source: Finders Keepers

As I sat down to watch the 1984 comedy "Finders Keepers" here in 2022, I did so without ever having heard about the movie prior to sitting down for watching it. I had no idea what I was in for here, but I figured that a mid-1980s comedy with this cast ensemble should prove interesting. However, I was off target, because I didn't enjoy the storyline told in "Finders Keepers". The narrative was pretty slow paced and I didn't really care about the story, nor overly much about the characters either. So I found "Finders Keepers" from writers Ronny Graham, Terence Marsh and Charles Dennis to be somewhat of a swing and a miss. Sure, there are worse mid-1980s comedies out there, but "Finders Keepers" wasn't something special. I was initially impressed with the cast ensemble, which had the likes of Michael O'Keefe, Beverly D'Angelo, Louis Gossett Jr., Ed Lauter and Brian Dennehy on the cast list. So there was a good handful of familiar faces on the screen. I didn't find the storyline amusing here, so this movie didn't make me laugh. And while I did manage to endure the movie to the end, this is not a movie that i will ever be returning to watch a second time. My rating of "Finders Keepers" lands on a four out of ten stars.

This film is somewhat funny, but, little lagging. The subject demands more slapstick comedy. I really wish if a Director like Priyadarshan had seen this film, there will be another great funny film in Malayalam.

This is the kind of 80s comedy in the same vein as many 80s farcical comedies. OKeefe plays his part like he did in Caddyshack, Beverly D'Angelos plays a very spunky, mouthy blonde, opposite of the mother character in all the Vacation movies, but she still cute and adorable. Louis Gossett Jr shows up halfway through the movie and is there to the end. The story, set around 1972, isnt bad, it moves along and is never boring. There are some funny scenes and some funny dialogue. However the utterly farcical and slapstick type ending kinda ruins the movie, somehow we are supposed to believe Louis Gosset Jrs character doesnt know where the brake peddle is, but hey, its a comedy its needs a light hearted end to this "crime" story. Ive been a mission to watch as many "bad" movies as I can, and found a site dedicated to forgotten movies, good or bad. This was one of them, but I didnt think it was bad at all. However, looking through all the reviews, people are fiercely divided, they seem to love it or hate it, and in the end, maybe their were more haters in the critics circle and by whomever distributed it. CBS owned (owns) it, so Im surprised I never caught this on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon when TVs were still built with tubes.

The actress is annoying even to look at, others aren't interesting either. Nor the story, if there's any. Love old movies, but this was unknown for a reason.. This is the first time when it was a relief to see my husband falling asleep instead of watching.😀 I had a collague who could laugh histerically on things like someone saying "the printer's dead", maybe she would find reason to at least smile on this one, but I prefer really funny and witty movies instead.

Train rides is something to look forward to. But in "Finders Keepers", it's a train ride you'll never forget. You have a con man who has run a roller derby team. He stiffed the team, after the guy he bought from, stiffed him. When he hears the stadium his team was using is about to be torn down, he rolled out of it letting the team be out for his blood. Earlier, the daughter and her partner steals $5 million dollars from her father's safe and puts it in the coffin heading to New York. Both movies started in California, but headed towards different destinations. "Silver Streak": Chicago, Illinois; "Finders Keepers: New York. One movie made to the destination, this one did some rerouting. Both movies have good star quality. Only this one avoids a train wreck. Funny and adventurous at the same time, it's a rarity for some since this is a Jim Carrey beginning of his early career. The caper of the money is intense, and everyone involved was going to get their share of the action. Seems like the crooks are the smartest in the film. The law knew only of the people, but not the money involved. It's thieves vs. con men. The law was in the middle. Add a scatterbrained actress, and it's a trainwreck ready to happen. This is a must see movie. If you like the open rails, take a ride in "Finders Keepers". 3 out of 5 stars.

Richard Lester is one of the great comedy directors, but amidst the brilliance there was always this sloppy, cheap-feeling shlockiness peeking out from underneath, balanced out because it was still often funny. Finders Keepers magnifies Lester's worst tendencies without the counterbalancing humor. Not only isn't the movie funny, but often I couldn't figure out why the movie expected us to find it funny. The movie seems to think Beverly D'Angelo calling everyone she meets by a slur for gay people funny, but even if you don't apply modern social norms to an ancient movie, it's just not funny. I watched the first half hour, and then, since some people claim it gets better towards the end, I watched the last 20 minutes. It's basically a bad 80s comedy with forced silliness (an angry mob of roller derby women) and unconvincing sex (woman pulls a gun on the protagonist then takes a bath with him). Richard Lester made a lot of terrific movies. This wasn't one of them.

I saw this movie on HBO in 1985, taped it and watched it again and again over the years. It's a wonderful screwball comedy, and Michael O'Keefe is great as the con man character who's trying to pass himself off as a soldier taking his dead buddy's casket home for burial. I would have thought it would have found its way to DVD long before this, even if only because it was Jim Carrey's first real movie role. His part is small -- only a couple of scenes -- but it was easy to see he was going to be a big comic star. Other great actors in it were Beverly D'Angelo, Louis Gossett Jr, Ed Lauter and Brian Dennehy. And who could ever forget Dennehy's great line when he says the mother of the dead soldier is "prostate with grief?" It's also the only movie I can remember that used Don McLean's "American Pie" over the closing credits. Please, let's get this out on DVD.

Okay some may like it some may not, so what. For me, Jimmy C' is young and funny and upcoming, in this sideways-*-eyed caper of 'Dennis' & 'Lester' ,however I have to say for me that David Wayne, "MR. Stapleton" (the 'Old-school' train conductor with the booming voice and bad hearing) who I had never really remembered from before, took 75% of the comedic performances. Performing a comedic duo (with F.B.I. man Ormond(played by: Jack Riley of 70s 'Newhart' fame) 'Stapleton'- slices words and grammar like a surgical steel blade in pudding while side kick-in' it with-Ormand F.B.I. In addition Ed Lauter is a great 'slender thug', Louis Gossett Jr. with his cool delivery and under control attitude exudes charm and for me, doesn't fail either. The chase in this movie is off the wall and the irreverent mode that Michael's character operates in, is fast, funny as heck and furious! The humor without giving anything away, is 'black' and very un 'P.C." and thats what makes this one totally under-appreciated, brick of comedic gold!! Not enough people have seen this movie for themselves. The audio seems a little antiquated, but what they are saying is right on the funny-money!!! This is one of my best of comedy films and with all the new comedy stuff coming out, it's appreciating in value every year. I had never seen this movie before I bought the VHS on vacation in Santa Barbara. I hope to find it on DVD, this is one of my Top-100 movies. It was and is funny, every single time I watch it. Though some scoff, to 'Richard L' I say, the cast is perfect and this one still packs a riotous-wallop! Now, to who ever owns the 'Rights' to it, digitally remaster it, (audio & music score too) and get it out on the web and in stores!!! Plus ad some old or recent interviews with cast if it's possible. Please no sequel or remakes, it doesn't always work. Thanks-BGW

I stumbled upon this wonderful comedy purely by chance, while zapping through some TV channels a friend of mine and me dropped into a weird chase, where some girls on rollers try to catch a man in a local marathon. We continued watching this movie and had a really good time, laughing and laughing. This is what comedies are all about. If it gets you laughing, it is good. If you can't stop laughing, then it's a keeper... 9/10