Movies 2009 #16 The Out of Towners

While I don’t like its anti-urban message (especially directed, as it is, at New York, one of the greatest places in the world), there’s no denying that the The Out-of-Towners is a wildly funny movie. Telling the story of George and Gwen Kellerman, the film traces the worst 24 hours a couple could ever hope to have in the Big Apple. Like Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (one of the funniest movies ever made), the relentless run of bad luck the couple experiences makes for an equally relentless series of laughs.

Beyond just the pure slapstick joy of the thing, the dialog, by Neil Simon, is razor sharp. the end result is a film balanced finely between brilliant, funny dialog and equally great physical and environmental comedy.

So, yeah, it’s funny.