It's a fact: Old guys can be funny. If you've watched any of the Friar's Club Roasts or seen George Carlin do stand up, you know it's true. Hell, old guys might just be the funniest people in the world.
The makers of Oddball Hall must have realized this, because they cast Don Ameche and Burgess Meredith as the leaders of a group of jewel thieves that happen to be old guys. They're hiding out in Weeweelee, Africa and posing as members of the Oddballs, which is basically the Shriners without the alchohol and little cars. Anywho, after a year, they decide the heat has died down and they can leave town. But, before they can go, they get a message that the Chief Oddball is coming to visit their club, so they have to keep up the charade. Well, at the same time, an African Bushman is looking for Wizards to help him get water for his tribe. He runs into the Oddballs. They think he's the Chief Oddball and he thinks they are Wizards. It's a case of mistaken identity that rivals the ones that take place in every episode of Frasier. (I mean that in an insulting way. Frasier sucks and you know it.)
Unfortunately, for the first time in history, the old guys aren't funny at all. Sadly, Burgess Meredith appears to be close to death throughout. I feared he was actually comatose in a few parts. How'd you like to have been the guy who had to change his diaper and feed him during filming? Without Burgess, you're left pretty much alone with Don Ameche. Last time I checked, that's not a good thing.
The main problem, besides the lack of passable humor, is the slow, plodding pace of the film. God, I've sat through endless movies before, but this was the longest 90 minutes of my life. It's a little like visiting a nursing home, only without the funny old guys. |
