This frantic comedy suffers from Pinchot's annoying performance as the psychic - especially when he gets spastic. Larroqutte, playing it mostly straight, comes off better. The movie gets very silly at times, but at least it never stops moving. Certainly it's not deserving of such a low "average rating" on this site (at this time, 2.9). Something closer to a "5" would be more appropriate.
22 Reviews
A Goober look at physic detectives
Bernie444423 January 2024
The basic story is of the rivalry of a private psychic detective agency versus the police chief. An important person is abducted, and it is up to the eccentrically strange Bobby Mcgee (Bronson Pinchot) psychic to locate the perpetrator(s). The psychic must be fed Goobers regularly to maintain his stability. And somebody is getting lottery tips on the side.
There is no redeeming social value in this one. Forget looking for any deep meaning or great acting. This movie is just downright silly and contains just about every cliché in the physic detective book. Watch for fun and say, "Stay in the car!!" or "Don't do that!!"
There is no redeeming social value in this one. Forget looking for any deep meaning or great acting. This movie is just downright silly and contains just about every cliché in the physic detective book. Watch for fun and say, "Stay in the car!!" or "Don't do that!!"
Wow, this is one bad movie!
mikekrumboltz10 April 1999
Bad beyond all reason.
tipplerunkus15 December 2003
A comedically talented cast and the writer of "Dead Poet's Society" somehow combine to make a startlingly unfunny, shockingly amateurish waste of time. There is really very little else to say, except that this problem belongs on the IMDB's bottom 100 list.
I foresaw a decent comedy...but it sure wasn't this one! (spoilers)
vertigo_1424 April 2005
This had the potential to be a great, dumb 80s comedy perfect for your lazy afternoon viewing. You had the cast for it--John Laroquette and Bronson Pinchot--and a stupid plot: a detective agency that uses an eccentric psychic to solve crimes. But either there was just not enough stupid humor, or there was too much technical detail about the crimes they were solving, that detracted from this potential and the result is anything but funny.
The story involves the psychic, a scientist, a detective, a fender bender and a missing Cardinal. I have to give credit to Bronson Pinchot, though, who actually did make me laugh a few times with his strange psychic practices and acid tongue alter-ego Marty. John Laroquette, on the other hand, seems to be reluctant to break out of his monotoned cynicism, making this more like John Laroquette as John Laroquette.
Even myself, a fan of dumb 80s comedies would say, you're not missing much if you pass on this one.
The story involves the psychic, a scientist, a detective, a fender bender and a missing Cardinal. I have to give credit to Bronson Pinchot, though, who actually did make me laugh a few times with his strange psychic practices and acid tongue alter-ego Marty. John Laroquette, on the other hand, seems to be reluctant to break out of his monotoned cynicism, making this more like John Laroquette as John Laroquette.
Even myself, a fan of dumb 80s comedies would say, you're not missing much if you pass on this one.
My Big Fat Video Nightmare
NoDakTatum7 October 2023
Before Joel Zwick bored us with "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," he assaulted us with this. Wills (John Larroquette) is a former cop who works with psychic Bobby (Bronson Pinchot) and Ph. D. Preston (Stuart Pankin) to solve crimes. Boston Cardinal O'Hara (William Prince) and Bobby's love interest Maria (Marisol Massey) are kidnapped, and the psychic detective agency Second Sight are on the case. Wills has run-ins with cute Sister Elizabeth (Bess Armstrong, the best thing here), and Preston is married, which means everybody has a girlfriend to end up with in the final shot.
The investigation into the cardinal's disappearance is about as challenging as an episode of "Blue's Clues." The audience is punished with the exact same routine throughout the film: Bobby does something off the wall and crazy (trying to be funny), Preston takes pictures and identifies the psychic phenomenon (trying to be funny), and Wills slumps, complains, and mopes (like the viewer; and trying to be funny). How these three ended up together is not important. Elaborating on how Bobby got his psychic powers after getting struck by lightning is not important. How Preston's wife kept winning prizes after getting lottery numbers from a sleeping Bobby without Preston finding out is not important. With all these dangling plotlines, there must have been a lot more to this eighty three minute movie. Maybe it is a good thing scenes were deleted, that would mean the stuff left onscreen was the funny stuff- I did not smile once. Zwick's direction is like the sitcom work he has done. Larroquette plays his Dan Fielding character from "Night Court," Pinchot channels Balki from "Perfect Strangers," and Pankin copies Harold Ramis' Egon Spengler from the "Ghostbusters" films. Everyone mugs and grimaces, but no one can squeeze a chuckle out of this lame script. The special effects are awful- animated glowing lines and flashing blue lights. I remember when this film came out, and how badly it did. I wish I had never laid first sight on this. Leave "Second Sight" unseen.
The investigation into the cardinal's disappearance is about as challenging as an episode of "Blue's Clues." The audience is punished with the exact same routine throughout the film: Bobby does something off the wall and crazy (trying to be funny), Preston takes pictures and identifies the psychic phenomenon (trying to be funny), and Wills slumps, complains, and mopes (like the viewer; and trying to be funny). How these three ended up together is not important. Elaborating on how Bobby got his psychic powers after getting struck by lightning is not important. How Preston's wife kept winning prizes after getting lottery numbers from a sleeping Bobby without Preston finding out is not important. With all these dangling plotlines, there must have been a lot more to this eighty three minute movie. Maybe it is a good thing scenes were deleted, that would mean the stuff left onscreen was the funny stuff- I did not smile once. Zwick's direction is like the sitcom work he has done. Larroquette plays his Dan Fielding character from "Night Court," Pinchot channels Balki from "Perfect Strangers," and Pankin copies Harold Ramis' Egon Spengler from the "Ghostbusters" films. Everyone mugs and grimaces, but no one can squeeze a chuckle out of this lame script. The special effects are awful- animated glowing lines and flashing blue lights. I remember when this film came out, and how badly it did. I wish I had never laid first sight on this. Leave "Second Sight" unseen.
Still remains a favorite of mine.
Beth-Craig746 August 2004
Granted in 1989 there were not too many advances in special effects and the movie was indeed low budget, but there was always the underlining humor throughout the entire movie. Numberous funny one liners were delivered by John Larroquette were done so with just the right attitude and degree of seriousness to make the line that much funnier. I disagree with everyone who says that the movie was borish and unfunny, you must look deeper into the lines delivered then just the surface humor and slapstick. This movie to this day remains one of my all time favorites. If they ever released it on DVD I would be first in line to buy a copy.
One of my faves in youth, and still is today.
metalrox_20001 November 2006
I first saw this film as a 12 year old kid, and I like it to this day. It's a simple movie, gets the needed laughs, and tries to keep the lost art of slapstick. This plenty of zingers abound in the movie, and it's pretty entertaining. The frozen bullet, the plane are damn good special effects for the time (1988). Yeah, there's plot holes, but almost every movie has those. Yeah, the story is rather implausible. But it's still entertaining. The producers knew they weren't remaking Gone with the Wind, and that's fine with me. Films about about entertainment, bottom line. And that's exactly what this one does, entertains. Now if only current film directors could learn that.
Funny, interesting and heartwarming!
FiendishDramaturgy4 October 2003
Warning: Spoilers
As a "B" movie, this production is quite entertaining. It was a Johnn Laroquette, Bronson Pinchot movie from the late 80's based around a psychic (Pinchot), the psychic's "handler," and the lawyer who represents them (Laroquette). They are a crime solving team who end up in some very funny situations.
The effects were corny but entertaining, the story line/plot is very cohesive, and the sub-plot is intelligent and interesting; something I didn't expect from a low budget production like this.
If you liked "Vibes," "Witch Hunt," or "Ghostbusters 1 and 2," you will enjoy this movie very much.
Rent it, settle down on a weekend night with a bowl of popcorn and amuse your sense of humor.
It gets a 6.8/10 from...
the Fiend :.
The effects were corny but entertaining, the story line/plot is very cohesive, and the sub-plot is intelligent and interesting; something I didn't expect from a low budget production like this.
If you liked "Vibes," "Witch Hunt," or "Ghostbusters 1 and 2," you will enjoy this movie very much.
Rent it, settle down on a weekend night with a bowl of popcorn and amuse your sense of humor.
It gets a 6.8/10 from...
the Fiend :.
I Expected the Worst and Came Out Smiling
Exit_of_99c_Special17 August 2005
I do love campy films. This one is surely just that. The humor is simple, it would best accompany the mood at sleep time or a while zoning after a long day of work.
There are plenty of films out there that should come first, but if you are looking for something light, you might enjoy it. It's more entertaining than a lot of the television programs out there so it can't hurt to watch this instead. What amazed me the most is the sense there was a decent budget to this (the airplane scene surely took some money).
I didn't expect to like this at all, but since I wrote a song which shares the same title, I had to see it. Any fans of Stuart Pankin should be happy that he is a main character for once in this film.
There are plenty of films out there that should come first, but if you are looking for something light, you might enjoy it. It's more entertaining than a lot of the television programs out there so it can't hurt to watch this instead. What amazed me the most is the sense there was a decent budget to this (the airplane scene surely took some money).
I didn't expect to like this at all, but since I wrote a song which shares the same title, I had to see it. Any fans of Stuart Pankin should be happy that he is a main character for once in this film.
High Quality Comedy
reader428 January 2011
Why all the low votes? This movie is hilarious!
It's sort of Ghostbusters (1984) meets Ghost (1990), although much funnier than either of those, with even a little bit of Airplane! (1980), believe it or not, thrown in at the end. In spite of all this, Second Sight manages to be wildly original.
An ex-cop, a psychic researcher from Harvard and his pet-like subject have formed a detective agency, using the psychic to help them unravel crimes. They take on a case for $300 helping a nun toward whom the ex-cop has great animosity find out who rear-ended her car.
Sound crazy? It is!
Thrown into the bargain, just about every way you can think of exploiting a clairvoyant is spoofed, from horse racing and the lottery to dating. "Tell me! Is she a Scorpio?"
John Laroquette plays the ex-cop in what is perhaps his breakthrough role. He is good here just like he is in everything I've ever seen him in. I think maybe this is where they got the idea for his McBride character.
Even though John Laroquette gets top billing, the movie really belongs to Bronson Pinchot. He manages to be completely over-the-top without being annoying in the way Jim Carey often is. In many respects he is like a two-year-old running out of control, getting into everything, innocently exploring everything he comes in contact with. Including the opposite sex.
And, also like a two-year-old, I don't see how anyone could not ultimately find him endearing. Even John Laroquette, who is demonstrably tortured by him all the way through, warms to him in the last few minutes.
Stuart Pankin is very strong as the second banana, the Harvard PhD that is the only one who can control Pinchot. Every moment he has on screen is superbly played, and his catch phrase of "very rare!" in describing whatever latest psi phenomenon Pinchot is manifesting is a masterpiece of comedic writing and delivery.
The movie is excellently directed by Joel Zwick, in his only venture out of the small screen before My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002). The pacing is great, never a dull moment. Not overdone, not quite madcap, yet there is something in every scene and at every turn to make you laugh. Sight gags, silly situations, some slapstick. But mostly you'll laugh from the dialog.
The best thing about the movie is the writing, which is surprisingly high quality for a movie of this sort. Only the Airplane and Naked Gun series rival it in taking stupidity to intelligent heights. The thoughtful wittiness of the dialog hits you on the funny bone again and again.
Don't get me wrong. The movie is no Wilde or Coward play, no Woody Allen movie, not even Monty Python. It's definitely stupid humor. But it's delightful, intelligent, clever and entertaining stupid humor.
The special effects are also great, better than I would have expected from a movie of this type. I don't want to give too much away, but I will say that Pinchot does a lot of levitation and zapping of one kind or another during the film.
Don't believe the low ratings on this one. If you like clever dialog along the lines of Airplane and Naked Gun, and ridiculous supernatural stuff like Ghostbusters, I guarantee you'll get a lot of laughs out of Second Sight.
It's sort of Ghostbusters (1984) meets Ghost (1990), although much funnier than either of those, with even a little bit of Airplane! (1980), believe it or not, thrown in at the end. In spite of all this, Second Sight manages to be wildly original.
An ex-cop, a psychic researcher from Harvard and his pet-like subject have formed a detective agency, using the psychic to help them unravel crimes. They take on a case for $300 helping a nun toward whom the ex-cop has great animosity find out who rear-ended her car.
Sound crazy? It is!
Thrown into the bargain, just about every way you can think of exploiting a clairvoyant is spoofed, from horse racing and the lottery to dating. "Tell me! Is she a Scorpio?"
John Laroquette plays the ex-cop in what is perhaps his breakthrough role. He is good here just like he is in everything I've ever seen him in. I think maybe this is where they got the idea for his McBride character.
Even though John Laroquette gets top billing, the movie really belongs to Bronson Pinchot. He manages to be completely over-the-top without being annoying in the way Jim Carey often is. In many respects he is like a two-year-old running out of control, getting into everything, innocently exploring everything he comes in contact with. Including the opposite sex.
And, also like a two-year-old, I don't see how anyone could not ultimately find him endearing. Even John Laroquette, who is demonstrably tortured by him all the way through, warms to him in the last few minutes.
Stuart Pankin is very strong as the second banana, the Harvard PhD that is the only one who can control Pinchot. Every moment he has on screen is superbly played, and his catch phrase of "very rare!" in describing whatever latest psi phenomenon Pinchot is manifesting is a masterpiece of comedic writing and delivery.
The movie is excellently directed by Joel Zwick, in his only venture out of the small screen before My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002). The pacing is great, never a dull moment. Not overdone, not quite madcap, yet there is something in every scene and at every turn to make you laugh. Sight gags, silly situations, some slapstick. But mostly you'll laugh from the dialog.
The best thing about the movie is the writing, which is surprisingly high quality for a movie of this sort. Only the Airplane and Naked Gun series rival it in taking stupidity to intelligent heights. The thoughtful wittiness of the dialog hits you on the funny bone again and again.
Don't get me wrong. The movie is no Wilde or Coward play, no Woody Allen movie, not even Monty Python. It's definitely stupid humor. But it's delightful, intelligent, clever and entertaining stupid humor.
The special effects are also great, better than I would have expected from a movie of this type. I don't want to give too much away, but I will say that Pinchot does a lot of levitation and zapping of one kind or another during the film.
Don't believe the low ratings on this one. If you like clever dialog along the lines of Airplane and Naked Gun, and ridiculous supernatural stuff like Ghostbusters, I guarantee you'll get a lot of laughs out of Second Sight.
A secondary movie, certainly, but fun and funny nonetheless!
inkblot1120 September 2006
Wills (John Larroquette) and Bobby (Bronson Pinchot) are two parts of a ghostbusters type detective agency. The third member, Dr. Preston, is there to keep Bobby under control. That's because Bobby not only channels a man from beyond named Murray, he can also predict future events. Wills is often disgusted with Bobby, for Bob is a bit uncouth and beyond weird. When a Catholic cardinal and pretty church lady are kidnapped, it is up to these three to find them. Helping them along is Sister Elizabeth (Bess Armstrong) who just happens to be Murray's ex-girlfriend! What fun! Will the quartet be able to find the missing folks in time? This is not a large budget film and the script is wandering at times. Nevertheless, viewers could do worse than spend some time with the movie. The cast is great, with Pinchot a standout as the unorthodox Bobby. Armstrong and Larroquette are also quite funny. Who would not love a scene in a car where Bobby, intrigued by the cigarette lighter, ends up playing hot potato with the other two detectives? Now, that's inspired. If you love silly nonsense, and who doesn't, rent this for a night or catch it on late night television. You will be able to make the world's problems disappear, as you chuckle your way into oblivion.
Ridiculous, but worth seeing
coverme620 April 2000
Next to almost "Ishtar", "Second Sight" is a pretty bad comedy >flick. Thing is, I enjoyed it! John Larroquette and Bronson Pinchot did a pretty funny job portraying psychic detectives. It's worth watching if you are a fan of the tow stars' TV sitcom
Better than a 4.4, a fun 80s silly romp.
Elewis11955 November 2017
It's not a good movie and if things like a person being able to levitate a table because he's a psychic bother you, then you might find this annoying, but it's actually a cute buddy comedy and Stuart Panking is an overly nice guy sticking up for his gifted but doesn't always fit in friend played brilliantly by Bronson Pinchot. Playing foil to the two buddies is talented John Laroquette who plays their grumpy boss.
The story gets old by the end but the first hour or so of the Movie is fresh and silly and carried by the actors, Bronson especially.
The story gets old by the end but the first hour or so of the Movie is fresh and silly and carried by the actors, Bronson especially.
Finally... they made the perfect movie!
mcfruityballs5 July 2007
Well first of all, this goes without saying this is Joel Zwick's greatest triumph as a director. Im sure you are like me and have been praying for the Joanie Loves Chachi Movie to finally get made,(its not too late by the way) but this is a close second. You have TV legends John Larroquette as a detective and Bronson Pinchot as his psychic sidekick. As you can imagine the laughs are just nonstop in this one. In fact I laughed so hard, I busted a vein in my forehead and had to be rushed to the emergency room. Don't worry, I am doing fine now. Lucky for me, decorative head bands are back in style to cover it up. I have one with a red sun on it, like in Karate Kid. My headband is named Carlos and I feel it when I wear it I have the power to do anything I want in this world. But I digress. Second Sight is the funniest movie I have ever seen... ever. I am sure you agree with me in that 1989 was the vintage year for comedy motion pictures. This movie is the pinnacle! My only complaint is that I think it would have been funnier with Richard Moll and Mark Lynn Baker. Those were the funny ones. I also would have included Mindy Cohn as the romantic lead in that. I think a love scene with Richard Moll, Mark Lynn Baker, and Mindy Cohn would have been HOT. It would be like Doom Generation kinda, but different. I was also surprised how amazing the special effects were considering the small budget. Made Titanic look like Land of the Lost. Thats not a bad idea by the way. I can see the Sleestacks trying to hold on to Chaka as Chaka drowns in the freezing cold water after the boat sinks. You heard it here first Hollywood! I will sue if you steal that idea! I swear I will! I also would like to see more movies have tacos. I really enjoy tacos and you do not see many people eat them in movies. Something to consider... So if you want the funniest movie of all time, Second Sight is for you. I suggest going out and purchasing it right now. Trust me, it will not leave your VHS player for years to come.
Perfect Stranger Meets Night Court
view_and_review12 March 2020
Bronson Pinchot and John Larroquette were stars of two hit sitcoms when they did this movie. It was the closest thing to a crossover that we'd get. Pinchot played Balki on the show "Perfect Strangers" and Larroquette played Dan on the show "Night Court."
Wills (Larroquette) and Bobby (Pinchot) both work for Second Sight detective agency. Wills is the wily ex-cop and Bobby is the eccentric psychic who channels a spirit named Murray to help him find people and things. Bobby's psychic abilities cross over to supernatural at times and he needs to be reined in by psychologist Preston Pickett Ph.D. (Stuart Pankin). The agency makes very little money because the amount of destruction they cause usually equals the amount of their fee.
They get a mother of a case when a Catholic cardinal is kidnapped. This case could net more fame than dough, but the two kind of go hand-in-hand.
The movie is fairly funny. Pinchot is the Jim Carrey-like contortionist, impressionist funny man. Larroquette plays the straight role and is decent at it. The situations give a few laughs and there's also a cute little romance to boot. Wills has to learn to love again and just maybe a nun could do the trick.
Wills (Larroquette) and Bobby (Pinchot) both work for Second Sight detective agency. Wills is the wily ex-cop and Bobby is the eccentric psychic who channels a spirit named Murray to help him find people and things. Bobby's psychic abilities cross over to supernatural at times and he needs to be reined in by psychologist Preston Pickett Ph.D. (Stuart Pankin). The agency makes very little money because the amount of destruction they cause usually equals the amount of their fee.
They get a mother of a case when a Catholic cardinal is kidnapped. This case could net more fame than dough, but the two kind of go hand-in-hand.
The movie is fairly funny. Pinchot is the Jim Carrey-like contortionist, impressionist funny man. Larroquette plays the straight role and is decent at it. The situations give a few laughs and there's also a cute little romance to boot. Wills has to learn to love again and just maybe a nun could do the trick.
My wife and I thought that it was hilarious.
tnhurley12 December 1999
Use Your "Second Sight" and Avoid This Like the Plague
tfrizzell24 October 2000
Oh my goodness this is a terrible film that feels long even though it is not (83 minutes). Television stars John Larroquette ("Night Court") and Bronson Pinchot ("Perfect Strangers") prove that they cannot handle anything that lasts longer than 30 minutes. They also have trouble with a dreadful screenplay and non-existent direction. The film deals with two detectives who use a mystic to solve a crime. Do yourself a favor and avoid this one at all costs. Turkey (0 out of 5 stars).
Many people didn't like it, but it is worth a watch
zhammcat12 February 2001
I understand that many people walked out of the theatre when watching it, and many others have given it terrible reviews. But I would have to say that I enjoyed it. Sure, it has its problems, but all in all it is a really enjoyable movie. I just can't understand how some people could give it such a bad wrap. I liked it!
MILDLY ENTERTAINING.
mack317523 September 2002
This movie was not great, but okay. The special effects seem to do alright. But Bronson Pinchot as the psychic Bobby, does a serious amount of over acting thats not even funny. The way he does it, he looks like he did over a dozen takes. And Stuart Pankin's character Preston who is Bobby's care taker, is such an idiot, you were waiting for somebody to smack him upside his head. Seems it is John Larroquette is the only one who is funny as the uptight and cynical detective Wills. His funny performance saves the movie from extermination. Bess Armstrong seems to hold her own, has the nun who is helping them on the case. An alright film.
Underrated
garbanzo530 August 2018
I can't believe this is only rated 4/10! Sure it's not Citizen Kane or anything but it's great for what it is, a super silly eighties comedy. Plus it's got John Larroquette who is always awesome and also Bronson Pinchot, Balki from Perfect Strangers! It's really good.
An Honest Review
generationofswine17 November 2018
"Cheaply Funny" I think would be the best way to describe this.
It's not really made well, the direction is lacking, and the budget is obviously low...but that really doesn't matter, it's a comedy, and a comedy on a show-string budget still works wonders if it's done right.
And this is done right. The timing is perfect. The acting is hysterical. The plot is far out and completely stupid--and that is a plus not a negative.
It's low budget, low brow, completely stupid entertainment, but it entertains and is positively hysterical. To watch it is to love it.
It's not really made well, the direction is lacking, and the budget is obviously low...but that really doesn't matter, it's a comedy, and a comedy on a show-string budget still works wonders if it's done right.
And this is done right. The timing is perfect. The acting is hysterical. The plot is far out and completely stupid--and that is a plus not a negative.
It's low budget, low brow, completely stupid entertainment, but it entertains and is positively hysterical. To watch it is to love it.
See also
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