One of those quirky, post-modern comedies perhaps inspired by "Desperately Seeking Susan", but a bit late in the offing ("Susan" was released in Spring 1985). Rosanna Arquette is charming (as usual) playing eccentric New York waitress--and would-be escape artist!--who plots a major heist with help from British bartender David Bowie, who's in need of a green-card bride. Sassy script by Tamar Brott and Richard Shepard (who also directed), excellent cast including Eszter Balint (very funny), Marlee Matlin and Andre Gregory, and yet the film tends to have more energy than successful gags. A smoother direction and tighter editing might've helped, yet it's still rather fun, complimented by a wonderful music score by Thomas Newman. **1/2 from ****
17 Reviews
A Very Colorful, Cheery, And Bubbly Romantic Comedy
IrisNo114 July 1999
I knew that I wasn't going to be disappointed in this movie! I liked it, but it's not the best. The characters have great humour and a bit of strange taste to them. One is obsessed by Houdini, the other designs self-defense bras, and then there is the mystery man from England, Monte. I loved the strange characteristics to Lucy, Vivian, and Monte, and if Dali's were a real restaurant, I would LOVE to go there for dinner! I loved the setting of Dali's and the wardrobe the waiters, waitresses, and bartenders are required to wear. There is a lot of strange high fashion in this film! Rosanna Arquette's look is totally early 90's with the bright Irish red hair and the fire engine red lipstick shade!
This movie's very colorful and very cheery! I enjoyed watching this film, and wouldn't it be a wonder just to star in this film? It was a great movie, but I will admitt, I thought the plot a bit silly. Yet that's what makes this movie good! :o)
This movie's very colorful and very cheery! I enjoyed watching this film, and wouldn't it be a wonder just to star in this film? It was a great movie, but I will admitt, I thought the plot a bit silly. Yet that's what makes this movie good! :o)
Cult Romantic Comedy
claudio_carvalho6 March 2022
In New York, the gamblers and partners Dante (Andre Gregory) and Cecil (Buck Henry) own a successful restaurant. Among his employees, the British bartender Monte (David Bowie) is a compulsive liar that wants to marry any waitress to get his Visa. The waitress Lucy (Rosanna Arquette) is a Houdini wannabe that is ashamed to exhibit in public. Her best friend is the also waitress Vivian 'Viv' (Eszter Balint) that shares an apartment with her and designed a very especial brassiere. After some confusions, the trio becomes friends and decide to rob the restaurant. The result promotes the place but Dante decides to lie to Lucy to force her to get married with him.
"The Linguini Incident" is a cult romantic comedy from 1991 that maybe is dated in the present days. The nonsense plot with weird characters was very usual in the 80's in comedies like "After Hours" or "Desperately Seeking Susan" and "The Linguini Incident" is in the same genre. David Bowie makes the difference, especially for fans of this singer and actor. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "Romance por Interesse" ("Romance by Interest")
"The Linguini Incident" is a cult romantic comedy from 1991 that maybe is dated in the present days. The nonsense plot with weird characters was very usual in the 80's in comedies like "After Hours" or "Desperately Seeking Susan" and "The Linguini Incident" is in the same genre. David Bowie makes the difference, especially for fans of this singer and actor. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "Romance por Interesse" ("Romance by Interest")
Entertaining and cute
TheAstaroth1 August 2010
I didn't expect much of this movie, I wanted to watch it just because I'm a little bit obsessed with David Bowie right now and he's in it. I was nicely surprised, for I enjoyed it very much and I might even watch it again. Over and over again.
The movie has a colourful 90's atmosphere, it's cute and comic. The storyline is pretty unreal and all the characters are kind of crazy. Rosanna Arquette plays a Houdini lover and wannabe escape artist, her foolish best friend Viv designs extravagant bras. Bowie portrays a mystery English man who needs to get married to get a green card and to be allowed to stay in America. He is unbelievably charming in that role (aah his voice!) These three are all in a desperate need of money and decide to rob the restaurant they work at.
The Linguini incident -surprisely not much known - is a small treasure, an entertaining comedy with a pinch of romance. Watch this, it will shift your mood. I strongly recommend it :)
The movie has a colourful 90's atmosphere, it's cute and comic. The storyline is pretty unreal and all the characters are kind of crazy. Rosanna Arquette plays a Houdini lover and wannabe escape artist, her foolish best friend Viv designs extravagant bras. Bowie portrays a mystery English man who needs to get married to get a green card and to be allowed to stay in America. He is unbelievably charming in that role (aah his voice!) These three are all in a desperate need of money and decide to rob the restaurant they work at.
The Linguini incident -surprisely not much known - is a small treasure, an entertaining comedy with a pinch of romance. Watch this, it will shift your mood. I strongly recommend it :)
Funny, Offbeat
wmhawth13 March 1999
Even better the second time...
sliptz10 October 2000
Actors not perfect, but plot clean and costumes great
chantal-312 April 1999
This is a movie that doesn't do us the disservice of taking itself seriously. We're able to suspend disbelief and have fun with the wacky characters without wondering how they could possibly exist. I agree with other viewers that the pacing could have used work. But the viewer who complained that one shot of a bridge doesn't prove a movie is set in New York obviously thought movies benefit from being set in New York, a point with which I don't agree.
I enjoyed Lucy's character and thought Arquette was the right person to play her. Viv, on the other hand, bothered me; Eszter Balint's slight Hungarian accent got on my nerves from the beginning. (I'm of the camp that feels an actor should either have an accent or not; if you have one, don't spend thousands of dollars training to cover up 99.5% of it, because the other .5% will still give you away.)
Much as I like David Bowie, and much as he probably sold this movie for most people browsing in the video store, he really phoned in his performance here. Much was made on the cassette box, and in the reviews, of the fact that Monte is a 'mystery man'; we don't know whether he's a liar or a gambler or any of several things he claims to be early on. Problem is, at no time is it made clear to us why we should care what he is. He's boring, morose, mumbles far too many of his lines, and only turns on that famed Bowie sexiness about twice in the whole movie (once during a makeout scene that is charming until it is cut off abruptly). I was quite happy to see his character bound into the fish tank to rescue Lucy--it was the only time I saw any kind of light in his eyes, though I suppose it might have just been sparkles from the water.
Yeah, I know, I complain...but I liked the fact that this plot was clean as a whistle, no big holes to mull over at the end, and the happy ending was sweet (if not entirely articulated, but then, by that time we could tell how things ended up and didn't need it spelled out for us). The dialogue is mostly quite clever, the costumes are fabulous (Lucy in her bejeweled Houdini-era flapper gowns is adorable), and I love what happened to the ring! So I do recommend this movie for rental.
I enjoyed Lucy's character and thought Arquette was the right person to play her. Viv, on the other hand, bothered me; Eszter Balint's slight Hungarian accent got on my nerves from the beginning. (I'm of the camp that feels an actor should either have an accent or not; if you have one, don't spend thousands of dollars training to cover up 99.5% of it, because the other .5% will still give you away.)
Much as I like David Bowie, and much as he probably sold this movie for most people browsing in the video store, he really phoned in his performance here. Much was made on the cassette box, and in the reviews, of the fact that Monte is a 'mystery man'; we don't know whether he's a liar or a gambler or any of several things he claims to be early on. Problem is, at no time is it made clear to us why we should care what he is. He's boring, morose, mumbles far too many of his lines, and only turns on that famed Bowie sexiness about twice in the whole movie (once during a makeout scene that is charming until it is cut off abruptly). I was quite happy to see his character bound into the fish tank to rescue Lucy--it was the only time I saw any kind of light in his eyes, though I suppose it might have just been sparkles from the water.
Yeah, I know, I complain...but I liked the fact that this plot was clean as a whistle, no big holes to mull over at the end, and the happy ending was sweet (if not entirely articulated, but then, by that time we could tell how things ended up and didn't need it spelled out for us). The dialogue is mostly quite clever, the costumes are fabulous (Lucy in her bejeweled Houdini-era flapper gowns is adorable), and I love what happened to the ring! So I do recommend this movie for rental.
Underrated
roney-euceda28 September 2018
Quirky and delightful little comedy.
GoldMorning4 January 2009
I found this film to be humorous to watch with moments that made me smile. It wasn't laugh out loud material but I loved watching the performances. All the actors involved did a great job of bringing to life their blend of neurotic, paranoid and quirky characters. Rosanna Arquette played a delightful if slightly annoying vague waitress/escape artist who is very funny to watch. Her friend played by Eszter Balint was also wonderful as she played a kind of morose and sarcastic side kick with some very funny lines. Of course David Bowie plays the male lead and he is very good in this. I think he's quite underrated as an actor and he should do more comedy. He delivered his lines very well and was genuinely cute with his humour. I actually think this is one of his best performances and it's a shame the film didn't do well for him. All in all the story was fun to follow but it's the performances that made for a delightful if not light comedy.
The storyline could have been written by a toddler
anxiousgayhorseonketamine21 August 2022
I do not know who told David Bowie he could act but he really could not
He had no idea how to do that his face was always expressionless and he could not deliver lines in a way that was not David Bowie. A bit like if Picasso Had decided that he was an airline pilot Rafael Nadal decided that he was a great chef
Delusional is the best we can say .... apart from that the film is quite funny no masterpiece but quite funny and Rosanna Arquette is very good here as she usually is.
Delusional is the best we can say .... apart from that the film is quite funny no masterpiece but quite funny and Rosanna Arquette is very good here as she usually is.
When you're in the mood for fluff, this is good stuff
strat-815 June 1999
This is almost a "screwball comedy", but not quite. The pacing is slower. The characters do and say silly things, but only after careful deliberation. Everyone in this movie is so cute you want to rub noses with them. No knee-slappers, but lots of chuckles and smiles. This is a good movie. This is a nice movie. It has a happy ending, which is rare these days. Bowie's acting was competent but unremarkable. I think it was nice to see a "steady-eddie" in the role. It's almost a conventional story with trappings of a farce. The audience knows it a farce. The players know its a farce. The players know that the audience knows its a farce. Therefore we all enjoy ourselves.
Incidentally, this movie is flat out cool!
inkblot111 June 2005
Lucy (Roseanna Arquette) works in a very upscale NYC restaurant but longs to be a magician. Monte (David Bowie) is a new bartender at the same eatery and dreams of marrying an American. The restaurant is scathingly successful and the owners are tres wealthy. Can Lucy and/or Monte get their hands on some of the dough? Is this before or after a romance begins? This wonderful movie is quirky and cute, with the two stars delighting the audience at every moment. The script is stroke of genius, very awe-inspiring. Then, too, the sets and the costumes are great while the supporting cast is a dream. The scene involving toasted marshmallows is recommended here enthusiastically. In short, plan for one of life's great evenings....rent this film and eat delicious take-out linguini between giggles.
THIS IS THE COOLEST MOVIE IN THE WORLD!
sweeney-628 February 1999
Ok, I really do not see why this movie got such bad reviews. This is one of my very favorites of all time. David Bowie is hot, it had a good cast, and an inventive story board. Everyone that I know that has seen it, even non-Bowie fans, has liked it.
I LOVE DAVID BOWIE!!
Lwaxana27 September 1998
Ok. This was such a classic tale of Romance. I loved this movie. Lucy was the coolest chick. She was a Houdini lover. Monte was fine as hell. Duh! I mean he was played by David Bowie! Of course he was fine!!!I really think that this movie was great. It kept twisting. One minute you think Monte was crazy, the next a romantic schmuck. (hehe) This movie is a good one to see.
Not the greatest movie, but entertaining
Blondie_29 June 2002
As a fan of David Bowie, when I rented this ages ago, I watched it over and over again. This movie isn't the best, it lacks any substance at all. It plays as a whimsical, fly-by-night, fluffy (as someone on here already said) film. The humor is mostly unfunny. However, the film manages to be very entertaining and energetic none the less, and of course, there is David Bowie who makes it all worthwhile! To sum it up: watch it on cable. I give it 5/10.
An offbeat, quirky romantic comedy with many twists.
Stu-51 February 1999
David Bowie is fairly promising as a bartender frantically searching for a green card. He meets a contortionist/hopeful escape artist and she and him begin an affair.
The hijinks of trying to get a green card aren't that funny and the film doesn't move too quick at all. Plot points introduce themselves towards the end of the movie and nothing really gets resolved. But, other than that, it's a light hearted film that would warrant watching, that is if you're a Bowie fan.
There are some good roles, played by Buck Henry and Marlee Matlin, but the script doesn't do the actors' justice. The music isn't too bad, a good score as usual from Thomas Newman, alumni of The Player and Shawshank Redemption fame.
It's just one of those romantic comedies with a twist! Nothing much else to it really.
Five out of ten.
The hijinks of trying to get a green card aren't that funny and the film doesn't move too quick at all. Plot points introduce themselves towards the end of the movie and nothing really gets resolved. But, other than that, it's a light hearted film that would warrant watching, that is if you're a Bowie fan.
There are some good roles, played by Buck Henry and Marlee Matlin, but the script doesn't do the actors' justice. The music isn't too bad, a good score as usual from Thomas Newman, alumni of The Player and Shawshank Redemption fame.
It's just one of those romantic comedies with a twist! Nothing much else to it really.
Five out of ten.
Not quirky enough
lor_13 July 2023
My review was written in May 1992 after watching the film at an East Village screening.
Energetic actors can't overcome the uninspired, poverty row production values in "The Linguini Incident", being briefly released to theaters by its video distributor to set up ancillary values.
On the shelf for a year, still-born comedy lacks interesting characters and situations. Instead it's a lame attempt to recapture some of that "Desperately Seeking Susan" quirkiness that Rosanna Arquette delivered so well seven years ago.
She's cast as a waitress in a trendy New York restaurant who dreams of launching a magic act. Arquette's obsessed with Harry Houdini and decides to rob the restaurant to raise the $5,000 needed to purchase from antique shop owner Viveca Lindfors a wedding ring once belonging to Mrs. Houdini.
Also out to rob the establishment is its new British bartender David Bowie, ostensibly to get $10,000 so that cashier Marlee Matlin will marry him to get him a green card. It turns out that Bowie is actually trying to win a million-dollar bet with proprietors Buck Henry and Andre Gregory that he can marry one of their waitresses (or cashiers?, a fine point the script doesn't clarify) within a week.
With the aid of Arquette's best friend, goofy undergarment designer Eszter Balint, the trio pull off their crime caper and of course Boiwe decides to marry Arquette. Unconvincing complications lead to a further bet that requires Arquette to perform a Houdini-esque escape trick underwater at the film's climax.
Garbed in retro costumes leaning toward the Roaring '20s, Arquette is attractive and perky in a performance that consistently transcends the rest of the film.
Bowie, who has been desperately seeking screen stardom for nearly 25 years, is completely miscast. He looks too old and more like a toothy alien (a la his best assignment to date, "The Man Who Fell to Earth") than a romantic lead. There's no sexual attraction at all between him and Arquette despite the script's requirements of same.
Balint and Matlin are amusing, but the film's main laughs go to Gregory in a barnstorming performance as the flamboyant boss you love to hate.
Two cast casualties: Kelly Lynch was announced as co-star during production in the role that went to Balint; while Shelley Winters was listed in the Variety newspaper production chart when the film was shooting, presumably Lindfors inherited her assignment. In the final print are pointless brief cameos by Julian Lennon (understandably yawning) and Iman. A thank you credit to actor Julian Sands is cryptic (he doesn't show up) though he could have handled Bowie's role with ease.
Production looks threadbare whenever it strays from the gaudy main restaurant set to seedy downtown locations. Director Richard Shepard fails to provide adequate transitions between scenes and has an aloof camera style that works against the comedy.
Energetic actors can't overcome the uninspired, poverty row production values in "The Linguini Incident", being briefly released to theaters by its video distributor to set up ancillary values.
On the shelf for a year, still-born comedy lacks interesting characters and situations. Instead it's a lame attempt to recapture some of that "Desperately Seeking Susan" quirkiness that Rosanna Arquette delivered so well seven years ago.
She's cast as a waitress in a trendy New York restaurant who dreams of launching a magic act. Arquette's obsessed with Harry Houdini and decides to rob the restaurant to raise the $5,000 needed to purchase from antique shop owner Viveca Lindfors a wedding ring once belonging to Mrs. Houdini.
Also out to rob the establishment is its new British bartender David Bowie, ostensibly to get $10,000 so that cashier Marlee Matlin will marry him to get him a green card. It turns out that Bowie is actually trying to win a million-dollar bet with proprietors Buck Henry and Andre Gregory that he can marry one of their waitresses (or cashiers?, a fine point the script doesn't clarify) within a week.
With the aid of Arquette's best friend, goofy undergarment designer Eszter Balint, the trio pull off their crime caper and of course Boiwe decides to marry Arquette. Unconvincing complications lead to a further bet that requires Arquette to perform a Houdini-esque escape trick underwater at the film's climax.
Garbed in retro costumes leaning toward the Roaring '20s, Arquette is attractive and perky in a performance that consistently transcends the rest of the film.
Bowie, who has been desperately seeking screen stardom for nearly 25 years, is completely miscast. He looks too old and more like a toothy alien (a la his best assignment to date, "The Man Who Fell to Earth") than a romantic lead. There's no sexual attraction at all between him and Arquette despite the script's requirements of same.
Balint and Matlin are amusing, but the film's main laughs go to Gregory in a barnstorming performance as the flamboyant boss you love to hate.
Two cast casualties: Kelly Lynch was announced as co-star during production in the role that went to Balint; while Shelley Winters was listed in the Variety newspaper production chart when the film was shooting, presumably Lindfors inherited her assignment. In the final print are pointless brief cameos by Julian Lennon (understandably yawning) and Iman. A thank you credit to actor Julian Sands is cryptic (he doesn't show up) though he could have handled Bowie's role with ease.
Production looks threadbare whenever it strays from the gaudy main restaurant set to seedy downtown locations. Director Richard Shepard fails to provide adequate transitions between scenes and has an aloof camera style that works against the comedy.
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