This film begins with two newborn twins being dropped off at the doorsteps of a large house with one of the babies being accepted while the other is rejected and apparently sent to an orphanage. The two young boys grow up with the first one named "Fred" (Chris Kattan) receiving an excellent education and becoming a psychiatrist. The other one named "Ted" (also played by Chris Kattan) has no such luck and eventually becomes a mental patient at a local mental institution. Things get reversed, however, when Fred goes to that specific facility and is mistaken for Ted who not only assumes his identity and but also slides into Fred's family as well. Now rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this could have been a good movie but the comedy sadly lacking. For starters, I didn't especially care for the main character who just wasn't that funny. Likewise, even though the relationship with his wife was already strained, there wasn't any chemistry between Fred/Ted and his wife "Lorna" (Susana Gibb) at any point. Likewise, I didn't especially care for the rather cardboard performance of Brooke Anna Leedy (as the young patient named "Dolores") either. For what its worth, though, I thought Eleanor T. Threatt (as "Nurse Nancy") put on a reasonable solid performance--but it wasn't nearly enough for me to rate this film any higher than I have.
10 Reviews
A good clean family movie
aliasstone6 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This wasn't for me and I couldn't find much humor in it, but for a family with children this might be entertaining. The movie is clean, no foul language and no nudity, all of it safe for children to watch. Actually Chris Kattan's acting was better than I had expected considering that I've only seen him on SNL. I think children would enjoy this one and although I do support clean family movies, this one was a bit too juvinile for my tastes.
Crazy...to watch this
kevin-mccarthy-562-67492221 July 2013
This was hands down one of the worst movies I have ever experienced. I don't really write reviews of movies but this one was so bad and I was so mad at myself for watching it that I actually changed my plans to go find a computer and write this review. I don't think it would be fair if anyone else saw this movie without reading this.
Where can I start? The acting is horrible. The plot is nonsense and the editing is so bad that it is uncomfortable to watch. There is no climax and no conflict and I guess that I am supposed to care about the characters? Nothing makes sense!!!!
watch at your own risk.
Where can I start? The acting is horrible. The plot is nonsense and the editing is so bad that it is uncomfortable to watch. There is no climax and no conflict and I guess that I am supposed to care about the characters? Nothing makes sense!!!!
watch at your own risk.
Good enough
vchimpanzee23 June 2014
This is actually pretty good. There are many worthwhile acting performances. Chris Kattan, of course, as the brothers. Eleanor Threatt as Nurse Nancy starts out mean but really shows compassion for the patients in this place. Joshua Norman as one of the big orderlies is the same but on a lesser scale. Several actors playing patients also give distinctive performances and I'm sorry I don't remember any of their names. One in particular is Ted/Fred's roommate and is obsessed with books and movies. Another does a nearly perfect Rain Man. And then there is the brains behind the escape plan. And let's not forget Brooke Anna Leedy as the obviously sane Dolores, who shouldn't be where she is.
The actors playing Fred's family also do a good job. You really have to like all of them.
Jack Hays as Mr. Philbrook is a fine combination of mean and charming.
I especially liked the classical music playing in Fred's car.
One major disappointment for me was Jason Padgett as Mr. Greene. He is just mean with no redeeming qualities, and nothing more than a cartoon.
Sure, the situation is crazy. But once the premise is established, you can take it where you want to, and this movie does so admirably. What the movie accomplishes more than anything else is to drive home the importance of putting family ahead of other priorities. A secondary goal is to make it clear that family does not necessarily mean relatives.
I had a good time.
The actors playing Fred's family also do a good job. You really have to like all of them.
Jack Hays as Mr. Philbrook is a fine combination of mean and charming.
I especially liked the classical music playing in Fred's car.
One major disappointment for me was Jason Padgett as Mr. Greene. He is just mean with no redeeming qualities, and nothing more than a cartoon.
Sure, the situation is crazy. But once the premise is established, you can take it where you want to, and this movie does so admirably. What the movie accomplishes more than anything else is to drive home the importance of putting family ahead of other priorities. A secondary goal is to make it clear that family does not necessarily mean relatives.
I had a good time.
Kattan.... Ugh
fleck05IMDB9 January 2021
Better than many high budget Hollywood films.
garvie-elinor-owensby12 July 2014
Great comedy movie. Good acting. Better than many high budget Hollywood films. Good family flick. Minimum dirty language; no "F***" bombs. The good guys win in the end. We are seniors finding it difficult to find movies for families and seniors. If you are looking for a clean comedy, here's a good movie. We would enjoy watching this movie with our grand kids. I tried to come up with minimum ten lines of text. I'm a 79 year old guy trying to follow the rules; we enjoyed the movie and would watch it again. However, the 10 line minimum makes it hard for me to review the movie. I'll not get trapped in the "ten line minimum" again. Watch the movie, you will like it; I suggest that you skip the review, unless you are more long winded than I.
One Flew Over The Kattan Nest
bookwormdrews8 April 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I was disappointed with the path of Kattan's career post-SNL. His biggest job came on the TV show The Middle, so it's good to see him in another actual movie. I caught this on VOD and will def. order it to see it again. I thought Kattan did great work with his physical comedy and he has a real jim-carreyesque control over his facial muscles. I also enjoyed the spattering of recognizable classical music, which I'm sure was for budget reasons, but the director made it work here. Kattan really nails the combination of sweet and awkward, and every time I see him I think of Andy from Weeds. I am really hoping this movie will re-launch his career, he absolutely nailed these dual roles.
great flick!! i love it! B movie.. But that's part of it's beauty
kenneth5492 May 2013
Definitely should be on the must see of B movie's...Kris is great! okay, so i don't usually leave reviews. however, when i saw that this was getting kicked around i thought i better let people who like kattan know that he's still a funny, funny guy...he doesn't need the big Hollywood budget to lead a great show. believe me, if you like his work, you'll like this. it does seem to be made on a shoestring budget and even his suit doesn't fit him like the people had to shop at the goodwill just to make what budget they had to work with...then there's this really great actor, she's a black nurse, then the guy that sit's and eats donuts all the time is perfectly cast and it's just a great great movie...definitely not a 'TIME waster' type B movie. all in all you'll love it if you like Kris. Plus, you can redbox it for a $1.20! ;)
FREDDIE. I'M NOT YOUR FATHER
nogodnomasters18 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Ted and Fred (Chris Kattan) are twins separated at birth for some unknown reason. They do not know the other one exists. Fred is a psychologist while Ted is a mental patient. Fred visits the institution to sign papers and through a series of improbable circumstances they swap places, very much to the dismay of Fred. There is also a subplot involving Dolores (Brooke Anna Leedy) a patient who Dr. Fred had to sign papers to continue being committed, someone he has never talked to and is apparently sane.
Fred has been in the dog house sleeping in the guest room, so when Ted shows up, there is no hanky-panky keeping the themes relatively kid safe. There were some good scenes, but most of time I saw missed opportunities. For instance , they both snoop through files. This would have been better if they showed this as a juxtaposition to show the similarity of the twins in different situations. In fact the whole film would have been smarter and funnier had they followed that formula. Likewise, they should have used known stars as inmates, create more diverse characters and allow the stars to showcase their egos and talents. Really? What is Robin Williams doing now a days?
It is a film for family night, good for a few laughs. Don't expect a lot.
Parental guide: No f-bombs, sex, or nudity.
Fred has been in the dog house sleeping in the guest room, so when Ted shows up, there is no hanky-panky keeping the themes relatively kid safe. There were some good scenes, but most of time I saw missed opportunities. For instance , they both snoop through files. This would have been better if they showed this as a juxtaposition to show the similarity of the twins in different situations. In fact the whole film would have been smarter and funnier had they followed that formula. Likewise, they should have used known stars as inmates, create more diverse characters and allow the stars to showcase their egos and talents. Really? What is Robin Williams doing now a days?
It is a film for family night, good for a few laughs. Don't expect a lot.
Parental guide: No f-bombs, sex, or nudity.
Very Funny
jacohitchcox6 July 2014
My wife and I loved this movie. Acting was decent, cameras were decent, but we thought it was hilarious. We have watched it twice, and still talk about it. I have read the other guys review that said it was not a good movie, and he did not know who the characters were nor the plot, but he is part of the problem with modern day comedies. There were no illicit drugs, foul language, or nude scenes so I guess for the average American I can understand that this movie is automatically not going to be on the top 10. I liked it because I thought the movie was funny and really had some great quotes that my wife and I will remember for years to come. If you are not in to movies that were made to be family friendly this is likely not for you though.
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