Art Carney is an over-the-hill PI, and Lily Tomlin is the lady who wants to hire him to find her missing cat. As the movie progresses, it turns into a loving bit of nostalgia for all those old movie detective series, with tasteless modern LA intruding into its dream.
Robert Altman produced, but he insisted that writer Robert Benton direct from his own script, and the old-line talent behind the camera makes this a general love note, with Charles ROsher Jr. Helming the camera and Monty Westmore doing the make-up. There's no chemistry between Carney and Tomlin. Carney, in fact, seems to be intent on his character being thoroughly grumpy throughout, as if these characters are not taking what he does seriously. Still, it's a pleasure to atch all the old pros in operation.
Robert Altman produced, but he insisted that writer Robert Benton direct from his own script, and the old-line talent behind the camera makes this a general love note, with Charles ROsher Jr. Helming the camera and Monty Westmore doing the make-up. There's no chemistry between Carney and Tomlin. Carney, in fact, seems to be intent on his character being thoroughly grumpy throughout, as if these characters are not taking what he does seriously. Still, it's a pleasure to atch all the old pros in operation.