Mousehunt (1997) User Reviews

A Fun Fare!

[namashi_1 · 7/10 · 9 February 2015]

'Mousehunt' was one of my favorites movies as a kid, thanks to its funny script, that held my attention, much more than I would've thought of. But even today, 'Mousehunt' remains as a fun fare, that hasn't lost its touch.

'Mousehunt' Synopsis: Two stumblebum inheritors are determined to rid their antique house of a mouse who is equally determined to stay where he is.

Don't ask questions & I can assure you 'Mousehunt' will prove to be nothing else but fun. Its twisty plot, coupled with the series of unfortunate events that happen to its protagonists, bring the house down on numerous occasions. Made with heart & joy, this 1997 box-office hit doesn't run out of gas, despite a few hiccups in its Screenplay.

Adam Rifkin's Screenplay, despite a few bumps, is a riot overall. Gore Verbinski's Direction is typically solid. Cinematography is grand. Editing is well-balanced. Art Design is comment-worthy.

Performance-Wise: Nathan Lane is stupendous, pitching in a genuine comedic performance from start to end. Lee Evans supports Lane, admirably. Christopher Walken is deliciously weird in a bit role. Vicki Lewis is first-rate.

On the whole, Wanna laugh & relax on a lazy weekend? Watch 'Mousehunt'. You won't be disappointed!

a successful tribute to Tex Avery

[dbdumonteil · 7/10 · 4 December 2002]

What a pleasant comedy! Here's a movie that brings back a subject which was specific to the cartoons from the forties and fifties: the game of the cat and the mouse. Here, there's a real mouse and the cat is epitomized by the Schmuntz brothers who wish to get rid of her in order to sell an old but expensive house. The more the film advances, the more the traps prepared by Lars and Ernie Schmuntz are worked out: it begins with the simple, trivial trap: the mousetrap and it ends with the appearance of the mouse-exterminator ( an unexpected and irresistible Christopher Walken). In short, what it seems to be a child's play at the beginning of the movie, ends up becoming a merciless fight in which there'll be no winner, no loser... Gore Verbinski adopted an inventive and clever making and he rightly choose his actors. Nathan Lane and Lee Evans form an ideal duo, not very far from the legendary Laurel and Hardy. They've got a different personality but are united to kill this mouse. Moreover, the movie doesn't only focus on this "mouse hunt" but also on the Schmuntz brothers' efforts to earn money in order to save their father's string factory ( a world without string is chaos...). Let's add some hilarious and efficient gags ; the movie pays a tribute to Tex Avery. Dialogs that kick the bull's eye and some cues are powerful such as: "in this mouse's mind, you are the intruders" says Walken to the Schmuntz brothers. At last, the real mouse is, of course, a little pest (she's even compared to Hitler with a tail) but in parallel, Verbinski attempts to make her touching. At the end, a comedy without too many claims but efficient enough to please to a large public.

A true family classic.

[the red duchess · 7/10 · 14 February 2001]

A children's film with a moral. Unlike a certain purveyor of saccharine entertainment, however, this moral is political, even metaphysical - if you exploit your workers, if you pursue greed until it makes you mad, if you break the ties that bind; if, in short, you snap the string, a Pandora's Box of chaos will be your lot, until you become a latterday Roderick Usher, your crumbling mansion a metaphor for your disintegrating mind.

With its Gilliam-like recreation of a dank, Orwellian universe; with its Tim Burton pervading of Gothic atmosphere; with its twisted Coens' live-action cartoon sensibility (imagine Christopher Walken in a children's film? Even better than that), and you have fun for all the family.

Funny and touching

[bob the moo · 30 June 2002]

When their father dies, brothers Ernie and Lars inherit a rundown string factory and a run down house. When they find the house may be worth millions they set about renovating it to auction it. However they don't reckon on the house's one inhabitant – a small mouse – who has no intention of going anywhere.

In the wrong hands this could easily have turned into a cruel slapstick and nothing else. It's easy to see this sort of thing turning into a Home Alone type thing with the mouse dishing out cruel punishment after cruel punishment. However it's more than that, although it has elements of those films. The film is witty – mixing the slapstick with a more adult humour and, although the slapstick is cartoony, it is also clever and imaginative in most cases.

The strength of the film is in three performances. First and second is Lane and Evans, both have an air of Laurel and Hardy (especially Lane) and they make for a good double act. Lane gets to do his usual stuff while the more goofy antics of Lars suit Evans' stand-up routine background to the ground. However the main success is the mouse. In other hands he would have been a mere excuse for destruction, however here he has `humanity' – a character if you will. This is perfectly demonstrated by the unintentional chase with a nail gun – how dramatic! How tense! But also how touching – the mouse is given intelligence and has a motivation for what happens.

Of course at heart this is a kids film and it is a very good one at that. However these other points give it the feel that it was made for adults too. Certainly the inclusion of Walken as a pest controller is one no child will get.

Overall this is well made and is more that just a crude slapstick affair. It can be enjoyed on that level but it just feels that little more mature. To illustrate what I mean – can you imagine the difference if Chris Columbus had directed it? Now you've got me!

Underrated

[matthewssilverhammer · 7/10 · 12 March 2020]

Based on the logline premise, poster, MPAA rating, and marketing, this is a "children's" film. However, there is really NOTHING here for children; it's very violent, overly adult, darkly charactered, and mean. Luckily, I'm not a child, so I found it delightfully silly in all its hot-headed hedonism. Just when it's mean-spiritedness begins to overwhelm the fun, it quickly turns the corner, making a point about the uselessness of selfishness. Most surprisingly, Silvestri's score is great.

Of mice and pain.

[Hey_Sweden · 7/10 · 4 April 2021]

Nathan Lane and Lee Evans play Ernie and Lars Smuntz, two odd-couple brothers who inherit a creaky string factory from their recently deceased, aged father (the great character actor William Hickey, in his final feature appearance). Ernie would rather sell it and run, but Lars feels a loyalty to the old man and a desire to keep the business going. They see a possible end to their financial woes when they learn that the rickety mansion that their father also left to them is not nearly as worthless as it would seem at first. In fact, it could be worth a true fortune. That's all fine and good, but one single thing is standing in the brothers' way: a tiny, extremely stubborn mouse who's just as determined to stay in the house as the brothers are to get rid of him.

Granted, this does get rather over-the-top overall, but a refreshing amount of black comedy to go with all the slapstick helps make this pretty enjoyable. It IS genuinely funny at times, with Ernie and Lars suffering the kind of pain and misery that we saw Harry and Marv subjected to in the "Home Alone" movies. Excellent production design, an appropriate score by Alan Silvestri, and a variety of visual effects aid in the entertainment value. The scenes with the tenacious rodent are a combination of real animal shots, animatronics (it's just too cute when the mouse retires to what he thinks is peace and quiet, in his little bed), and CGI. In fact, the mouse ends up a rather endearing character in his own way. If you're anything like this viewer, you may end up rooting more for him, especially when he shows a special kind of ingenuity in dealing with these pesky humans. It's like watching an old Looney Tunes cartoon.

Lane and Evans make for a comfortable comedy team; they're good enough to compare favourably to many of the classic comedy duos in cinema. They're supported by a solid variety of familiar faces - Christopher Walken (as a wacky exterminator), Maury Chaykin, Vicki Lewis, Eric Christmas, Michael Jeter, Ian Abercrombie, etc. Ernie Sabella, who was Pumba to Lanes' Timon in "The Lion King", appears as a pound employee from whom Ernie and Lars obtain a ferocious feline known as Catzilla. (It's no surprise that even this killer kitty is no match for our clever rodent.)

All in all, "Mouse Hunt" is good fun, and worthy viewing for people who enjoy riotous farces.

Seven out of 10.

Genius

[concordepa · 9/10 · 20 January 2003]

When I first saw this movie in the theater, I did not really know what to expect. In the end, I never laughed so hard in my life. Granted, its not everyone's kind of humor (which certainly can be seen by the IMDB people that trashed it) but it is an extremely intelligent, yet slapstick dark comedy that may have you rolling on the floor.

I do not think that this movie is good for kids. From the very beginning, the movie isn't afraid to "cross the line" by causing upheaval at a funeral. But it handles things without the gratuitous use of sex, unlike most comedies these days.

Some of the funniest things about Mousehunt are in the details. (Keep an eye on the painting...) But the thing that I enjoyed the most was how the mouse was interweaved into the rest of the story. Although the movie isn't really about a mouse (it was about two brothers coming together in the wake of their father's death), I think we all could use a little chaos in our lives once in a while.

back and forth

[lee_eisenberg · 7/10 · 1 August 2006]

"Mousehunt" was the first Dreamworks movie that I ever saw in the theaters; when I saw it, I never would have guessed that director Gore Verbinski would later helm "The Ring" and the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies. Considering how neat this movie was, I now feel like I should have seen it coming. This one portrays brothers Ernie (Nathan Lane) and Lars Smuntz (Lee Evans) trying to rid their new house of a rodent who appears to be more clever than either of them. Some people might call this movie a mishmash of Laurel and Hardy with "The Money Pit" (some may even include "Home Alone", but I reject that totally). Maybe it is, but it's probably at heart an excuse to have fun, and the ending was pretty interesting.

So, just expect a really wild time with this flick. And you'll probably have to agree that during the short time that Christopher Walken is in the movie, he totally steals the show. Also starring Vicki Lewis, Maury Chaykin, Michael Jeter, William Hickey (in his final role) and William Frankfather (best remembered as the albino in "Foul Play").

And remember, a world without string is chaos.

Not really my cup of cheese

[smatysia · 5/10 · 1 November 2000]

I guess I'm not the target audience for this film. It's like a live-action cartoon, with apologies to Warner Brothers. Any criticism I have really just means that I don't care for this type of movie. For instance, the actors ham it way up. But I understand that they are supposed to. The mouse, and other special effects are pretty good. If you like this sort of film, see "Mouse Hunt." If you don't, don't.

Many hidden gems in this film........

[bladerunnerdek · 10/10 · 4 February 2000]

Nathan Lane just makes me laugh........this film is sophomoric and silly but it's so inept that it's hilarious, however improbable it might be. Christopher Walken is superb in his small role, and the mouse is magical ( notice he takes a dump in Walken's mouth at the end of his sequence ) , down to his sense of nostalgia ( pictures of Hawaii on his wall , and old mementos ) Don't dismiss this first time round, you'll need to view a few times to catch the clever inserts ( like when Nathan Lane says " akuna matata " to an Arab at the auction ) Also note the beautifully whimsical moments of labor within the garishly dated string factory.......a lot went into this and although it is ridiculous there are many things to love about this film.............James

i am sick of home-alone-like films

[Mickey Knox · 1/10 · 15 January 2001]

This is crap from the beginning til the end. I am not kidding, it is the worst movie i have seen in a very very long time. I'm not gonna waste my time to tell you what the plot is - cause it is not too hard to guess. It's a copy of Home Alone, except that it's not a little boy against 2 stupid guys, but it's a little mouse against 2 stupid guys. The gags are not funny at all, i didn't laugh a bit, not even my younger brother who is actually the main reason i watched this film, didn't laugh at all. And it's not just that the gags aren't funny - they are not original either. The acting is absolutely horrible and the ending... phhh... it s*cks.

I totally disagree with one of the other users who said that this is for adults too. That is false. This is a misfortuned combination of Home Alone and Tom&Jerry cartoons. Nothing more.

Vote: 1 out of 10.

Laurel and Hardy vs. the mouse

[filozof · 9 January 2001]

Smuntz brothers are Laurel and Hardy type buddies inheriting an old house from the father. They discover that the house is a real classic and worth millions. However the current houseowner, one little mouse will give them a hard time.

Smuntz brothers'war with the mouse is really great fun. Christopher Walken as the Exterminator Caesar with his weird mouse hunt equipment is wonderful.

Don't hesitate to see this film. Though it is rather for kids, it has still much to entertain all. Enjoy it.

Evans and Lane work well in an upbeat family comedy which retains a slightly darker edge

[The-Last-Prydonian · 7/10 · 27 December 2017]

In this 1997 cartoon style, slapstick comedy directed by Gore Verbinksi, (Pirates of the Caribbean, The Ring) and starring Lee Evans and Nathan Lane,tThey play Chalk n Cheese brothers who inherit a rundown house from their recently deceased father. When it is revealed that is worth a fortune, they plan to sell it at auction. They set to work to have it restored to it's former glory, but don't count on it having an unexpected occupant. That occupant being a mouse that they try to exterminate but predictably runs rings around them to comedic effect.

An enjoyable romp with colourful performances from an overall decent cast this is what happens when you put Laurel and Hardy, Tom & Jerry and Home Alone in a blender. True, while it isn't quite as consistently funny as I would have liked it to be, this still get's by on a fair amount of it's inffectious charm. Both Evans (who doesn't do a half bad U.S. accent) and Lane individually aren't in career best roles, but they make a fine comedic pairing as they deftly bounce off one another as the contrasting brothers. One's the facetious cynic, the other the more good natured sentimental monkey boy who let's his heart rule his head, and it works well.

Although fairly upbeat as it should be, it does retain something of a slightly dark edge and director Gore Verbinski ensures there's an air of futility as they try to rid their house of their rodent interloper. The direction for the most part is excellent although it does falter in an early comedy set-piece which is stilted in it's handling, and there's the odd occasion but not always where Evans does go a bit too over the top. He simply gurns too much during the slapstick sequences.

That said the scenes where they're hunting the mouse and some of the elaborate feats, as well as it scurrying within the walls of old house are wonderfully executed. The scenes where the siblings inevitably buy a cat to devour their target don't come off quite so well, as it's painfully clear most of the time that it's a fake animatronics or CGI cat which doesn't sit so well with the mouse which for the most part looks genuine. Never the less, it visually does look great with Verbinski creating a cartoon-1950's style world which our two leads inhabit, while the incidental music by Alan Silvestri who's worked on other movies like Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Van Helsing compliments it's slapstick, comedic tone.

Yes, some of the of the slapstick isn't quite as sublime or as gut achingly funny as I would have liked . However there was at least one moment where I did find myself close to tears, thanks largely to the comical reactions of both Lane and Evans who do display their knack for physical comedy. I didn't even mind the presence of Christopher Walken as an overly dedicated (weirdly so I might interject) exterminator, who while he does his usual moody schtick, it still works well enough here. In the end, it's a shame this was a flop on it's theatrical release as while not great, it's still far from awful and superior to the passable if forgettable Baby Day's Out that came out several years before. Far from being a comedy classic still but fun escapist hi-jinks which will never the less left should leave a smile on your face.

A ludicrous and satisfying live action cartoon...

[Offworld_Colony · 6/10 · 7 February 2020]

...with equal parts childish ridiculousness and equal parts ingenious and creative set pieces. The fact that everyone is pretty vile and loveable at the same time, mouse included, is a testament to the acting. The sequence where the mouse's bedroom is shattered and the bit with the cat are absolute standout riots. This movie takes a while to get going, and it is nonsense, but it is a fairly timeless slice of silliness.

Updated Laurel and Hardy

[Penfold-13 · 7/10 · 3 October 1999]

What amazes me about the previous comments made is that none of them mention Laurel and Hardy.

This movie is clearly a homage to L&H, or should that be "attempt at trying to imitate L&H"?

The scene in the square, where the fatter, moustached Smuntz brother waves the ends of his tie at the women across the way is a straight lift from Hardy, and there are many other places where the scene is, shall we say, uncannily like a Laurel and Hardy scene.

Since film-making has advanced a little since their day, there is the opportunity to have a lot more special effects, and the mouse which is the bane of the Smuntz brothers' lives can be filmed doing lots more interesting tricks. Actually, the mouse chases are more obviously copied from Tom & Jerry cartoons, but the ease with which they fit in makes it hard to avoid the conclusion that they'd have had those sequences in the Laurel and Hardy movies if they could.

The big difference between this and a L&H movie, though, is also a product of "progress". Because it is made with the child audience in mind, it is more crudely drawn and lacks finesse.

It's perhaps difficult these days to do slapstick with the same innocence that Chaplin or Laurel and Hardy managed, and so it inevitably seems disappointing, but Mouse Hunt makes a pretty good stab.

Hilarious!

[austind69 · 9/10 · 25 December 2005]

This is one of those movies that catches you off-guard. As campy and seemingly silly as it is...it's still all around fun. From the first opening minutes you'll see some of the humor is a bit on the dark-side, which is what holds it's appeal. The brothers both seem dim witted, yet lovable. You see their just as fumbling and off as many of us have felt attimes, which helps us relate to the characters. The way the CGI andmouse was done gives a real sense of interaction, and a surprise cameo by a notable Hollywood HEavyweight is a nice surprise. Yet in the end, without giving too much away, it's about tolerance and someone trying to find a balance to everything and their surroundings. This falls along the ways of Babys Day Out. So if you enjoy prop driven humor and gag setups or just need a break from the stamped out Hollywood flicks, this is a MUST see and you'll find yourself laughing uncontrollably. :)

Kiddie style fun!

[ILuvJCS · 6/10 · 19 August 1998]

This movie may be directed towards kids, but just about anyone will like it. It has the exciting parts, with the mouse, the parts that will bore kids but make the movie either funnier, or continue the storyline, and, in my opinion, a movie for all ages.

A terrible film, not for children!

[Logan-22 · 1/10 · 3 December 1999]

The vicious,unrelenting and mean-spirited violence perpetrated in this film is completely inappropriate for the audience it claims to be made for: children. It is an offensive, unpleasant viewing experience that is quite possibly one of the worst and most misguided films ever committed to celluloid. Its sole redeeming feature (for adults only) is the rather titillating, Laurel and Hardy homage, as one of the brothers tries to comically seduce two beautiful girls (who later appear with outlandish hairdos revealing a lot of cleavage). If the entire film had been like that, it would have been a great film (though still not for children, but at least adults could have enjoyed it!). As it is, it feels like the viewer is watching two distinctly different movies: 1) the horrid, grotesque, violent "mouse hunt" and 2) a charming modern update of Laurel & Hardy, which does not mesh well with the rest of this cinematic garbage Spielberg and Company call a movie. Shame on everyone responsible for this mess. I found this film slightly less offensive than the recent DENNIS THE MENACE film, which also contained completely inappropriate levels of gruesome violence and torture (of the homeless, no less!) for a so-called "children's movie."

Laurel And Hardy Live !

[aesgaard41 · 10/10 · 29 March 2001]

I love this movie because Nathan Lane and Lee Evans both seem to be doing an homage to the slapstick movies of Laurel And Hardy. One of my favorite actors, Nathan Lane has quite a few scenes where he looks like he's duplicating Oliver Hardy's mannerisms and quirks. Bronson Pinchot could have made a better sidekick especially for the physical humor, but even with Evans, the movie is a fast furious laugh riot as the guys try to catch one inescapable mouse which knows the house better than they do. Ian Abercrombie of Seinfeld fame also joins the fun as does veteran actor William Hickey of Wings in this his last role. The mouse which is in part portrayed by real mice, puppets and computer animation steals much of the movie as does a cat from Hades which then in turn unleashes a wild and funny John and Larry (Tom and Jerry ???) sequence far funnier than the sadisticly lousy cartoon. This movie rates a ten for humor, plot and camera effects as we see the world within the walls of our house.

It is very funny

[jakeapps979 · 6/10 · 10 January 2005]

I like this movie, it is really funny, and I like the way the mouse always comes back. The two lead actors are very good.

I gave it a 6 out of 10 :) My favourite part is when they flood the house at the end :) I also think the cat is very funny I like the ending, it is happy :) I think it is very funny how the mouse tricks everyone :)

I think it is a bit long and has a few un-needed scenes

I like the name of the cat, I think it is great :) I think the scene where the mouse is trapped in the wardrobe and the man is hammering nails into it is very funny, especially as he doesn't nail in the one which would kill the mouse. I didn't want the mouse to die though, I think it was a cool mouse.

not that funny

[SnoopyStyle · 5/10 · 8 March 2016]

String magnate Rudolf Smuntz (William Hickey) dies leaving his ancient factory and run-down mansion to his sons Lars (Lee Evans) and Ernie (Nathan Lane). Ernie loses his trendy restaurant after poisoning the mayor by serving food with a cockroach and reduced to being a fry cook. Lars rejects a large offer for the factory and his wife April (Vicki Lewis) throws him out of the house. The brothers go to the house and discover it to be built by famed architect LaRue. LaRue fanatic Alexander Falko (Maury Chaykin) is eager to buy but Ernie greedily arranges for an auction in a week's time. They are shocked when Falko indicates a value of as much as $10 million. They are hounded by an elusive mouse and Ernie intends not to repeat the cockroach incident. They use various methods including a cat named Catzilla and an exterminator named Caesar (Christopher Walken).

This is simply not that funny. It's a sort of reverse Home Alone. It is following the Wet Bandits without Macaulay. I actually think this movie needs a cute animated mouse whom the audience can root for. It might be funnier from the viewpoint of the mouse. Ernie's motivation doesn't make much sense. It's a lot slapstick and destruction resulting in limited laughs. The movie could go full throttle Three Stooges but it doesn't have that childlike quality. They are too money grubbing for that. There is nothing particularly bad or hateful about this. It's just not that funny.

Predictable..... But Fun!

[GrantCAGE · 10 June 2001]

Nathan Lane and Lee Evans star in this fun and sometimes touching film as brothers Ernie and Lars who inherit a mansion from their father. They are really dissapointed when the mansion turns out to be an old dump! They're keen when they find out that it's worth an absolute mint! They go about selling it to a collector of LaRue houses for loadsa dosh but there's one problem.....the mouse living in it! Throughout most of the movie we see the two comic stars chasing after the mouse and coming off the worse for it! It's fairly predictable but still very funny and the storyline and the scripts are actually quite original. Nathan Lane was pretty good in this movie as was Lee Evans. I'd say that this movie appeals to adults and kids because it has a decent storyline and engaging comic moments. 8/10

Predictable...but funny

[stormhawk2021 · 6/10 · 25 May 2017]

Mouse Hunt is a movie that I watched for the first time at least 10 years ago. I wanted to revisit for a while now and seeing as how Gore Verbinski has a new movie coming out now, there wasn't a better time to do it! I don't have many memories regarding the movie, or huge nostalgia towards it, but I always remembered how it was the live-action Tom & Jerry movie that I wanted to see. The movie follows two brothers, Ernie and Lars, whose father dies and leaves them his string factory and a huge abandoned house. Upon finding out the house is worth over a million dollars, they want to sell it. Of course, there's always an obstacle. Here, the obstacle is a very cunning and clever mouse that just won't get himself caught no matter how hard the brothers try. That's basically the plot of the movie. It's a 90 minute slapstick comedy that doesn't have much more to it, but damn is it charming. There's something wonderful about seeing two grown men getting outsmarted by a little mouse. The comedy reminded me a lot of Laurel & Hardy in the best way possible! I used to watch a lot of Laurel & Hardy when I was younger and I couldn't stop seeing the similarities between the two main characters here and Laurel & Hardy. The slapstick is very well done. There's some scenes that really got to me and some scenes that didn't quite hit, but most of it was hit, rather than miss. The set design is perfect! I love the look of the house and the way the scenes with the mouse in the walls are shot is very impressive. I was very surprised to see how well this movie was directed. The CGI, as well, impressive. This movie was made in 1997 and some of the animated animals look better than in movies today! The acting's great. I always loved Lee Evans and his charisma. There's just something about him that cheers me up a lot. His reactions to everything and his voice are perfect for a movie like this! Nathan Lane as his brother was great, as well. Christopher Walken also appears shortly in the movie as this badass exterminator that sees catching mice as going to the war. It's very amusing and entertaining. All in all, Mouse Hunt is really worth the watch if you're a fan of the older slapstick comedy movies. I'm not talking about Adam Sandler level of slapstick, I'm talking about Laurel & Hardy, Abbott & Costello type of slapstick. The good type of slapstick.

Does something remind you of Tom and Jerry?

[Bernie4444 · 7/10 · 30 December 2023]

Two brothers Ernie and Lars inherit a String Factory; they also inherit an old house with an uninvited occupant. Yep, it is a house with a mouse. At every attempt to fix up the house they are foiled by the mouse. How does one oust a mouse that refuses to leave the house?

The reviewers of this movie are polarized as to the good and the bad. It is not as if the color, sound, display, and actors are being evaluated. It is the genre and the content. For someone who thinks this movie is too risqué and just want a Tom and Jerry, then watch "Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases". If you are into Laurel and Hardy then watch "Lost Films of Laurel & Hardy", the rest of us can enjoy this simple formula movie. Sorry but no recommendations for those that do not like formula movies. There are better formula movies out there in he world.

The mouse on "The Green Mile" did a better job of acting.

This movie is ... funny? Yes, funny!

[sheepie87 · 6/10 · 22 April 2006]

I cannot comment on the film in its entirety, since the two and a half year old I was watching it with kept getting into stuff, but what I saw was actually really funny! First of all, what impressed me was the atmosphere ... yeah, gloomy house, but it's very Burton-esquire. Everyone's dressed from the thirties, driving big ol' whitewall tired cars. The one scene I saw completely involved hair on fire, funny accents, a gavel, an undaunted auctioneer, and TWO Heimlich manoeuvers! I couldn't stop laughing. So yeah, it seems a little childish. But listen to the dialogue-that's got some adult stuff in it. As for the slapstick, well, we can't be grown up all the time. It's pretty darn tiring!