The Tall Guy Reviews

1988

Rated:
60
from 1827 members

Dexter King is a tall, dark actor, and stooge to a famous, funny and vastly unpleasant Ron Anderson. All that stands between Dexter King and success is his hayfever and his tight-fisted boss. Dexter meets up with a sexy nurse who seems to hold the cure for hayfever... but she has a huge sexual appetite... and she holds the key .. Read more

Starring	Jeff Goldblum, Emma Thompson, Rowan Atkinson, Geraldine James
Director	Mel Smith
Genres	Comedy

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Critics' reviews (6) of The Tall Guy
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Now that she's regarded as one of Hollywood's leading thespians, it's unlikely that you'll ever see Emma Thompson like this again. So make the most of this often hilarious comedy directed by Mel Smith and written pre-Four Weddings and a Funeral by Richard Curtis particularly the brilliant knockabout love scene with the gangling Jeff Goldblum. They work well together throughout the film, with her deadpan approach and his neuroses perfectly matched. The musical version of The Elephant Man is a master stroke and Rowan Atkinson's knowing send-up of his own image is both funny and generous. The plot wanders a little towards the end, but this is cosy, feel-good, if rather naive, fun.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
"...Goldblum has the agility and the bug-eyed apprehension of a great clown....Goldblum is constantly perking himself into new realms of neuromuscular amazements. It's like watching a one-man slapstick ballet..."
- Los Angeles Times
- Posted 11 Mar 2005
This tall tale concerns Dexter (the excellent Goldblum), an actor unlucky in love, life, hay fever, and job as fall guy... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of The Tall Guy
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3 out of 4 people found this review helpful

The tall guy

This is a predictable rom - com, but an enjoyable one none the less, from the early pen of Richard Curtis (pre Four Weddings and a Funeral). Its a good film to put on if you aren't in the mood for something that will challenge your brain.
- - cheekybeef from the midlands, england
  - Posted 29 Jun 2005 07:02
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

A funny fim from Richard Curtis, predating the mammoth success of Four Weddings and a Funeral. Jeff Goldblum is endearing as the struggling actor whose life turns around following a series of hay fever jabs, Rowan Atkinson is superb as his loathsome theatrical employer and Emma Thompson is both quirky and hilarious as Nurse Kate Lemon. All good life affirming stuff as a tangled situation is happily resolved.
- - David#320 from CHELMSFORD
  - Posted 05 Apr 2004 16:09
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Great, refreshingly different comedy!

I loved this good, somewhat old fashioned love story. Certainly not just a "girlie" film, it had lots of original humour and some top stars who were excellent in their roles (Jeff Goldblum/Emma Thompson). Very good entertainment for a night in!
- - Discerning from Cheshunt, Herts
  - Posted 16 Jun 2005 10:03
Most recent members' reviews (2) of The Tall Guy
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Not at all to my taste

My wife & I settled down for an evening's entertainment but after 10 minutes of this inane rubbish decided to read a book. I don't know whether it was supposed to be funny, but I was certainly not amused
- - Alfie123 from Northants
  - Posted 26 Mar 2009 13:50
7 out of 15 people found this review helpful

He's packing his trunk...

A funny fim from Richard Curtis, predating the mammoth success of Four Weddings and a Funeral. Jeff Goldblum is endearing as the struggling actor whose life turns around following a series of hay fever jabs, Rowan Atkinson is superb as his loathsome theatrical employer and Emma Thompson is both quirky and hilarious as Nurse Kate Lemon. All good life affirming stuff as a tangled situation is happily resolved.
- - Vengeful Hedgehog from London, England
  - Posted 26 Jul 2004 22:40

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful

The tall guy

This is a predictable rom - com, but an enjoyable one none the less, from the early pen of Richard Curtis (pre Four Weddings and a Funeral). Its a good film to put on if you aren't in the mood for something that will challenge your brain.
- - cheekybeef from the midlands, england
  - Posted 29 Jun 2005 07:02
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

A funny fim from Richard Curtis, predating the mammoth success of Four Weddings and a Funeral. Jeff Goldblum is endearing as the struggling actor whose life turns around following a series of hay fever jabs, Rowan Atkinson is superb as his loathsome theatrical employer and Emma Thompson is both quirky and hilarious as Nurse Kate Lemon. All good life affirming stuff as a tangled situation is happily resolved.
- - David#320 from CHELMSFORD
  - Posted 05 Apr 2004 16:09
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Great, refreshingly different comedy!

I loved this good, somewhat old fashioned love story. Certainly not just a "girlie" film, it had lots of original humour and some top stars who were excellent in their roles (Jeff Goldblum/Emma Thompson). Very good entertainment for a night in!
- - Discerning from Cheshunt, Herts
  - Posted 16 Jun 2005 10:03
Good Rom Com

I really enjoyed this send up. HAs Emma Thompson changed in the slightest?!
- - A customer from London
  - Posted 03 Jun 2008 10:18
Not at all to my taste

My wife & I settled down for an evening's entertainment but after 10 minutes of this inane rubbish decided to read a book. I don't know whether it was supposed to be funny, but I was certainly not amused
- - Alfie123 from Northants
  - Posted 26 Mar 2009 13:50
Jeff is Tall

OH NO not another Richard Curtis romantic comedy! In fact 'The Tall Guy' was in the days before Notting Hill and Love Actually (and thankfully there's no Hugh Grant) but still follows the same premise.

This is watchable soley because of Jeff Goldblum, he's a legend! The lanky, quirky American has one of those faces that make me chuckle just by looking at him.

Jeff plays a down on his luck actor struggling to make a living as sidekick and 'fall guy' to big standup comedy star played by Rowan Atkinson. Jeff falls in love with Nurse Emma Thompson, it all gets a bit rom-com after that - Jeff loses girl, Jeff redeems himself, wins girl back, gets back at smug ex-boss Atkinson. Happy days for Jeff.

Watchable and quite funny in places.
- - daverumble from Brighton
  - Posted 11 Oct 2009 10:39
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful

A witty, well-written little comedy

This is a very pleasant film to watch; well-written (as you might expect with Richard Curtis involved), well-acted (as you might also expect with the likes of Emma Thompson, Jeff Daniels and Rowan Atkinson on board) and happy. It's witty, fairly adult and leaves you with a warm glow at the end.
- - Michael McGhie from Bury, Lancashire.
  - Posted 05 Jun 2004 14:56
7 out of 15 people found this review helpful

He's packing his trunk...

A funny fim from Richard Curtis, predating the mammoth success of Four Weddings and a Funeral. Jeff Goldblum is endearing as the struggling actor whose life turns around following a series of hay fever jabs, Rowan Atkinson is superb as his loathsome theatrical employer and Emma Thompson is both quirky and hilarious as Nurse Kate Lemon. All good life affirming stuff as a tangled situation is happily resolved.
- - Vengeful Hedgehog from London, England
  - Posted 26 Jul 2004 22:40

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Critics' reviews (6)
Now that she's regarded as one of Hollywood's leading thespians, it's unlikely that you'll ever see Emma Thompson like this again. So make the most of this often hilarious comedy directed by Mel Smith and written pre-Four Weddings and a Funeral by Richard Curtis particularly the brilliant knockabout love scene with the gangling Jeff Goldblum. They work well together throughout the film, with her deadpan approach and his neuroses perfectly matched. The musical version of The Elephant Man is a master stroke and Rowan Atkinson's knowing send-up of his own image is both funny and generous. The plot wanders a little towards the end, but this is cosy, feel-good, if rather naive, fun.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
"...Goldblum has the agility and the bug-eyed apprehension of a great clown....Goldblum is constantly perking himself into new realms of neuromuscular amazements. It's like watching a one-man slapstick ballet..."
- Los Angeles Times
- Posted 11 Mar 2005
This tall tale concerns Dexter (the excellent Goldblum), an actor unlucky in love, life, hay fever, and job as fall guy... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
"...Always wickedly endearing, thanks to the off-kilter characters played by [Goldblum and Thompson]..."
- New York Times
- Posted 11 Mar 2005
"...Inspired lunacy....THE TALL GUY is art imitating life, only funnier..."
- Rolling Stone
- Posted 11 Mar 2005
Lamentably unfunny comedy, ponderously directed.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006

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- The Tall Guy
  
  Dexter King is a tall, dark actor, and stooge to a famous, funny and vastly unpleasant Ron Anderson. All that stands between Dexter King and success is his hayfever and his tight-fisted boss. Dexter meets up with a sexy nurse who seems to hold the cure for hayfever... but she has a huge sexual ...