Search - Small Apartments on DVD

Christie H. (cowgirl18) from WEST BLOCTON, AL
Reviewed on 7/7/2014...

Franklin Franklin (sic), is a hairless, eccentric social misfit obsessed with Switzerland, walking around in nothing but Briefs and mismatching socks even outdoors (but wears a parka jacket when going farther) with a wig alternating between five of, and lives on a diet consisting of justMoxie soda and pickles with mustard, living alone in an almost bare apartment, keeping his many empty soda bottles in a rundown building complex in Southern Californiapopulated with other eccentrics, including cynical stoner Tommy Balls, neurotic geriatric recluse Mr. Allspice annoyed by Franklin'salphorn but paints scenes of macabre, and the aspiring dancer Simone living with her friend, (although it is implied that they might be prostitutes) across the courtyard who Franklin spies on with binoculars, and not clear how he financially supports himself as he appears to be unemployed.

In a flashback, Franklin's landlord Mr. Olivetti accidentally died slipping on spilled mustard caused by sneezing fits when receivingfellatio from Franklin over frequent unpaid rent. In an effort to get rid of the Olivetti's body, Franklin takes it to Olivetti's house and tries to stage it as a suicide, implementing an unlikely over array of suicide methods. Attempting to dump Olivetti's pickup truck that also has a gun in the far town outskirts causes Franklin to be robbed and assaulted by two very dimwitted muggers, of his brother's watch and Olivetti's truck.

The next day, Franklin wondering why he hasn't gotten his weekly audiotape from his brother Bernard who's institutionalized, has died of an inoperable brain tumor, unknown to Franklin, who Franklin almost idolizes as Bernard was handsome, charismatic andpopular and included Franklin in his social life. Among Bernard's effects is an envelope holding a key; the key is to a locker containing a recorded message revealing that Bernard stole from his employer and has left Franklin a savings in a Swiss bank account and apassport in a new identity. Meanwhile, Burt Walnut, a fire investigator and other detectives examine Olivetti's body, and quickly conclude that it's staged due to Franklin's amateurishness, and put a lookout for his pickup truck. Walnut, visiting the apartment complex, meets Balls and Allspice and becomes suspicious of Franklin. It is revealed that Walnut is estranged from his wife, who was having an affair with his cousin and Allspice's wife died round the time Olietti's did and Allspice's been there for 13 years.

Working at his convenience store, Balls shatters Simone's dancing dreams by his brutal honesty; upset, she refuges in the restroom and Balls is then held up by Franklin's muggers, shooting Balls in thetorso when startled by Simone before fleeing. Franklin returns to his apartment, but seeing the police, keeps on driving. Walnut discovers that Allspice has committed suicide, (likely upset over the death of Olivetti as Allspice revealed that they were close friends) and when answering a phone by Franklin calling, is asked to adopt Franklin's dog (also named Bernard), Walnut informs of Franklin's muggers arrest, caught driving Olivetti's pickup truck and has labeled them as Olivetti's murderers, remarking of Olivetti that "some might say that he had it coming to him".

Although innocent of implications, Franklin takes his Swissair flight (completely dressed in formal attire), sitting next to Dr. Sage Mennox, a self-help author who was obsessed over by Bernard telling him that he wasn't insane but had a brain tumor, that his diagnosis was incorrect, and at the end, has made friends with many attractive Swiss women in traditional Swiss dress.

Cast

Matt Lucas as Franklin
Franklin as Mr. Allspice,
Franklin's neighbor in 244 as Tommy Balls,
the neighbor on the other side, who works at Tag's Liquor
Billy Crystal as Burt Walnut, the fire investigator looking into Mr. Olivetti's deathJuno Temple as Simone, who lives across the way from FranklinJames Marsden as Bernard Franklin, Franklin's brother who lives in a mental hospitalPeter Stormare as Mr. Olivetti, the landlordDavid Koechner as Detective O'GradyDJ Qualls as Artie, night clerk at Tag's LiquorRosie Perez as Ms. Baker, nurse at the hospitalAmanda Plummer as Mrs. Ballisteri, Tommy Balls' MotherDolph Lundgren as Dr. Sage MennoxSaffron Burrows as FrancineRebel Wilson as Rocky, Tommy Balls' girlfriendNed Bellamy as Daniel, the EMTAngela Lindvall as Lisa, the flight attendantDavid Warshofsky as Detective McGee as Dog walker (driving instructor samaritan)