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Entertaining

Only-A-Child | 07/11/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Four Rooms" is far more entertaining than you would expect from its generally negative reviews. Which is not to say that any of it is a masterpiece but if you enjoyed "Love American Style" on television and are not put off by a raunchy take on that anthology concept you should make an effort to view this film. It was made between the time Tarantino made "Pulp Fiction" and worked on "Dusk Till Dawn" with Rodriquez. Many in the large cast are Tarantino and Rodriquez regulars. Here are a few of the reasons to watch each of the four stories:

"The Missing Ingredient" - Madona has simply never looked better and her "come get me" dress will burn your eyeballs. Alicia Witt plays her stock alienated teen and delivers sarcasm as only she can.

"The Wrong Man" - Alexander Rockwell directed this segment shortly after directing "In the Soup" so he already knew how to get the most out of Jennifer Beals. Her diatribe about Ted's sex organ is a cinema classic.

"The Misbehavers" - Rodriquez directs his favorite actor Antonio Banderas in something that is a throwback to classic Laurel and Hardy. Not only do his two kids misbehave when left alone in their hotel room, but their misbehavior is so comprehensive that the closing shot reveals a room of total anarchy. It is wonderful slapstick on a huge scale, with comic timing worthy of the Laural and Hardy and the Marx Brothers.

"The Man From Hollywood" - This has the best script with Tarantino reserving the best stuff for his own character. He even reprises the "tasty beverage" line from "Pulp Fiction. Beals has already found her way to this room by the time bellboy Roth arrives and she delivers more good lines. I was impressed that Tarantino built up his suspense "before" the contest began and then did not try to extend the suspense but ended things on the first attempt.

The best bit in the whole film might be Roth's phone call to his boss. Marisa Tomei answers the phone in a room full of comatose post-New Years Eve partygoers. She then does a version of her "My Cousin Vinnie" expert witness routine, this time concerning types of handguns. In the foreground the entire time are the only other conscious (but totally stoned) inhabitants of the room. They are playing against each other in a video game. One just stares in stunned fascination at the screen, holding the controller but not using it, as the other player maniacally manipulates the other controller throughout the entire phone conversation.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
"

Watch it at least once...

ringobob | 11/08/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is a strange movie to talk about... Some people love it, some people hate it, and if you watch it, you'll understand why.When you take each story individually, it can get cumbersome and un-entertaining. But if you focus on Ted the Bellboy (Tim Roth), it becomes quite hilarious. His reactions to the situations he's put it crack me up every time. Not to mention, in the third room Antonio Banderas once again makes me say, I want to be Antonio Banderas.At any rate, this is a movie that you should see at least once, because this movie defies easy recomendation. If you just take the word of people who don't like it, you could miss out on a great movie.As for the DVD itself, it is completely lacking in features and the sound is just a little off, but after the first viewing you hardly notice.It loses a half star because the movie is definately one you have to be in a certain mood for, and one and a half stars because the DVD presentation is sub-par, but still overall a good movie and worth buying the DVD if you really like it."

"Don't Misbehave!"

Film Noir Fedora | 03/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ted is a lonely bellhop. He's got the whole hotel all to himself on New Year's eve. So, what else can he do but be the lap dog for every requesting customer. But, he only has to worry about four particular, and sometimes peculiar, rooms. Each room is a story involving ted, directed by four different directors. Call it a collaboration of different comedic talents. So, let's go through them, one by one.

Story one: The Secret ingriediant
Not really much to go on here. A coven of witches are trying to ressurect some virgin wicth who was wrongly accused of a crime. Not really that funny. It's a bumpy start but it gets better. ted stays the same goofy self all through the movie.

Story Two: the wrong man.
A mistaken identity sex game in which ted accidently found himself in. Constantly he tries to escape the room. Funnier than the last one. Still bumpy, though.

Story Three: The Misbehavers (Directed by Robert Rodriguez)
Funny story of a couple leaving their kids in the room to go celabrating the new years eve at a party. These kids are bad news. They get their hands into any and everything. Poor ted runs rampant to make sure they won't misbehave or else the father will kill him. ted at his best here. hilarity incarnate. Explosively funny.

Story four: The Bet (Directed by Quentin Tarantino.)
An after hours new years eve party with a witty group of filmakers who have had too much to drink. Quentin stars. Bruce willis too. Ted stays the same, quirky and naive as well. Funny and different, but quick on the jokes. There is one take where there is just one uncut shot, lasting well over ten minutes. They must've rehearsed that one for hours.

the overall feel of the movie is unique and full of laughs.

Enjoy!"

Cult Classic at its best!

Bradley Tobin | Penrith, Sydney NSW Australia | 11/27/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I cannot understand how people couldn't like this.... Wait a minute, I can understand. It may not be to everyones taste but I think its one of the funniest movies ever created. The actors are obviously having one hell of a time and it really makes the movie more enjoyable. Bruce Willis has a hillarious unbilled Cameo in the fourth story. (Which is my favourite story) Tim Roth's Jerry Lewis Impersenation is the star of the film. See it for yourself and make up your own mind."