Outrageous Fortune-1987

Director Arthur Hiller

Starring Bette Midler, Shelley Long

Scott’s Review #85

Reviewed July 2, 2014

Grade: D

Outrageous Fortune (1987) is one of many silly, plot-driven comedies from the late 1980s.

It stars huge comedic actresses of the time (Bette Midler and Shelley Long) as opposites, Midler-brash, Long-refined, who are acting students and in love with the same man (Peter Coyote).

Of course, they meet, hate each other, and then become friends. This sets off a series of misunderstandings and standard comedy fare.

It’s a female buddy movie. I must say that I did enjoy the chemistry between Long and Midler, as it is evident on screen.

Besides the chemistry, the only other positive is the New York City location scenes and the acting/theater workshop setting.

Whose idea was it for Midler to use a horrible, phony New York accent??

It was distracting throughout the entire film, which is not very good to begin with. Otherwise, this is a dud, completely plot-driven and predictable.

It has a pure 1980s comedy feel to it (by that I mean overdone hairstyles, bad music, and a silly plot).

Shelley Long is the highlight of this film as she is great at comedic timing, but, unfortunately, her film-starring career was short-lived.