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 two 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 I enjoyed 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 film, which isn’t great 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.

Golden Globe Nominations: Best Actress-Comedy or Musical-Bette Midler