[Last Film I Saw] Trapped in Paradise (1994) [6/10]

Title: Trapped in Paradise
Year: 1994
Country: USA
Language: English
Genre: Comedy, Adventure
Director: George Gallo
Writer: George Gallo
Music: Robert Folk
Cinematography: Jack N. Green
Cast:
Nicolas Cage
John Lovitz
Dana Carvey
Mädchen Amick
Florence Stanley
Richard Jenkins
Donald Moffat
Angela Paton
Vic Manni
Frank Pesce
John Ashton
Gerard Parkes
Sean O’Bryan
Andrew Miller
Rating: 6/10

What’s the odds to watch a relatively unknown Christmas comedy from a director I have never heard of as there are tons of much more appealing options there, yet fate guides me to watch this one, 20 years ago, Nicholas Cage, John Lovitz and Dana Carvey star as three brothers in TRAPPED IN PARADISE, here, Paradise refers to a small town where (almost) everyone is extremely nice and bonhomie and hospitality abound.

But Firpo brothers are no law-abiding citizens, Dave (Lovitz) is an inveterate liar and Alvin (Carvey) is a half-wit kleptomaniac, they merely are put on probation for Christmas since the jailhouse is fully-packed, Dave tricks Bill (Cage), their youngest brother to escape with them to Paradise under the pretence of looking for a fellow prisoner’s daughter Sarah (Amick). When they arrive the town, impossible to resist the temptation, they take advantage of the lousy security measures in the bank, and rob the dead presidents on Christmas Eve.

But due to all sorts of accidental mishaps, they end up to stay at the bank manager’s home for dinner, affected by a string of generous treatments from the townsfolk, they decide to return the loot, however, Sarah’s father is also looking after the money, and holds three brothers’ mom as the hostage (a wonderful Florence Stanley with a vicious tongue), meanwhile, Agent Shaddus Peyser (Jenkins) and two police deputies are tailing them as well, but no harm will ensure because it is a perfect whole-family fare for the holiday spirit.

Performance wise, Dana Carvey is surprisingly acceptable as a simpleton with a golden heart, many improvised squabbles between Cage and Lovitz are generically funny, although nothing new can be extracted from this touchy-feely concept of a prodigal who returns is more precious than gold, and the laughters are cheap, one merely cannot be cross with its benign and often naive scenario and it is an enjoyable 111 minutes with no harm done, plus if you are hooked by the cast, you might check it out.

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