SummaryTwo wiley con-men living in the south of France join forces to bilk rich American women of their fortunes. WHen one decides to strike out on his own, a bet is made over who can take a rich American heiress for $50,000 first. After much outrageous tomfoolery, the boys learn the heiress has no money and all three join forces. [MGM]
Directed By:Frank Oz
Written By:Dale Launer, Stanley Shapiro, Paul Henning
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Metascore
Generally Favorable
68
User score
Generally Favorable
7.6
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
71% Positive
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
29% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
90
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a wonderfully crafted, absolutely charming remake of the 1964 film "Bedtime Story." In this classy version, Steve Martin and Michael Caine play the competing French Riviera conmen trying to outscheme each other in consistently amusing and surprising setups. Martin takes the crass American role played by Marlon Brando, and Caine plays homage to David Niven by sporting a thin mustache, slicked-back hair and double-breasted blue blazer in a sort of 1930s British yachtsman look.
80
Director Frank Oz has brought a devilish tang to the machinations here, and the actors bring a sense of a spoiled grandeur to their characters' mingy souls.
User score
Generally Favorable
75% Positive
39 Ratings
39 Ratings
23% Mixed
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
2% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Jan 27, 2023
10
What a stellar movie!!! Steve Martin and Michael Cain have so much chemistry and the female lead is amazingly talented. This movie is definitely old school but it's wholesome, charming, and super well crafted and edited.
Dec 8, 2018
10
I just like this comedy very much. Time passes and I have changed my opinion on many movies but this one remains for me 10/10 for decades. It is light and witty at the same time. And funny, of course:)
75
Most of this is bald, and very funny; some of it is witty, and even funnier. [14 Dec 1988, p.C9]
70
Set on the French Riviera, the movie has the kind of plot that cries out for the stylish treatment that a Billy Wilder could bring to it; without it, the various twists seem needlessly spun out and implausible, although Martin is allowed to show off his brand of very physical comedy to some advantage, and Miles Goodman contributes a pleasant score.
63
Directed by Muppet manipulator-actor-director Oz, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is an amusing comedy whose strengths and weaknesses both stem from the broad treatment of the material. In going for easy, lowest-common-denominator laughs, Oz loses much of the subtlety and occasionally dark humor of the orginal.
50
Scoundrels isn't rock-bottom. That a more sturdy vehicle couldn't be found for such stellar leads, though, is a dirty rotten shame. [14 Dec 1988, p. 4D]
50
A character comedy requires some notion of respect and integrity. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels has none. [14 Dec 1988, p.1]
Jun 8, 2014
10
This movie is very funny and keeps the audiences attention throughout. You'll find yourself laughing throughout and really care for the characters as well. The movie is really 8-9/10 but after watching The Grand Budapest Hotel which got raving reviews, I must give this a 10/10. The two films do not compare, with Dirty Rotten Scoundrels being infinitely better!
Dec 14, 2024
8
This is a horrendously underrated Frank Oz movie that is just brilliant and funny. The premise is two con men take women for their money by pretending to like them. The humor arrives with the great lengths they go to maintain their persona and act. The ending is a nice twist too and feels deserved. There's a lot to like in this movie and rarely feels boring or flat. This is vintage 80s comedy!
Mar 24, 2023
6
The entire dynamic between Michael Caine and Steve Martin elevates this modest Frank Oz film and takes it completely out of the arena of the mundane and ordinary.
The plot itself doesn't have a lot of creativity, but with such great actors you couldn't possibly do wrong. It's a harmless movie, but fun nonetheless.
May 10, 2019
6
Like so many Steve Martin movies, this movie is memorable for missing the opportunity. It has a great cast and you're cheering for them, but it never amounts to anything and you wonder how it isn't funnier. I love Steve Martin. But has he ever made a good movie? The Jerk had a lot of good scenes, but it wasn't a good movie. Three Amigos was a great idea but not funny. Father of the Bride franchise? Puh-lease. LA Story? Lots of good scenes but not a good movie. Martin's best is Roxanne and everything else isn't even close.
Aug 19, 2010
6
Man makes money conning rich women in French Riviera, man shows up trying similar scam, takes him under his wing, hit on same women, fracas!
Average comedy which works through the good chemistry between Steve Martin & Michael Caine.
Not too many big laughs (Steve Martin's **** bits are the standout) but it's entertaining & lots of good supporting actors.
