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USA 1978 84m Directed by: Joan Rivers. Starring: Billy Crystal, Joan Prather, Alex Rocco, Doris Roberts, Margaret Adachi, Adam Anderson, John Andersonjo, Edward Ansara, Gino Ardito, Lawrence Bame, Sarverio Barbiere, Marlene Barr, Billy Barty. Music by: Pete Carpenter, Mike Post.
Twenty-four year old Angeleno Lionel Carpenter teaches a citizenship class at night school, most of his immigrant students who have no idea of what he is teaching in the language barrier. He has also had no luck with women largely due to the sheltered life he's led under the wings of his overbearing mother. His lack of encounters with women in the sexual sense is unlike his brash cousin, Sgt. Danny Bonhoff, who will do anything and take whatever opportunity to be up close and personal with the opposite sex. With Danny's help, Lionel is able to lose his virginity, although it isn't a totally satisfying experience. Regardless, Lionel learns that the reason for his nausea and vomiting following that encounter is because he got pregnant from it, he being the first male in recorded history to be so. By this time, he and one of his students, Russian gypsy Segoynia Savaka, have fallen in love and want to get married. They have to decide what to do about the baby. But the infamy and notoriety of Lionel's situation may not only dictate what happens about the baby, but whether Lionel and Segoynia's relationship can withstand the pressures.
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Last summer I went to a local dirt-mall to browse through used VHS tapes. I came across this and went "Oh wow! Billy Crystal in a Joan Rivers movie! And Billy's pregnant!". So I got it. Now, I have never seen any movie written by Joan Rivers, but I knew she was funny. Oh boy......what a queen of comedy she is.......
I love slapstick and stupid humor; I love "The Jerk" with Steve Martin, so you can't accuse me of being high-brow. This movie is non-stop stupidity ranging from "what in the Hell?" to "Oh, Joan (shake head)". Now, it's been a while since I've watched it (and I've tried my best to erase this movie from my mind) but the scene that sticks out to me was Billy Barty in blackface. That was the reaching point for me. I was anticipating Billy Barty's cameo....and then that happens. So Joan Rivers' idea of comedy is a pregnant man and a racist midget. This movie made me question why Rivers got as famous as she did - because she truly lacks any comedic talent.
So, for the love of all that is holy, stay away from this movie. Billy Crystal didn't even save it; the whole time I felt sorry for him. And for his first staring role in a film, too! I should also mention that this is also Michael Keaton's first screen role - though his character doesn't talk and is only in it for a blink of an eye. Though fairly short for the average movie, this certainly felt more than two hours - all of which I sat through, hoping that it would get better. On top of that the quality of the video is extremely poor and it doesn't sound like they used any boom mics - which makes it harder to hear in places. Fortunately, you don't NEED to hear it - because you shouldn't be watching this in the first place.
Review by Frank Albrecht from the Internet Movie Database.