Funny Money Reviews

Leslie Greif creates Funny Money as an homage to ridiculous '60s comedies by directors like Blake Edwards, complete with an animated opening-credits sequence. And while the jokes at times seem just as old and the staging a bit stiff, it achieves a modicum of success through its persistent silliness and harmless good will. After a needlessly drawn-out setup, the action starts to pick up steam once Henry brings the suitcase home and the pile-up of comic complications begins. The interior of the apartment is clearly a soundstage and the action shot from a flat, theatrical point-of-view. This may have been a deliberate attempt to mimic studio comedies, but a more filmic approach and less clunky editing would speed the story along at a livelier pace. Chevy Chase is similarly stilted as Henry, which suits his character, but that doesn't mean he couldn't have worked more humor into his characterization. Penelope Ann Miller and Alex Meneses compensate with energetic what-the-hell performances, precisely what's needed for such a production. The most quietly effective role belongs to Kevin Sussman, who imbues his nervous Nelly homicide detective with just the right mix of fumbling foolery and professional proficiency, like Inspector Clouseau's slightly more competent little brother.