FATAL INSTINCT - "One Extra-Large Joke" (1993)

This week's Saturday Night Special is a film from 1993 that is a spoof of 80's Film Noir, and a series of one liners, sight gags, jokes, and gigles, and the most special thing about it, is that it works!

 

I find most films like this tedious to watch, but I think it's safe to assume that this film is different because it was directed by supreme funny guy, Carl Reiner, the guy who wrote "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid," and "The Man With Two Brains."

The star of this show is the amazing Armand (Judge Dredd) Assante as Detective/Attorney Ned Ravine.

Ned and his partner, John (Bird) Witherspoon as Arch, are on a stakeout for a robber who wears a stocking over his head.

 

There's a hot pursuit on the Bumper Car ride!

 

This smokin' hot dame named Lola, who always has something stuck to the bottom of her shoe, shows up. The background music is cool, and the cat playing it, is the late Clarence Clemons, who is also in the background.
 

Ned Ravine's wife is having a torrid affair with a younger man. In this scene, after they have sex, they smoke cigarettes without lighting them. Kate (Terror Stalks The Class Reunion) Nelligan is Ned's unfaithful wife Lana, and Christopher (Happy Gilmore) McDonald is her lover Frank.

 

One of my favorite scenes is when Ned has trouble trying to pick out something to wear. Usually his secretary has to help him decide.

In his squad car, Ned has a ceiling fan.

This card from "The Hot Club" was so hot, it was smouldering!

Lola was played by Sean (Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde) Young.

A real mean and vile character named Max Shady who Ned defended in court but lost, is getting out and wants revenge on Ned for losing the case.

Armand Assante might be the star, but in my opinion, Sherilyn Fenn as his secretary Laura Lincolnberry, steals the show.

Sherilyn Fenn is one of those exceptional talents who besides being beautiful, is also incredibly funny, and this film seems made for her. Here she shows Ned the threatening faxes Max Shady is sending him. 

When Laura pulls out a gun, Ned asks her, "Where did you get that from?" and her answer is "My purse." That's the kind of silly stuff you can expect from this movie.

Ned and Laura go out for a drink, and as she dreams about what he thinks about her, he's thinking how stupid she looks with this 'Beer Bimbo" hat on.

Many of the sight gags are subtle, but most of them are in your face!

Besides all that good stuff, there is a plethora of guest stars like Rosie O'Donnell.

When Ned has to defend his wife, there are broadcast announcers in the court, and Bob Uecker calls the play by play action!

 Judge Harlan Skanky is played by the always enjoyable Tony (The Odd Couple) Randall.

When the background music switches from saxophone to trumpet, Ned opens a closet door to find Doc Severinsen sitting in for Clarence Clemons, stating that Clarence had another gig to attend.
 

Even Carl Reiner himself makes a cameo appearance in a urinal scene.

I'd say we could all use a good laugh these days, I found this one on Amazon.