Review of Striptease (1977) by Riina P — 30 Jun 2008

There used to be this geeky British guy in TV which intruded himself among the celebrities and ridiculed them. At least he tried to. Once, when he confronted Demi Moore, he asked her "If it was essential for the plot and done with a good taste, do you think you could keep your clothes on in a movie?" In this movie you can see her with her clothes on and off, and I have to admit that he has a very, very nice set of boobies.

Five star boobies. But I gave the flick three stars. I gave 'em because this movie is actually pretty good, but not perfect. Something is missing, but I can't really pinpoint what it is. The credit of the stars goes pretty much to Carl Hiaasen on whose novel this flick is based on, and to plot of which this movie is relatively loyal.

In case you don't know who Hiaasen is, he's probably the best contemporary writer of humorous crime novels. I don't remember the vaseline scence in from the book, but that does not mean it's not there.

And even if it's not, the makers of this movie have made a successful scene of Burt Reynolds' character as a republican congressman who wanders around covered with vaseline from head to toes when he's supposed to go and deliver a speech to young christians.

Reynodls does a good performance. So does Rick Patric as white trash trailer park hustler. Ving Rhames is kewl as expected. And even Demi is not bad. I don't know how good an idea it is to compare movies to the books they are made of, particularly since it's been a long while gone when I read the very book.

But, like I said, this movie is pretty loyal to Hiaasen's plot. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". It might come out better form the book, in a more solid manner, and I recommend you to read the book, and other stuff by Hiiasen too if you like this flick.

What the book can't deliver is Moore's boobs, so it might be a good idea to watch the movie and read the book. Or vice versa. I don't know. But you catch my drift, I'm sure...