Blame It on the Bellboy Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		2.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		2.0

Blame It on the Bellboy Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 18, 2018

There’s no one way to start a comedy, but perhaps a cruel murder isn’t the best way to commence 1992’s “Blame It on the Bellboy,” which wants to be a rip-roaring farce, only to spend its introductory period detailing loss of life. Of course, this is one of many issues hounding the feature, which intends to pay tribute to the wacky comedies of yesteryear, pitting a collection of characters suffering through life-altering misunderstandings against one another, setting them loose in the tourist paradise of Venice, Italy. Writer/director Mark Herman doesn’t seem to be making a dark endeavor, but there’s unshakable gloominess to “Blame It on the Bellboy,” which works through violence, death, prostitution, and unbearable loneliness when it isn’t trying to be hilarious with hoary jokes and painfully exaggerated performances. Herman’s trying to replicate something specific here, but his timing and tone are way off.

Melvyn Orton (Dudley Moore) has arrived in Venice on orders from his boss to examine a palatial villa for sale, checking into Hotel Gabrielli for some rest and relaxation before he’s off to complete the job. Mike Lorton (Bryan Brown) is a hitman who’s on a special mission to murder his next target, preparing for the work in his room. And Maurice Horton (Richard Griffiths) is taking a break from the demands of his marriage back in England, looking for mischief in a foreign land. Running hotel information, the Bellboy (Bronson Pinchot), who can’t figure out how to pronounce the letter H, mixing up letters and messages for the three men. Maurice is sent to view the villa, meeting with realtor Caroline (Patsy Kensit), who needs the commission badly, willing to entertain all of the mystery man’s demands to complete the sale of a worthless dwelling. Mike thinks he’s been sent to kill Patricia (Penelope Wilton), a crime novel junkie who’s looking for love in the world’s most romantic city. And Melvyn is caught up with Italian gangster Scarpa (Andreas Katsulas), trying to explain he’s not the man the mobster is looking for, struggling to escape from a direct threat on his life.

It’s Scarpa’s murderous wrath that’s showcased in the opening of “Blame It on the Bellboy,” establishing the dangers that await the tourists as they fly into Venice, setting up for extended stays at the Hotel Gabrielli. Herman is quick to move past the hostile introduction, settling into more traditional antics with the Bellboy, who’s quickly overwhelmed by multitasking demands, while his command of English is less than desirable, having difficulty working out the differences between Orton, Horton, and Lawton. The Bellboy mixes up key messages for the men, who are sent out on misadventures they weren’t expecting, launching “Blame It on the Bellboy” on a survey of classic comedy architecture, tracking three subplots that involve confusion, panic, and…testicular torture.

Herman has a strange sense of humor, and while it’s ultimately harmless, “Blame It on the Bellboy” has a weird vision for silly business, with Melvyn kidnapped by Scarfa, subjected to painful violence to inspire a full confession of murderous intent against the mobster. Granted, it’s Dudley Moore in the role, but genital shock treatment is perhaps not the most amusing addition to something that’s intending to be a light diversion for audiences in need of a laugh. There’s also trouble with Caroline, a young real estate agent who dreams of owning a speedboat, hunting for big cash to make her fantasy come true. She’s confronted with Maurice, who thinks he’s on a date with her, unaware that she’s trying to unload a decrepit villa on him. That she reduces herself to prostitution to make the sale is another curious creative direction from Herman, who doesn’t seem aware of tonality during “Blame It on the Bellboy,” going full creep-out as Maurice, a sweaty, obese man, thrusts away on top of Caroline. And this is meant to be amusing.

Matters perk up with Mike and Patricia, with the lonely heart unaware that the man following her around Venice is actually trying to kill her, accidentally shooting a bunch of birds instead (don’t ask). Brown and Wilton are fine performers, putting in some effort to sell the jagged corners of characterization Herman provides, though some brightness is found with Patricia’s crime novel obsession, putting her in command of Mike’s vocation when they sort out the mix-up, developing a partnership that permits her to live out the assassination lifestyle she’s always wanted to experience. Out of everything that surfaces during “Blame It on the Bellboy,” the saga of Mike and Patricia has the highest appeal, doing relatively well with mishaps and bewilderment, while a connection is made between the strangers, giving them an unexpected shot at love.

Blame It on the Bellboy Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Perhaps to the surprise of no one, "Blame It on the Bellboy" has not been gifted a fresh scan for its Blu-ray debut, with the AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation looking very old and unremarkable. Detail is difficult to come by, with a decidedly softer appearance pulling out most facial particulars and location textures, giving the Venice tour more of a hazy, bloomy view than an appropriately vivid one. Colors are dreary, lacking vibrancy and definition at times, finding skintones bloodless and costuming diluted. Natural hues are equally flat. Delineation is never crisply communicative. Grain is soupy. Source has some bursts of speckling and debris, but major damage isn't detected.

Blame It on the Bellboy Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix isn't anything special, requiring a bump in volume to bring it to life. The film leads with dialogue exchanges, and while intelligible, sharpness doesn't support the performances, which come off a tad dialed down in definition while working through slapstick situations and threats. Scoring sounds somewhat fuller, with the synth-driven music supporting screen antics satisfactorily. Surrounds are quiet, as this is a more frontal listening experience. Atmospherics are unremarkable, while sound effects are basic.

Blame It on the Bellboy Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (1:30, SD) is included.

Blame It on the Bellboy Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It's easy to see what Herman wants from "Blame It on the Bellboy" (which actually contains very little Bellboy). He's pursuing an old-fashioned farce, complete with snappy timing and problematic characters getting into trouble they never planned on. It's all misunderstandings and humiliations. While this recipe has worked for others, it doesn't for Herman, who struggles with basic ideas for funny business and individual behaviors, trying to make a suitable big screen mess and enjoy the broadness of it all. With Pinchot bumbling around doing a variation on his Serge character from "Beverly Hills Cop," while the rest of the cast mugs and wiggles for the camera, it's difficult to get into the spirit of the endeavor. Strangely, even Herman wants this movie to be over with as quickly as possible, with a 79 minute run time doing an iffy job working through three intertwining plot lines, complete with set-ups and payoffs. It's hard to knock Herman for keeping "Blame It on the Bellboy" as short as contractually possible, and even through it's brief, there are stretches when it feels endless, wading through unoriginal jokes and dealing with unappealing personalities. I'm happy for Herman, who received a free vacation to Venice with this film, but I'd rather see a display of his holiday photos than what tries to pass here for a good time.