Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		2.5

Cadillac Man Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 31, 2017

The cruel reality is that while Robin Williams was a brilliant performer, arguably one of the funniest men around, his taste in film scripts left much to be desired. We all have fond memories of “Aladdin,” “Good Will Hunting,” and “Good Morning, Vietnam,” but 1990’s “Cadillac Man” is an excellent reminder that Williams couldn’t always spin gold from lackluster writing, starring in what seems to be some type of madcap hostage comedy, but mostly emerges as an unfunny, unfocused mess, and one that’s depending on the lead actor to do some heavy lifting in the joke department. Perhaps director Roger Donaldson was looking for a change of pace after achieving more sobering box office hits with “No Way Out” and “Cocktail,” but he’s not the guy for levity, keeping “Cadillac Man” frustratingly muted when it comes to punchlines and inspired insanity, gifting the feature a sense of darkness that’s all wrong for the manic mischief it’s hoping to communicate.

Joey (Robin Williams) is trying to keep his head above water, but the troubles in his life are multiplying. He’s a car salesman facing the loss of his job if he doesn’t perform during his dealership’s big sale day, also in a troubling relationship with his boss, Jack (Paul Gulifoyle), who’s using Joey’s apartment to carry on an affair with receptionist Donna (Annabella Sciorra). Joey’s currently juggling relationship woes with his ex-wife, Tina (Pamela Reed), who’s concerned about the welfare of their teen daughter; Joy (Fran Drescher), a married woman who loves Joey, but can’t leave her husband; and Lila (Lori Petty), an aspiring fashion designer who can’t catch a break. The salesman also owes the mob $20,000, adding to this particularly heavy day. Ready to prove himself on the job, Joey sets out to move cars on a special Sunday, only to be confronted with the wrath of Larry (Tim Robbins), Donna’s dim-wit husband, who tears into the building armed with a gun and explosives, threatening to kill the mystery man who’s been sleeping with his wife.

If there’s an actor born to play a car salesman, it’s Robin Williams. His unique gifts with improvisation and general personal intensity are a perfect match for Joey’s day job, and the actor tries to meet the needs of the character, keeping a professional look with a sleazeball mustache, also muting his natural charisma to capture the predator stance. The opening of the film details the depths of Joey’s professional drive, pulling over to assist a stalled funeral procession after the hearse breaks down, soon offering anyone he makes eye contact with a business card for the possible sale, hustling while helping with a coffin transfer. It’s a promising sequence, showcasing Joey’s shamelessness and Williams’s comfort in the role, also introducing a darkly comic tone to “Cadillac Man” that keeps it just out of the range of wackiness, with Donaldson stopping just short of broadness when detailing Joey’s struggle to make ends meet before he loses his job.

“Cadillac Man” doesn’t sustain the mood of the inspired opening, soon managing the bigness of the premise, which pits a car salesman against a violent moron, and the needs of the heart, explored in Joey’s relationship with Tina, a woman he still loves but can’t stand, with the pair sharing panic over their teenager’s attitude and current status as missing, presumably off with her boyfriend. Joey also has feelings for Joy, who wants to run away with her lover, but can’t separate herself from her own spouse. Lila is more of a plaything, but, again, Joey is a big softie, trying to comfort the younger women as she struggles with professional roadblocks. It’s a tad odd to see “Cadillac Man” try to normalize a character who openly cheats on all his women, participates in an industry that’s primarily about swindling the customer, and has an intimate relationship with organized crime, and screenwriter Ken Friedman isn’t prepared to dissect such toxicity, playing off Joey’s insensitive behavior as simple kindness run amok, unable to say no to anyone and anything.

It takes a whopping 40 minutes before Larry smashes into the dealership with an automatic weapon, and what should be the makings of a farce soon turns deadly serious when he accidently shoots Donna, with a bullet grazing her scalp. “Cadillac Man” quickly becomes a basic hostage comedy, with police circling the dealership, demanding the release of hostages, while Joey and Larry become a team of sorts, with the salesman acting as a coach for the armed idiot, trying to simplify the heated confrontation by pretending to be Donna’s only lover. “Cadillac Man” tries on hysteria with screaming supporting characters and the general chaos of Larry’s scattergun authority, and there’s even a yippy dog too (Drescher’s own pet), but there’s no sense of humor to keep things interesting. It’s all just noise, and unfunny noise at that, with Williams visibly struggling to bring something to select moments, while Robbins is no help, laboring to define Larry as a blue collar misfit instead of the clearly deranged character showcased in the movie.

Cadillac Man Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.84:1 aspect ratio) presentation is a fairly flat look at the limited scope of "Cadillac Man," employing an older master to bring the picture to Blu-ray. Softness is common, but detail emerges with sweaty close-ups, getting an adequate look at the age of the actors and their individual expressions of panic. Dealership interiors retain decoration and distances. Colors are slightly muted, missing period snap, especially with costuming efforts, which offer merely passable hues. Skintones are too pink at times. Delineation isn't challenged in full with the daylight movie, but remain satisfactory. Source is in fine condition, without any pronounced points of damage.

Cadillac Man Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix offers a basic listening experience, putting emphasis on dialogue exchanges, which range from carefully worded salesmanship to all-out chaos when the hostage situation takes over. Nothing is lost in the commotion, with defined performances supporting comedic efforts. Scoring isn't remarkable, but it handles acceptably, delivering mild instrumentation and amplification for suspense sequences. Sound effects are sharp, giving shattering glass and gunfire some life. Atmospherics are clear, surveying the mounting police presence and bustle inside the dealership.

Cadillac Man Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Roger Donaldson.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:44, HD) is included.

Cadillac Man Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There are a few oddities in "Cadillac Man" that pull attention away from the story. The most befuddling choice from Donaldson is to include Joey's inner monologue as a way to understand his thought process without the need for spoken exposition. However, there are a few moments where Williams breaks the fourth wall in-character, as though Joey is being followed by a documentary crew. Perhaps this was a bad idea abandoned early on, but it remains in the film, adding to the confusing tone of the picture, which always plays like it wants to be a lot zanier than it actually is. Some fumbled storytelling ideas don't exclusively tank "Cadillac Man," but they add a disorientation to the viewing experience that's already crippled by poor direction and feeble screenwriting. It's certainly not the worst movie Robin Williams has made, but it remains a deflating reminder that he was always better than a projects he often picked for himself.