Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		2.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		2.5

Once Upon a Crime... Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 11, 2018

We all know Eugene Levy as an ace comedian with a lengthy history of dynamite performances, even securing legend status with his work on “SCTV.” However, in the 1990s, Levy was looking to build a directorial career for himself, stepping behind the camera to try his hand at crafting funny business using his distinctive sense of humor. 1992’s “Once Upon a Crime” is Levy’s big feature-length helming debut, and to secure some interest in the creative endeavor, he’s collected quite a cast to help bring the screenplay (co-written by Charles Shyer and Nancy Meyers) to life. Trouble is, “Once Upon a Crime” fails to follow through on its initial promise, with Levy so concerned about achieving the speed of a proper farce, he misses nailing as many jokes as possible. The picture isn’t very funny, which feels like a crime itself, wasting considerable talents on fruitless mischief often performed at top volume. One can easily sense Levy’s intent with the project, but the results are disheartening to watch.

Phoebe (Sean Young) is heartbroken and penniless, stuck in France as she figures out her next move. She finds a lost dachshund that belongs to Madame Van Dougen, who’s willing to pay a substantial reward for the return of the dog, but Phoebe’s plans are thwarted by failed actor Julian (Richard Lewis), who wants half of the money. The pair makes their way to Monte Carlo to meet with Van Dougen, only to find compulsive gambler Augie (John Candy) willing to pay even more for the pooch, trying to appease his fed-up wife, Elena (Ornella Muti). When the dog gets away from the gang, Phoebe and Julian track the animal to Van Dougen’s estate, only to find the old lady has been murdered. Confusion ensues, but also panic for Neil (James Belushi), who’s come to Monte Carlo to win millions at roulette, ignoring his spouse, Marilyn (Cybil Shepherd), who finds unimaginable luck during her time strolling around the casino floor. Hoping for a miracle to pull him out of debt, Neil receives a suitcase with Van Dougen’s body stuffed inside. With the strangers struggling to remain out of sight, Inspector Bonnard (Giancarlo Giannini) arrives on the scene, using his sharp detective instincts to find out who murdered Van Dougen, quickly realizing he’s questioning a group of people who can’t stop lying about their whereabouts.

“Once Upon a Crime” is a remake of “Crimen,” a 1960 Italian comedy directed by Mario Camerini. Levy has a solid foundation for madness here, and early scenes tend to work the best when arranging characters and their personal business, accomplishing meet and greets efficiently before these panicked individuals collide in Monte Carlo. The raw energy of the movie clicks for the most part in the opening act, watching Phoebe hatch a plan to scoop up the dachshund and collect a fortune, helping her to escape monetary woes. The wrinkle in the scheme is Julian, a bad actor trying to comfort himself in France, with the pair teaming up to bring the dog to his rightful owner. On the train, Neil joins the story, possessing a can’t- miss plan to conquer roulette while Marilyn dreams of a romantic getaway, bringing along a high fashion dress for the occasion. And there’s Augie, a habitual liar and degenerate gambler posing as a gentleman, with plans to spend a fortune at the casinos, avoiding confrontations with Elena. Levy nails motivations and personality quirks, and his initial forays into finger-snap dialogue are appealing, with Belushi clearly loving his role as a blowhard idiot, while Candy is permitted to work Augie’s deceptive shenanigans in full.

Once the action hits Monte Carlo, “Once Upon a Crime” takes a dive at the very moment it should soar. Casino lunacy is passable, watching Neil ride the roller coaster of winning and losing, becoming increasingly deranged as he watches his money disappear. Augie’s excitement also bulges, going from table to table to place bets, feeling the glory of victory before it all goes south. And there’s Marilyn, who hits the floor in a killer dress, only to find herself blessed with luck, joining admirer Hercules (Joss Ackland) for a particularly lucrative run at a roulette table. As amusing as these highs and lows are, there’s a murder to tend to, and the dead body at the center of “Once Upon a Crime” actually gets in the way of the fun. The saga of Van Dougen and her traveling remains is meant to be the A-story of the screenplay, but it doesn’t offer much movement for the cast, who are often stuck trying to react themselves into a coma as Bonnard begins his investigation. There’s plenty of slapstick and broad antics, but the mystery of the feature doesn’t demand as much attention as the casino eruptions, with the ensemble doing better with desperation than panic.

Once Upon a Crime... Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers a decidedly older scan of "Once Upon a Crime." It's a soft viewing experience, with fine detail difficult to find, leaving only the most direct of close-ups delivering any sort of natural facial surfaces. Most texture is lacking, rendering costuming uneventful and locations flat. Casino interiors offer little depth and clarity of decoration. Colors are also lacking in life, with primaries failing to add oomph to the image, while skintones slip into an unnatural ruddiness on occasion. Greenery is adequate, best served in broad daylight. Delineation is hampered by crush, and some evening adventures aren't defined in full. Source is in decent shape, without major elements of damage.

Once Upon a Crime... Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix offers a fuller sound for scoring cues, which emerge with power and compelling instrumentation. However, there's also elevated volume, which competes with performances during a handful of scenes, making some dialogue tricky to hear. This is likely an inherent issue, as the picture works to sell the bustling vibe of casino floors and madcap antics. Performances remain acceptable, grasping broad behaviors and screamed one-liners. Group entanglements are also passably managed. Atmospherics are louder, finding street travel lively with activity.

Once Upon a Crime... Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:20, HD) is included.

Once Upon a Crime... Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Once Upon a Crime" is competently assembled with fine tech credits, but laughs, substantial ones, are few and far between. Levy is capable of triggering hysterics on his own (and continues to do so with a cameo as a casino cashier), which makes his inability to stir up proper funny business one of the many frustrating aspects about the movie. The actors are mostly game to go wherever their leader demands, but the destinations are often insignificant, with the effort's farcical intent watered down by a plot that's not as robust as initially imagined. "Once Upon a Crime" fizzles out long before it's over, trying to coast on nervous energy, but what the film really needs is focus, recognizing that it's not the murder mystery that fuels entertainment value, but the chance to watch a unique assortment of thespians bounce off one another for 90 minutes in a gorgeous corner of the world. Levy gave up his directorial ambitions soon after the release of the feature, and it's a loss, with his expert timing and sense of the absurd coming through clearly in a few scenes, merely in need of practice to bring it out in full.