bgc-4 If you want to know what it's about go read the other reviews.I laughed until tears were rolling down my cheeks. As a child of the 1960's and 70's I found this movie to be hilarious. It blows the doors off American romantic comedies. I've not seen one yet that could match "The Tall Guy." I could see bits of "Joanna" here and there and the sendup of Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals is fantastic. Note the flying chair and flying bed scenes. Besides that it contains one of the more athletic, and funny, sex scenes I've seen on film - starring Emma Thompson and Jeff Goldblum.I would rate it well up in the top 50 comedies of all time. Everyone I've recommended The Tall Guy to has thanked me later.

didi-5 'The Tall Guy' teamed several big names from British comedy together - Richard Curtis was writing, Mel Smith directing, Rowan Atkinson and Emma Thompson appearing on the screen. The nominal lead role went to American actor Jeff Goldblum.The flimsy plot concerned a patsy (Goldblum) playing straight man to funny performer Atkinson. There's a musical version of 'The Elephant Man' (which is quite funny and has echoes of 'The Man in the Moon' segment from 'Mame'); and a hilarious sex scene between Goldblum and Thompson around an entire room and over as many props as they could cram together.Not much of a film otherwise though, and Richard Curtis in particular went on to hit to the big-time cinema wise with such undemanding fare as 'Four Weddings', 'Notting Hill', and 'Love Actually'.

Ben Parker Richard Curtis has written some impressive romantic comedies (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Bridget Jones, Love Actually) and had his hand in the writing of some of the top British TV comedy of our time (Mr Bean, Not the 9 O'Clock news, Blackadder). This was one of his first scripts to be turned into a feature film.He wrote this script about his own experience playing straight man to Rowan Atkinson on his early tours. Curtis was frustrated in real life with being under the shadow of Atkinson, but the script obviously makes a caricature out of this by turning Atkinson into a terrible, nasty villain. But, Rowan fans beware, this is not as fun as it sounds. The unkindest touch of all was added by Rowan himself. He makes himself appear completely unfunny. He plays his backstage self without a touch of humour or subversion - one would almost swear that Rowan just really was a nasty bast*rd.But anyone who's seen Rowan's stage shows, or Not the 9 O'Clock News, knows that Rowan can play a bastard with ironic humour, where we know he's only kidding - on stage, Rowan specialised in bastards like the vicars and schoolmasters he's played, and nobodies like Mr Bean. Here, Rowan knew it was important for the story for Rowan to not actually be funny, and the straight man to actually be funny. Plus, we need to root for the straight man (played by Jeff Golblum). Rowan's being a villain is the story's main source of conflict and dramatic tension. Without it, there isn't a story. So Rowan has, ironically, done a brave and humble thing by agreeing to play it completely straight, humourless and cold - and he shows himself a really good dramatic actor (though the experience may be disheartening for Rowan fans).So if you're a Rowan fan, this will not be for you. If you're a Richard Curtis fan, this is a fairly simple and conventional script, but its quite a fun romantic comedy nonetheless. Emma Thomson is suitably cold and severe, and Jeff Golblum makes a good everyman. 6/10.

Vladimir I had never heard of The Tall Guy, and essentially still haven't, until it was shown on television a few years ago at about two o'clock in the morning. I was idly flicking channels and came across a scene with Jeff Goldblum and Rowan Atkinson. Thinking to myself that this was an interesting-looking cast, I stayed with it, and was later also introduced to Emma Thompson, and much to my surprise, extremely small one-line roles for Angus Deayton, Robin Driscoll and Charles Augins.It was fun while it lasted. Rowan Atkinson has some more memorable scenes as a snide, unlikeable character, and Jeff Goldblum is actually quite fascinating in romantic, love-me mode. Considering it was very late at night, I hope I can be forgiven for not regurgitating the plot correctly here, but I seem to remember that Goldblum played a reluctant straight-man to Atkinson in his stage show and decided to step out on his own, which eventually led to him getting the lead role in a musical production of "The Elephant Man". I'm not sure if it was all as corny as that sounds but it was roughly it. It was certainly enough fodder for a few laughs and a few smiles all around. I wouldn't mind viewing this film again while fully awake, but I'm sure it would be just as entertaining. I give this one three stars out of five.