Mike LeMar
What's not to like about this one? It's hilarious! I know he's not the best actor, but this is one of Nicolas Cage's best movies (certainly as far as COMEDY goes, at least). It causes me genuine laughter all the way through. It doesn't contain any corny or dull jokes--quality humor. This is a favorite in my book.
david-sarkies
Well, I thought that the reviewers trashed this movie more than it really deserves. It wasn't the best of movies, but I did find that parts of it were funny. This movie is about two brothers who trick the third to go to a small town and rob a bank that is really easy to rob. Unfortunately they cannot get out of the town and end up giving all of the money back because they see the hearts behind the people.As I said, the movie isn't that great, but I do think that some people really watch too many movies and be a bit too critical about them. If one just relaxes, one can see the stupidity of this film. The whole comic concept is not watching police cars get smashed up, but rather watching a criminal walk across the road with the bank manager's wife, and then bring the entire café back because they can't leave them sitting there. It is just the unbelievable niceness and trust of the town. Unfortunately, later in the film it does start to lag in regards to the laughs, but I still think Dana Carvey's character is pretty cool - and more realistic as a kleptomaniac - so much as there is no order in what he steals, he simply steals because he can. The one character that did irritate me was Lovitt's.
rshaw4969
I think many would like this movie for at least three reasons.1. It's HILARIOUS! With Cage, Lovitz and Carvey - how could it not be?2.It's not just "a movie set at Christmas," it really is a Christmas movie! *3. It evokes another of my favorite films, Groundhog Day, for several reasons... starting with the Pennsylvania small-town setting and the winter shots, up to and including the recurring denouement... see if you don't agree.* My test as to whether it's really "a Christmas movie"": would the story work as well if set at any other time of year? In the case of this movie, the answer is no. For comparison, think about It's a Wonderful Life... in that movie, Clarence the angel could have appeared to George Bailey in middle of a July heat wave... all of the plot events could have been moved into the summer, for that matter... but, had that been done, would it be the same film? I think you'd agree that it wouldn't... and so it is with Trapped in Paradise. The story line needs a Christmas setting, and it is Christmas which, in return, gives this film charm above and beyond its broadly-delivered humor.
ccthemovieman-1
I liked the cast with three very diverse lead characters played by macho Nicholas Cage, fatso Jon Lovitz and wimpy Dana Carvey. Two of the three actors did good jobs playing their guys, too. Unfortunately, the big star - Cage ("Bill Firpo") - gave a bad and abrasively loud performance. If you would have asked me in advance to pick one of the three who might bomb, I wouldn't have selected him.Lovitz, as "Dave Firpo," had the best lines in the film. As "Alvin Firpo," Carvey's kleptomania problems were funny at first but grew tiresome fairly fast. Sadly, the story wasn't that good, either, although it should have been. This premise about crooks being unable to get out of town due to various weird situations, in here it's mainly a snowstorm.If you want a better movie about being trapped somewhere and trying to escape with the loot, watch Bill Murray, Geena Davis and Randy Quaid in "Quick Change." That's a heckuva lot funnier film.
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