Movie Version Of The Musical "Lucky Stiff" Opens Friday, July 24th

Nikki M. James, Dominic Marsh, and Dennis Farina in "Lucky Stiff"

"Lucky Stiff" debuted last Fall at a Montreal film festival.

I just learned of its imminent theater release when Google News carried a review.

I thought this musical was brilliant and thoroughly enjoyed YPPC's production.

I will go to the grave with grinning memories of my son Danny playing a dead man. 

In the early going, IMDb's cumulative rating is 6.8. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2404593/

Movie Review: 

‘Lucky Stiff’ Musical is Retro Fun

Posted by: Melanie Votaw

Pamela Shaw and Jason Alexander in “Lucky Stiff”

“Lucky Stiff” was an Off-Broadway musical in the late 1980s by musical theater writing team Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, who brought us “Ragtime,” “Seussical,” “My Favorite Year,” “Once On This Island,” and “Rocky.” Based on a novel, “The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo” by Michael Butterworth, “Lucky Stiff” is a crazy comedy that brings to mind “Weekend at Bernie’s.”

Set in the 1960s or 70s (we’re not quite sure), the retro look of the film is lots of fun. You could almost swear you’re watching an old movie. Animations that comically depict some of the action are interspersed throughout, and the costumes are fabulous.

As a Broadway baby, I loved seeing many of my favorite stage stars on screen, such asNikki M. James, Cheyenne Jackson, and former Miss America Kate Shindle, alongside stage and screen star Jason Alexander from “Seinfeld,” and screen stars Pamela Shaw, and the late Dennis Farina. The lead is played by the charming Royal Shakespeare Company actor Dominic Marsh.

Kate Shindle in “Lucky Stiff”

What’s the story? British shoe salesman Harry Witherspoon who’s unlucky in both business and love suddenly finds out he has inherited millions from his uncle. Except he has to take his uncle’s dead body in a wheelchair to Monte Carlo and follow a detailed itinerary in order to collect the money.

In the uncle’s will is a stipulation that if Harry is unable or unwilling to complete all of the demands, the money will go to a charity for dogs. So, the charity’s owner (Nikki M. James) follows Harry to Monte Carlo in the hopes of making sure that the shoe salesman doesn’t manage to live up to his obligation and get the inheritance.

Meanwhile, the uncle’s girlfriend (Pamela Shaw), who believes she killed him by accident, is also in Monte Carlo because she needs the money to replace what she stole from her husband’s casino. She brings her terrified brother along to help her, played by Jason Alexander.

All of the music is great, especially Nikki’s song, “Times Like This,” in which she sings, “At times like this, a girl could use a dog.” Cheyenne Jackson’s and Kate Shindle’s glitzy Vegas-style numbers are a special treat.

While the film is very much a madcap farce, ultimately, it’s a sweet love story.

Directed by Broadway stalwartChristopher Ashley, the pace is breezy, and it’s a nice diversion when you want to watch something for pure entertainment value.

“Lucky Stiff” opens Friday, July 24, 2015 at theaters and on VOD.

Melanie Votaw is a New York City-based freelance writer and the author of 15 non-fiction books. She’s a former actress/singer/dancer who started performing at age 4 and now loves to write about film, TV, and theater. Visit her Web site, Rule the Word, and follow her on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Melanie Votaw has written 256 posts on Reel Life With Jane.