After 3 successful collaborations together, Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor came together for the final time in Maurice Phillips's 1991 film Another You. The two definitely did not save the best for last in this story of mistaken identity. Maybe it was a case of wearing out a good thing, or poor directing, or something else entirely; whatever it was, Another You didn't work.
After being in a mental hospital for 3 years, for his pathological lying, it is believed that George (Gene Wilder) is ready to be re- introduced to the world again. Eddie Dash (Richard Pryor) is a con- man trying to stay on the rehabilitated side of life when he is assigned to community service for the remainder of his probation. He is assigned to spend time with George, helping him find an apartment and aid him on his re-introduction to life outside of the mental hospital. On the way to the museum, George bumps into a man who mistakenly believes he is a millionaire to whom he owes a lot of money. George is wholeheartedly against going on with this lie as he is trying to rehabilitate himself from lying. Eddie, however, has no interest in becoming a better person and leaving the con game behind. Seeing this as a great opportunity for getting a lot of money, Eddie urges George to go along with the charade. George then meets the real Abe Fielding's wife and sees the beautiful mansion that he is supposed to live in. Going along with the charade proves difficult when it is revealed that the real Abe Fielding is missing and believed to be murdered.
Everything about this film was disjointed. It's hard to believe, by watching this film alone, that there were 3 other film collaborations of the two principles. Another You is completely missable, likewise, miserable. A flat storyline that never fully develops or works enough to engage the audience, even my intense love of Gene Wilder's work wasn't enough to save this picture for me.
Another You
1991
Action / Comedy / Crime
Another You
1991
Action / Comedy / Crime
Keywords: con manhustlersanitariumdouble act
Plot summary
George has been in a mental hospital for three years and is finally ready to go out into the real world again. Eddie Dash, a dedicated con man, is supposed to keep him out of trouble, but when people begin to recognize George as the missing millionaire Abe, Eddie wants to take advantage of the situation.
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"Fly away! Fly away! There are men with guns here! Fly Away! Go back to your families!"
Somewhat of a step in the wrong direction for the Pryor / Wilder movies...
There was always a certain charm and dynamic energy to the teaming up between Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder, however "Another You" never really kicked into gear and went up to where their other movies together were. And it was a shame.
Gene Wilder is the main focus here in this movie, and Richard Pryor seems a little bit put into the background, not really given a chance to put in his full repertoire.
The story told in "Another You" is about Eddie Dash (played by Richard Pryor) who is a con artist who ends up having to do community work and look after George (played by Gene Wilder) as he is released from the asylum. George is a pathological liar and is really good at it, and the confusion becomes even bigger when people treat him as Abe Fielding, a rich entrepreneur and business man.
For a Pryor / Wilder movie, then the comedy is fairly weak and seems much more toned down compared to their other movies. As such, then "Another You" isn't really as enjoyable as their other collaborated movies.
There is a good ensemble of actors and actresses starring in "Another You", I will say that much. And people did good jobs with their given roles.
"Another You" is a part of the Pryor / Wilder legacy, yes, but individually, then this is the weakest of their collaborated movies. But still, it is entertaining enough for a single watching.
Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor's fourth and final collaboration, also their weakest
'Another You' at the time, and still is now, the most poorly received Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor film in terms of box office and critical reaction, being both a box office failure and considered by a good many as their worst.
From personal opinion, 'Another You' is agreed their weakest, but it is nowhere near as bad as its reputation while also having potential to be much better. Of their four double act collaborations, my personal favourite is 'Silver Streak' while also really enjoying 'Stir Crazy' mostly (where the partnership between the two is more equal and even more inspired) if not as even (with a second half that doesn't fare as well as the first half). 'See No Evil, Hear No Evil', a critical failure but unlike 'Another You' a box office success, was uneven and not a great film by any stretch of the imagination, but was also not as bad as reputed.
There are good things about 'Another You'. It looks pretty good, really liked the rustic costume and set design and the photography doesn't look too cheap. Charles Gross' music is a good, sometimes quirky, never over-bearing and rarely mismatched, fit.
Wilder and Pryor work very well together and show what a great double act and comedy duo they were. Wilder does give the better performance here, being full of energy and sometimes very funny. Pryor is hampered by the multiple sclerosis that he was suffering from at the time, which makes him look ill and stiff, and he is a little underused and for Pryor fairly subdued, this said he still provides enough entertaining moments and is very much watchable.
Some of the dialogue and jokes are fun and witty too. That quality doesn't come through consistently enough, but 'Another You' is one of those films that has its good moments and elements and hardly irredeemably bad. The supporting cast do well with what they're given, what 'Another You' has over 'See No Evil, Hear No Evil' is that the supporting cast are better here.
However, the story mostly is non-descript, and what there is of it is jumbled and disjointed. It also has erratic pacing, sometimes rushed, at other times with a few dull stretches, and it could have done with being 10-15 minutes longer to tie things up more tightly. Despite a decent premise, the laughs don't come consistently. Parts of the dialogue are lacklustre, there are some tasteless and less than subtle jokes about the mentally ill (which is one of the reasons why 'Another You' is Wilder and Pryor's weakest, because despite a lack of subtlety in places 'See No Evil, Hear No Evil' handled its premise nowhere near as distastefully as it potentially could have done) and the yodelling scene agreed is an embarrassment and should have been left on the editing room floor.
Overall, Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor's weakest film but not as bad as reputed. 5/10 Bethany Cox