inkblot11 Review of Splitting Heirs

Splitting Heirs (1993)

Not side-splitting but pretty darn funny, Idle does a great job, both as the star and screenwriter

[7/10 · 25 October 2010]

Tommy (Eric Idle) lives in London with his Hindi family. Although he really doesn't look Indian, he has never questioned his heritage. As some sort of official in the British embassy, Tommy's boss tells him he must greet the newest Duke in the area. That would be American Henry (Rick Moranis), a rude, obnoxious sort. As an newborn, Henry went missing for three days of his early life, when his parents left him at a bar, and was later found in a telephone booth. Hank went to live in America with his mother (Barbara Hershey) when the original Duke died. Now, he's back and Tommy is gritting his teeth. But, wait. As Tommy hangs out at the mansion, he soon discovers that HE, Tommy, looks like a lot of the family's deceased relatives, hanging in portraits, among other things. Confronting his Hindi parents, Tommy is stunned to learn that someone PAID them to adopt him, as a baby, and they have a monogrammed blanket and silver rattle that came, too. Ho ho ho, could Henry and Tommy have been switched as babies, when the infant Duke was abandoned? Maybe! So, since Henry's so insufferable, what if Tommy knocks him off and reclaims his own title? This is a funny film that should take anyone's mind off the proverbial troubles. Idle, who wrote the script, is especially mirthful and the rest of the cast, including Moranis, Hershey, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and John Cleese, is great, too. The English sets are nice, especially the Duke's castle, and the costumes, camera work and direction contribute to the film's overall success. No, its no Shakespeare, but it doesn't pretend to be so, either. If you need a quick picker-upper, funny flick style, this is one to secure.