Dreadful. Just dreadful. I must be, as one reviewer noted, "One of those people..." who do not understand genius when faced with it. Well, if this is genius, we are all in trouble. Screenwriter/director Charles Griffith attempts to bring the Jeckyl/Hyde story into the 1980's in high comedic style. This time around the doctor is deformed, pale green, wart-covered(and a podiatrist to boot - pun intended)and his alter-ego Mr. Hyde is suave, classy, urbane, and deadly. I am amazed that a star of Reed's caliber agreed to do this schlock - not only does he do it - but he brings anything that is good in this film to it as well. His Heckyl is ...well..intriguing if nothing else. I swear he looks a bit and sounds a bit like Robert Morse. His Mr. Hype is classic Reed. Reed tries valiantly to do what he is asked but in the end all he does successfully is pick up his apparently much-needed paycheck. The story is supposed to be funny. Even by 1980's standards - it is painfully void of much humour. Some murders happen, lots of stupid, adolescent jokes that bomb occur, and we finally get to the much anticipated end credits - eventually. Laced around Reed's heavy-handed try at split personalities we get Roger Corman regulars like Dick Miller, Mel Welles, and others - not to mention Jackie Coogan. We also get bad foot jokes and visual gags that do not have a hope of making you even smile. There is lots of swirling fog on sets that look like fog would or could not be there. Did I like anything? I liked Reed's attempt. Sunny Johnson is quite lovely as the female love interest(what a pity she died at the age of 30!). Mel Welles has a few good lines, but the rest...no way. I cannot hype this film in any way at all. It was so boring.
Review of Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype
Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype
(1980)
Oliver Reed's Heckyl Looks Like Robert Morse on Heavy Steroids
21 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers