Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Three Amigos

TODAY'S RETRO-REVIEW: A Cinco de Mayo celebration for 1986's Three Amigos, starring Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Short. Directed by John "where are you now?" Landis.

THE PLOT: Three suddenly unemployed actors find that the only way to make money is to go to Mexico and put on a performance for the infamous El Guapo. Too bad he's a real bandito and the "show" they're expected to put on was supposed to be a "show of force." Hilarity ensues.

MAYBE YOU REMEMBER: The movie was originally to be called "The Three Caballeros" and was supposed to star Martin, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, according to a Playboy interview Martin gave back in 1980. But Belushi died in 1982. Steven Spielberg also considered making the film - but he picked to do E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial instead. He reportedly wanted Martin, Bill Murray and Robin Williams for the roles. Why did everyone want Martin? He was the co-author of the script.

SURELY YOU CAN'T FORGET: The singing bush is voiced by Randy Newman, who also wrote most of the songs for the movie. And Alfonso Arau, who plays El Guapo, actually appeared in a 1970 movie titled Tres Amigos. Arau also plays a major role in 1984's Romancing the Stone as Juan, whose truck (the "little burro") helps Michael Douglas and Katherine Stone escape.

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID: "This movie is too confident, too relaxed, too clever to be really funny. And yet, when the cowboys sit around their campfire singing a sad lament and then their horses join in, you see where the movie could have gone." -- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

WHY WE LOVE IT ANYWAY: It's "too clever" to be funny, Roger? It's possibly one of the silliest movies any of the three lead actors has ever done. It's the little touches, like the talking animals, the invisible swordsman and the goofy lines that will always endear it to '80s fans.

TOP 5 MEMORABLE LINES FROM THREE AMIGOS:

5. "Would you say I have a plethora of pinatas?"

4. "Do you have anything here besides Mexican food?"

3. "Are gringos falling from the sky?"

2. "Sew, very old one! Sew like the wind!"

1. "Oh, great. You killed the invisible swordsman!"

Comments

[Swordy in Australia]

It's a Mail plane. You can see its balls.!

[CHAD]

yeah, it isn't the best movie any of these funny actors have done, but it is a truly funny picture. it has it's moments. the aforementioned scene witht the lip balm is hilarious. short and martin are staving for some water and chase is spitting his out, just rinsing his mouth out. i think chevy chase blamed the failure of the movie on john landis, saying he would never work with him again. i haven't seen it in ages, maybe i'll watch it later tonight.

[Jen with one n]

Brad - totally! I was just recounting this scene to someone today! In fact, every time I hear the words "lip balm," I relive the whole scene all over again.

I never loved this movie, but maybe I oughta give it another shot. I say "lookuphere" a lot to my cat...so maybe I should.

[Clark]

Ebert's great in that he explains why he likes (or doesn't like) something. So even if you disagree with his opinion, at least you know what's behind it. I also think a lot of critcs write to impress other critics and their reviews turn into contests to see who can be the nastiest. I think Ebert usually avoids that.

As for the movie, I love Martin Short but I honestly can't think of one movie he's been in that I really liked. Didn't Chevy Chase do some advance press for this before it came out, basically saying "Don't blame me..."?

[Brad]

My favorite:

"Lip balm?"

[Buffalo Jeff]

GREAT LINE

"Would you like to kiss me on the veranda?"

"The lips would be fine!"

[Alyfox/Dan Vhay]

1st off, yes Spearsy, Ebert IS the gold standard, you are correct. Maybe what he meant by too clever is that everyone was too aware that they were making a spoof for it to truly work on every level. Maybe he should have said "self-aware" instead of "clever".

For me, it is one of the funniest bad movies ever. It makes me laugh, but so many parts are just bad, and the #1 reason for it's badness is -- and it pains me to say it -- Chevy Chase. The two Martins bring their game, but Chevy I think literally just showed up and wore the costume. But the Martins are great, and if you disagree, I'll fill you so full of lead you'll be able to use your di*k as a pencil. Don'y ask me what that means, 'cuz I don't know.

[Walter Cox]

"Katherine Stone"?

[Bassnote]

I never really liked this movie, but I don't know why. I guess I agree with Ebert that it could have been so much better than it was.

[Joey Belanger]

When you say Martin, do you mean Steve Martin or Martin Short?

[Michelle]

You forgot "What's tequila?" "It's, uh, like beer."

[Spears]

Roger Ebert is the gold standard in film critics, so I take everything he says seriously.

To be honest, I hated this movie the first time I saw it. I wasn't in the right frame of mind, I guess. I've grown to appreciate it over the years.

If you click the link, you can read the rest of Ebert's review. He was dead-on in so many respects, but I never understood the "too clever" part.

[DerekT]

I always take critics views with a grain of salt. Sometimes they say a movie is funny and I think it is just dumb. Other times they don't like a movie that becomes one of my favorites.
I remember this movie, it is worth watching, but will never in my top 50 movies to watch.