A victim of its own hyped publicity and too harsh criticism, Ishtar is not the worst movie ever made or even a bomb, just a dim-witted silly comedy-thriller (with some good jokes) based on the casting against type of Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman.
Ishtar (1987)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted: 27
Fresh: 5
Rotten:22
Average Rating: 3.4/10
Runtime: 1 hr 47 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: Two down-and-out singer/songwriters (played by Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty) who dream of becoming the next Simon and Garfunkel find themselves hitting the bottom of the barrel after their... Two down-and-out singer/songwriters (played by Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty) who dream of becoming the next Simon and Garfunkel find themselves hitting the bottom of the barrel after their women leave them and their careers never get off the ground. Out of money, and with no prospects of work in New York, they grudgingly agree to accept a gig in Morocco. Before they even leave the airport in Morocco, they are suddenly ensnared into the revolution brewing in the country, and unwittingly get sucked into Middle Eastern political turmoil beyond their wildest dreams. Before their Moroccan adventure is over, Chuck and Lyle question their trust, their loyalty, and their sanity--but never their talent. A would-be road picture a la Hope and Crosby, the film is worth seeing for Hoffman's and Beatty's dry portrayals of down-on-their-luck ne'er-do-wells, and their earnest, off-key renditions of the film's original songs. Additionally, the film was beset by production and budget challenges that are now the stuff of publicity legend. [More]
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Warren Beatty, Jack Weston, Isabelle Adjani
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Warren Beatty, Jack Weston, Isabelle Adjani
Director: Elaine May
Director: Elaine May
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Reviews for Ishtar
The intentionally bad songs and the early scenes in New York City are amusing, but the movie totally falls apart once Beatty and Hoffman arrive in the fictional country of Ishtar.
A failed attempt at doing a modern Bob Hope-Bing Crosby "Road" picture.
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