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The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997)

tomatometer

43

Average Rating: 5.2/10
Critic Reviews: 7
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 4

No consensus yet.

audience

64

liked it
Average Rating: 3/5
User Ratings: 33,138

My Rating

Movie Info

Jon Amiel directed this satire on mistaken-identity thrillers and the spy genre, scripted by Robert Farrar, Tim John, and Oliver Butcher from Farrar's unpublished novel, Watch That Man. In the female lead, Joanne Whalley returned to films after a three-year absence, choosing to do so with director Amiel. Farrar's Hitchcockian-style story focuses on naive Blockbuster Video clerk Wallace Ritchie (Bill Murray) who travels from Des Moines, Iowa, to London to celebrate his birthday with his wealthy

PG, 1 hr. 34 min.

Comedy

Robert Farrar, Howard Franklin

Oct 2, 2001

Warner Home Video

Cast

All Critics (52) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (13) | Rotten (18) | DVD (3)

A one-note mix-up.

January 1, 2000 Comment
USA Today
Top Critic IconTop Critic

You have to be a Bill Murray fan, or in an especially generous mood, to find The Man Who Knew Too Little more than mildly amusing.

September 27, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | Comment
eFilmCritic.com

This is the kind of thing Murray and Amiel could do in their sleep. So they do.

November 5, 2005 Comment
Zap2it.com

After a decade or so of lackluster, what-were-they-thinking? movies, Murray has finally come back to himself

August 7, 2005 Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | Comment
EricDSnider.com

Murray elevates the material in this amusing spy farce.

February 24, 2005 Comment
Capital Times (Madison, WI)

A poor man's Being There, which still makes for a great time.

July 24, 2004 Comment

Much of the film's success can be attributed to Murray, whose timing and goofball charm are as effective as ever.

January 13, 2004 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | Comment
TheMovieReport.com

Kind of funny...but not enough to recommend.

November 25, 2003 Comment
Kansas City Star

Oddball little comedy with some weird twists.

July 20, 2003 Comment
Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Man Who Knew Too Little

A one-joke comedy that wants to carry the absurdity of its premise throughout the entire plot. At first it is a funny idea but it wears out faster than expected, with not many smart twists to keep the story fresh. At least Bill Murray makes it an amusing experience.

January 5, 2012
blacksheepboy

Super Reviewer

Not Murray's best work. I'm not sure if this comedy is supposed to be a parody or satire or a remake or what. It just isn't funny enough. Murray tries hard, but the script fails him.

September 6, 2010
ajv2688

Super Reviewer

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