A happy couple live alone in their house until a series of unfortunate events bring family members and annoying next door neighbors to live with them. It's the ultimate nightmare as the two end up waiting on these people hand and foot until they finally snap. A good idea that has some very funny moments, but is held back by lazy directing. Tom Ropelewski, who would later write and direct Look Who's Talking 3, Lord forgive him, did the same on Madhouse and he doesn't have the same mad glee in directing it as he had in writing it. There isn't any umph to the directing. None of the scenes have the kind of energy that script gives off. About the best thing is the main title theme that I still remember even though I haven't seen the movie in years. The cast, especially leads John Larroquette and Kirstie Alley as the besieged couple, are all good. John Diehl isn't usually in comedies, he is more of a b action movie man, but he gives good shlub and Allison La Placa is the rich husband seeking sister from hell. There is enough here to like, but given the penchant to remake movies, why not do so with one that wasn't done right the first time around? Kaddir: "Don't you choke my cherub! Don't choke my cherub!"
Review of Madhouse
