Jack Noah (Richard Dreyfuss) is a working NY actor shooting a small movie in Parador. He is pushed by his co-star (Dana Delany) to do an impression of the country's crude dictator President Alphonse Simms in front of him. Local ex-pat Ralph (Jonathan Winters) invites Noah to stay for Carnival. Simms dies of a heart attack and his henchman Roberto Strausmann (Raul Julia) hires Noah to impersonate him. None of the servants are willing to call out the impostor. Simm's wild mistress Madonna Mendez (Sonia Braga) returns and helps Noah master the part.
There is nothing terribly wrong about this comedy other than the fact that I didn't really laugh. Two thirds of this is meant to be a comedy. Dreyfuss does a solid job but the comedy needs a real comedian. I don't think Dreyfuss is that comedian and I don't he should have to be. Noah should have a comedic sidekick who can do all the jokes. Sonia Braga only truly comes into the movie midway through. It's a little late and the last act gets pretty serious. This is a comedy that isn't that funny.
There is nothing terribly wrong about this comedy other than the fact that I didn't really laugh. Two thirds of this is meant to be a comedy. Dreyfuss does a solid job but the comedy needs a real comedian. I don't think Dreyfuss is that comedian and I don't he should have to be. Noah should have a comedic sidekick who can do all the jokes. Sonia Braga only truly comes into the movie midway through. It's a little late and the last act gets pretty serious. This is a comedy that isn't that funny.