The Squeeze * (1987, Michael Keaton, Rae Dawn Chong, Joe Pantoliano, Meat Loaf) – Classic Movie Review 13,610

The 1987 American action comedy film The Squeeze wastes Michael Keaton as a con artist and Rae Dawn Chong as a private eye who uncover a huge scam to rig a lottery.

Director Roger Young’s unfunny, unexciting 1987 action comedy The Squeeze wastes Michael Keaton as an eccentric down-on-his-luck con artist called Harry Berg and Rae Dawn Chong as a detective, private eye Rachel Dobs, who uncover a huge scam to rig a lottery.

The likeable, talented Keaton is hard pressed to raise even a few smiles. Joe Pantoliano and Meat Loaf also star as Norman and Titus.

It took only $2,228,951 at the US box office, against a cost of $22 million. It was dangerously advertised as ‘The comedy thriller on a lucky streak’.

Veteran stuntman Victor Magnotta drowned while performing a stunt in which the car was driven off a Hoboken, New Jersey pier and plunged into the Hudson River. 

Cast: Michael Keaton, Rae Dawn Chong, Joe Pantoliano, Meat Loaf, Liane Langland, Leslie Bevis, John Davidson, Ronald Guttman, Danny Aiello III, Lou Crisuolo, George Gerdes, Ronald Guttman, Paul Herman, John Dennis Johnston, Jeffrey Josephson, Diana Lewis, Frank Lugo, Richard Portnow, and Gerald J Quimby.

The Squeeze is directed by Roger Young, runs 101 minutes, is made by Tannen-Hitzig Productions, ML Delphi Premier Productions and TriStar Pictures, is released by TriStar Pictures and 20th Century Fox, is written by Daniel Taplitz, is shot by Arthur Albert, is produced by Michael Tannen and Rupert Hitzig, is scored by Miles Goodman, and is designed by Simon Waters.

Release: July 10, 1987.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,610

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