Dudley Do-Right ** (1999, Brendan Fraser, Sarah Jessica Parker, Alfred Molina, Eric Idle, Robert Prosky, Alex Rocco, Jack Kehler) – Classic Movie Review 7254

Brendan Fraser is sweet and fun as the Royal Canadian Mountie who gets his girl, Nell Fenwick (Sarah Jessica Parker), from the clutches of the wicked villain Snidely Whiplash (Alfred Molina) in writer-director Hugh Wilson’s recklessly silly but sporadically amusing farce, based on the cartoon by Jay Ward.

Alas, there is not an ounce of subtlety anywhere in Wilson’s totally daft, very iffy script, and Fraser is not as good here as in the similar George of the Jungle (1997), the film that made him a star, though he remains thoroughly likeable. Jay Ward also created the George of the Jungle cartoon.

Alfred Molina and Eric Idle (Prospector) overact desperately, but that is the only way to go. Robert Prosky (Inspector Fenwick), Alex Rocco (Kumquat Chief), Jack Kehler (Howard), Louis Mustillo (Standing Room Only), Don Yesso (Kenneth) and Jed Rees (Lavar) also do what they can to help out. Thankfully, it is very short at 77 minutes, so it is reasonably painless, though even so it feels longer.

Also in the cast are Brant von Hoffman as Barry, Dyllan Christopher as Young Dudley, Ashley Yarman as Young Nell, and Jeremy Bergman as Young Snidely.

Dudley Do-Right is directed by Hugh Wilson, runs 77 minutes, is made by Davis and Joseph Singer Entertainment, is released by Universal, is written by Hugh Wilson, is shot by Donald E Thorin, is produced by Hugh Wilson (executive producer), John Davis, J Todd Harris and Joseph M Singer and scored by Steve Dorff with production design by Bob Ziembicki. The film’s narrator, Corey Burton, imitates Paul Frees who narrated some of the original Dudley Do-Right cartoons.

Hugh Wilson also directed Brendan Fraser in Blast from the Past.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7254

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