Who Is Cletis Tout? (2001) User Reviews

pleasantly spent time

[ragne · 7/10 · 2 June 2003]

* NO POSSIBLE SPOILERS .. *

I'll skip the plot outline part and go right ahead to the comments.

This movie reminded me a bit "The Usual Suspects". Not that the movie has the same plot or it tries to copy "The Usual Suspects", but it had a similar vibe - how the story unwraps itself and goes together. Not that the end was surprising or spectacular, but how smoothly everything is running.

The actors are all good. None of them disappoint or annoy. If you can manage to take them out from their usual roles i.e Portia de Rossi as an Sub-Zero Nell in Ally McBeal and Tim Allen as Santa Claus etc, then you might even have a pleasant surprise. Supporting cast is believable, even the bad guys.

This movie is not for people who love bloody action, laughing your head off or deep plots. It's an easy movie for an easy watching. When you feel that watching Anderson's "Magnolia" is will be too tiring or "Road Trip" just too stupid, then go for "Who is Cletis Tout?". The best way is to watch this movie without and special expectations or prejudices. This way you have nothing to disappoint in.

If you take this movie as just a movie then most likely you will like it. I think it is worth seeing and worth spending your 1,5 hours on it.

My rating: 7/10.

A sweet treat for film lovers....and fans of "Pulp Fiction" fantaises in particular.

[martylee13045burlsink342 · 7/10 · 9 September 2002]

Minor but most enjoyable matinee fodder which is notable for giving tailor made opportunities to an eclectic cast of "names" who have all been unfortunatley ill used by recent vehicals. Tim Allen seems to relish toning down the roguish chortle (the trailer of "S. C. II" points to a huge potential comeback....and an even huger potential for further typecasting). This was his freshest performance in years....and Christian Slater's charming work prooves just how much warmth and wit do lie untapped underneath the lethargic mannerisms....and make appearances in unworthy megaduds like "Windtalkers" even more sad. Richard Dreyfuss has a much smaller role....(thank heavens) but even he seems a bit more vital and less hammy than he has been of late (except in the unjustly overlooked gem "Tripendorff's Tribe" in which he was hysterical...at least on Cinemax. The love it or hate it factor here is bound to be the playful and very deliberate swipes at Tarantino which seem to be this scripts main reason for existence. Even though I loved "Fiction" (and hated "Gump") I can still appreciate the cheekiness of stealing the diffuse plot structure, toning down the bloodletting and bad words, and injecting two very refreshing elements....a nice sense of humanity and an obviously genuine affection for the art of cinema...anyone who is open to either of those qualities should find much to enjoy in this nice little film.

Too self-conscious, but a good story

[sarastro7 · 6/10 · 28 March 2004]

This is a movie that uses one of those "clever" dirty tricks that the writer ought to have avoided: It's analyzing itself so tightly that, according to its own analysis, it is necessarily a masterpiece. It's blowing its own trumpet. It's too self-aware. And the pity is that it doesn't need it. It starts out slow, but it's actually a very good story, which should have been allowed to run its course *au naturel*, without the over-analytical commentary by Critical Jim. This, for me, is the main reason why this movie fails to garner more than a 6 out of 10.

Another reason is, as I said, it starts out too slow. It takes too long to get into high gear. It has too little to engage the viewer. For half the movie, the only thing that makes you want to spend your time on it is Portia de Rossi's prettiness. To be a really good movie, it needed to have had a number of more attractive elements, be they pretty women or interesting plot turns.

I've seen worse

[hapuka · 3 August 2002]

Not a bad film at all. Considering some of the rubbish that makes big money this was smart enough to keep me interested. Obviously the flashback driven structure is a bit predictable and cheesy, but I have seen way dumber films this year. I don't know about Tim Allen's casting though - it wasn't a disaster but it didn't quite do the business for me. Kudos to him for playing against type, but he was too warm for what is by definition a muderous criminal (I think Nicholas Cage or Robert Duvall might have nailed this part). Overall this could have been much worse,, ( imagine Ms. J Roberts as the love interest.) The plot was fine if a little contrived, and the constant movie references wore a bit thin presented as they were. Competent enough though, it a pity that it didn't have have a bit more je n'est ce quio. Still more challenging than the recent skywalker ranch product if you're in the video store

A Worthwhile Diversion

[TimothyP · 7/10 · 8 June 2002]

Not that this would stick in your head, but...it's an enjoyable caper movie. We get to see TIm Allen playing against type, Christian Slater doing his eyebrow thing), Richard Dreyfuss as a wizened mentor (sort of a criminal Yoda), and Portia DeRossi looking gorgeous.

The story is mostly told in flashback form, as a bound Christian Slater relates his tale to hitman Allen. It's predictable at times, but worth a look, especially on video. I understand it hasn't had a wide theatrical release in the US yet, and that makes a certain amount of sense. It's just not violent or flashy enough for the average US filmgoer. Oh well. Everyone's missing out on a good natured, likable film.

Best line, from Allen to Slater: "Has anyone ever told you you sound EXACTLY like Jack Nicholson?"

3 star movie, no bad if you don't expect much

[maccaveili · 7/10 · 22 January 2003]

***** Excellent movie, lives up to expecatations and then some

**** Decent movie, has few shortcomings, but could have been better

*** Not bad only if you don't have any high expectations

** Maybe a movie to watch while doing chores

* I'd rather be at work for no pay than watching this film

You can read the back of the box if you want to know what it is about, so instead of me reiterating that, I'll just give you all my opinion. It is a B rated film in my opinion which stars Christian Slater. Tim Allen plays a different character, a hitman of some sort, but yet still finds many times to insert his brand of humor in the flick. Slater plays about the same kind of average role in this one that he always seems to play in most movies, meaning he doesn't hurt the film, but yet he doesn't oooh and ahhhh us either.

Basically, Slater is a prison escapee who assumes a false identity of a man that the mafia thought they had taken out. So now Slater finds himself on the run, claiming that of all the dead people who could steal an identity from, he had to choose the one dead guy that everyone wanted to kill. So yes, there is a bit of attempted comedy in it, but for the most part it is dry and not laugh out loud funny. Then there is the girl, you know, the girl that the escapee falls for, the girl that at first is too good for him, but who then later begins to warm up to him.

All in all, if you rent this expecting it to be just a B rated type of movie, meaning, not that good but not too horribly bad, you won't be disappointed. I'd give it 3 stars on my scale.

A Screenplay Made With the Intention of Being Cult Movie

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 12 June 2004]

In a penitentiary, the forger Trevor Allen Finch (Christin Slater) organizes the escape of his friend and former magician Micah Donnelly (Richard Dreyfuss). Twenty years ago, Micah stole a fortune in diamonds and has promised one million dollars to Trevor if he is succeed in the plan. In the end, they escape together, they meet Micah's daughter Tess Donnelly (Portia de Rossi) and Trevor achieves with a friend of him new identities for both of them. The new identity of Trevor is Cletis Tout, a reporter executed by Mafia, who witnessed the murder of a hooker by the mobster Rowdy Virago (Joseph Scoren). The Mafia believes Cletis is alive and hires Critical Jim (Tim Allen), a hitman who loves old movies, to kill Cletis. While waiting for his payment, Jim decides to listen to the saga of Trevor, comparing it with the screenplay of a film. This non-linear script is certainly made with the intention of being a cult movie. With many citations of important movies, and funny and nice characters, it is impossible not to like this story, which is a kind of popcorn Pulp Fiction without explicit violence. A good entertainment and a great surprise for me. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): `O Alvo Errado' (`The Wrong Target')

A comedy. Right.

[Weyland_Yutani · 2/10 · 14 January 2003]

Where to begin? This was supposed to be a movie filled with comedy, suspense, romance and surprises. The only surprises I got out of the experience were reading some positive reviews about it. I was honestly confident that, having being dumbfounded myself at this movie's epic badness, everyone else would have at the very least disliked it. Not so. Ebert gave it 2 1/2 stars. And that's not out of 10. He's been rather unreliable these past few years, so I turned to the 'user comments' section of IMDb to find some sanity amongst my fellow amateur viewers...only to find many of them sick with the same malady. Now, I'm not really that egocentric. I understand that just because I don't happen to like a movie doesn't mean it's a bad movie. But honestly, what can you like about this one?

The plot was absolutely laughable. (***Some Spoilers***) Richard Dreyfuss plays Micah, a magician/thief (sounds like a D&D character) who pulls off a diamond heist in 1977 (Question - Why didn't he wear a mask? Did he want to get caught? And don't get me started about the pure silliness of the balloon angle), then picks up his daughter, and together they bury the diamonds with a photograph in a field. The audience is (very obviously) kept from seeing the photograph until near the end of the movie. Quite why is a mystery, as the photograph holds absolutely no surprises.

Fast forward 25 years. Micah is still in jail, but has a new buddy - Christian Slater, playing Finch. Together they escape (in one of the absolute hands down most moronic escape sequences to make it to film - and I'm only using a little hyperbole), and take on new identities to hide out from the law while retrieving the diamonds. The identity that Slater assumes is that of (dum dum DUM) Cletis Tout, a journalist who videotaped the son of a mob boss killing a prostitute and got whacked by the mob for his trouble. Hilarious hijinks supposedly ensue as the mob now try to kill Slater, thinking he is the real Tout, while Slater tries to get the diamonds. Throw in Portia De Rossi as Dreyfuss's daughter (and the 'I hate him for no apparent reason, no wait, now I love him for no apparent reason' relationship with Slater - and I use the term 'relationship' lightly; Tom Cruise had more chemistry with the fish in 'Jerry Maguire'), a painful cameo by RuPaul, a moderately funny though sadly underused Billy Connolly, a mob boss with all the menacing screen presence of American Pie's Chris Klein, two mob button men more cut out for a Home Alone sequel and a soundtrack that sounds like background music from a computer game, then have almost the entire movie played out as a series of flashbacks that Slater is telling mob hitman Critical Jim (played by Tim Allen, who is constantly quoting classic movies a la Remington Steele) and have the audience needlessly wonder at how much of what Slater is saying is true, if anything, and what kind of plot twist might be in store (needlessly wonder because *Spoiler* it's all true and there is no plot twist), and end it all with a cliched train station finish...

Well, what can I say. There was nothing original or interesting in the script. There was nothing laudable in the acting. There was nothing that made any of the characters either; a) believable, or b) someone the audience might care about. The music was forgettable. The plot succeeded only in confusing me and making me laugh at the wrong moments. Don't buy it. Don't rent it. Don't watch it.

Why have people not seen this movie

[the_crock · 9/10 · 12 August 2005]

I have avoided this movie since the day it came out, firstly it had Tim Allen in it, second that poster looked hideous and thirdly it was an ensemble piece. It just looked stupid, I had heard it was good, but the name, the poster and the Tim Allen thing all made me walk past this movie over and over again in the video store. So finally I get it out, and from the two mafia guys talking about deliverance right through till the end I love this movie.

This is a movie about movie clichés, but it tells the story in such a way that you could watch even more clichés and still enjoy it. Slater was good, not true romance good, but good, Connolly is great, but the man who steals the shop is Allen who is the funniest hit-man since Grosse Point Blank (Aykroyd or Cusack). And not only is Allen funny, but he holds the movie together in what is by far the toughest role.

I cannot believe more people have not seen this movie. This is a cult classic all about films, I think every movie junkie out there should see this movie right now. I don't know why the director isn't getting work after this (other than its failure to make any money), but I urge any future directors to look this man up and give him some cash.

If you're reading this review, ignore this movie no further.

Surprisingly Pleasant

[NIXFLIX-DOT-COM · 6/10 · 1 September 2003]

WHO IS CLETUS TOUT is one of those movies that is surprisingly better than expectations will allow. Christian Slater plays a con who gets mistaken for a man wanted by the mob, and Tim Allen is a hitman who needs a reality check. There's a lot of chuckles to be had, and the film as a whole works.

6 out of 10

An interesting idea butchered

[bortove · 2/10 · 1 August 2002]

Even for someone who loves old movies as much as Tim Allen's character, the oh-so-not-threatening hit man Critical Jim, I have to emphatically pan this movie. Obviously trying to mimic the classics in film style / plot formation (Critical Jim actually breaks it down for you every 15 minute, in case you forget), the main difference between the painfully predictable plot of ...Cletis Tout and, say, Breakfast At Tiffany's is that at least in Breakfast..., the acting is decent, costumes are memorable, and you actually care what happens to the characters. The only benefit I derived from seeing this movie was the air conditioned theater during a heat wave, and I'm not sure that having 2 hours sucked out of my life was worth it.

Worth seeing again and again!

[sp27343 · 10/10 · 6 August 2002]

After seeing last falls "Happy Accidents" many times, I doubted if I would ever see another movie that made me feel the same way. I just saw "Cletis Tout" yesterday, and plan on seeing it again many times. I can't get over how imaginative the plot line, acting, and script was for this movie. Ensemble casts are the way to go in the future. Tim Allen (who is cast against type here) is a movie loving hit man who takes both old movies, and his profession extremely seriously, but alas does have a heart, as we see at the end. Christian Slater, who has to be the most underrated actor in Hollywood gets to show the world he can indeed act, and with vigor indeed. Richard Dreyfus and Portia DeRossi (who I sadly have learned is gay...darn it!) are given less to do, but handle their parts well. The real gem here is the plot, and Tim Allen's handling of his part, WOW...I hope this guy takes more roles of this type..He shine's. To any and all readers of this review...GO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!!!!

And why does everybody hate him?

[pmwgreen · 6/10 · 30 July 2002]

Tim Allen plays a hit-man who loves movies and kills time before killing Slater by listening to Slater tell his story. The catch, although I doubt Slater believes it, is that if Allen enjoys the story enough, he might let Slater go.

This is a fun, light-hearted crime movie. Not the greatest movie of all time, I can easily think of many films worse that the critics loved. This film on the other hand is distinguised by virtue of getting one of the worst ratings on Rotten Tomatoes I have ever seen. Coupled with an extremely small distribution, this film has zero chance of ever making one cent, but if you get the chance, check it out.

OUCH

[gnslngerC · 2/10 · 21 May 2003]

First off for everyone who praised this movie in comments I would like to say good for you. You have integrity. If my brother/sister/mother were involved with any aspect of a movie, I too would go to bat for the film regardless of whether it was good or not. This Cletis Tout movie unfortunately was quite bad. Most of the characters are annoying at best and all of them are two dimensional. Scenes snap by quickly with only the dialog necessary to drive the weak plot forward. Tim Allen's character was very disappointing. He is constantly going stupidly on about movies. It would make a difference if he actually had some intelligent insight on different films, but he just says simple stupid things that feel redundant. The only group I would recommend this film to is budding young directors so they can see lots of examples on what not to do.

Bad Title, Good Movie

[twcarey · 20 October 2003]

I almost avoided this flick because the title didn't do anything for me. That may have been what happened to it when it was in general release because it sank pretty quickly. A movie-buff friend of mine recommended it, so I put it on my Netflix list and finally popped it into the player.

Cletis Tout turned out to be great fun. I enjoyed the interwoven flashbacks and the comments made by Critical Jim (played by Tim Allen). Christian Slater plays a take-off on his usual slimy lying characters by playing a crook who tells the truth.

It helps to have seen some of the movies that Critical Jim riffs on as Finch's story unfolds, but that's not completely necessary. Pop a bottle of wine with a couple of friends some Friday night and enjoy this movie.

Fun fun fun

[samthejudgeamos · 7/10 · 15 August 2021]

A nice light and easy plot, painless acting and a few laughs for good measure. It's not edg3 of the seat stuff, but I don't think it bills itself as that so imho, fair enough.

A regular movie (Interesting Definition)

[jpschapira · 6/10 · 4 March 2005]

A movie comes, not so often, that can have some really bad elements; it can be a bad movie. But at the same time, it can have some really good elements; adding the bad elements, it is a regular movie. The number 6 means regular movie, but doesn't necessarily means some good and bad elements.

For example, this is a comedy and it doesn't generate much laughs. I mean, it is not that you're crying during the film. You're smiling, but not laughing out-loud. The premise for the film is a totally original, and a very good one. The problem is that it doesn't convince. The story isn't that believable because it is impossible for the filmmakers to make something different. You can tell they are afraid being different won't work. Maybe they should be, but people will never find out if this movie could have been a lot better; it had the elements to achieve that goal.

I was loving it; creating a character in a movie that loves movies and wants to make another movie. Not so confusing as it sounds. Critical Jim calls himself a critic. The interesting thing is that he is a murderer, but loves old movies; classics. He loves movies that much that he knows the best lines of each classic; and says the line, together with the name of the movie and the studio. Impressing. He loves movies that much that he creates secret codes with the letters of director's and actor's last names or names. This is an incredibly original character. I don't remember seeing something similar before. But is just Critical Jim the only original character. The others; we have seen them before. Another disappointment is that the premise is based on Critical Jim's character and his love for movies. But the movie betrays Critical Jim, betrays its story, and it ultimately betrays itself. Not funny, but with comedic actors in it. Tim Allen plays Critical Jim, in a delightful and surprising performance at the same time. This film could give him a lesson about choosing parts/roles. He plays Critical Jim like you've never seen him, totally distanced from his usual roles. It's the first time I have seen him acting naturally, and not doing the stupid things he usually does. It actually works better for him that way (or at least better than in "The Santa Clause" and "Jungle To Jungle"). This is his best performance, alongside with the one in "Galaxy Quest".

As I said, the rest of the characters are familiar. Christian Slater's Finch is just another character that doesn't need any special gift to be played. It could be played by anyone, but I was not disappointed by Slater's performance (which doesn't mean I was amazed). He is not the greatest actor. He has had a calmed career and I hope he continues that way. I remember loving him in "The name of the rose". Portia de Rossi is not the right choice for her role, and doesn't seem comfortable playing it, but gives her best anyway (and that's not much). Dreyfuss could be playing a small part, more than a title one. He is natural and gives some of the comedic rhythm the film lacks. RuPaul is in the cover, but...why?

Finch tells the story to Critical Jim because the critic likes old movies, and wants to make a movie of the story. A movie with the elements of an old movie; a classic. Unluckily, the flashback they create doesn't have the elements of an old movie, as they suppose it has. It has the elements of the movies we see everyday.

Of all the comments on all the website in all the Internet and you had to pick this one to read. (Parker, 2003)

[=G= · 6/10 · 29 August 2003]

"Who is Cletis Tout" is a noirish little crime comedy romp which tells of a movie quoting film fan and hitman (Allen) who holds an excon and flimflam man (Slater) at gun point while the latter recounts why he isn't who the former thinks he is via flashbacks until the flashbacks catch up with present time and the film runs out from there. Got that? If it sounds a bit convoluted, it's because it is. However, there's enough good natured, not-to-be-taken-seriously fun going on in this busy flick to make it marginally enjoyable even if you don't try to follow the story and just no-brain it. A happy mix of murder and diamonds and love and chicanery and groaners, etc. which will make for a lukewarm critic frustrating couch potato watch. (B-)

Slick with no substance

[phantomsightandsound · 4/10 · 23 July 2003]

Somewhat entertaining. The movie is essentially plot -driven. The plot is incredulous at best but when it has holes in it there isn't much left. The bit with the birds is a major flaw. Homing pigeons "home" to one location only. They will not fly back & forth. In my mind the romance at the end is also totally unbelievable. 4/10

What a pleasant surprise

[baberuthless · 8/10 · 13 July 2003]

I ran across this film last night when looking through the movie listings. I had never heard of it but after reading the description thought it worthy of a look, and plus I love Tim Allen.

I was pleasantly surprised by the film and would recommend it! Good cast, including Tim Allen whom I feel is underrated at best. Christian Slater was charming and Portia Di Rossi was adorable. Plus, it had a good story!

I could be more verbose on this topic, but I'd rather let you decide for yourself what you think of the film.

mmmmmmm...

[RichardKleiner · 6/10 · 15 December 2007]

Okay, it's not the worst. It has some bad stuff in it, mainly over the story setting. Apparently it is completely easy for a magician to steal a handful of diamonds and also to escape from prison several years later by using his tricks. Much of the acting was great, and some of the dialogs were good too. I personally enjoyed Michael Conolly's monologue at the morgue, though it proved pointless to the plot. I hated Portia de Rossi's character. There's no explanation of why she's such a bitch, and she's annoying most of the part. RuPaul was totally unnecessary. He's just some weird transvestite neighbor who has the hot's for Finch. And, of course, he has to act all macho in the end, I don't know why. Tim Allen was good, interesting character. My favorite scene with him was in the subway. It was a little disturbing to see him curse like that, but it was funny. The mobsters were very good, but they had too much development for what the central story was. Good music, although it was too dramatic for chase scenes, average script, great actors, not to good of an ending. It's not very good, but it isn't really that bad. It's sort of in between. Either way, it's watchable.

Potentially funny...but not

[iowane · 2/10 · 5 August 2002]

I normally wouldn't even write about a movie I didn't like, but this missed the boat in so many respects, leaving me feeling so disappointed, that I feel compelled to share my thoughts. This film fell down in nearly every respect. What began as a potentially funny hook (the hit man/movie buff) became a crutch used to artificially move the story along. The music was trivial and, at times, laughable. The editor didn't seem to even understand the point of the movie and in a rush to just end it as the sound at FADE OUT (emblematic of the overall editing problem) just dropped as if the editor just couldn't wait to see the thing end. I even have to wonder if the director understood what the movie was about, particularly distressing in this case as the director wrote the script! Though I'm not a big fan of either Christian Slater or Richard Dreyfus, I have to say that they did their jobs and were just fine...which didn't matter because there was no real movie for them to act in.

Worst moments: the fairly direct rip-off of Pulp Fiction by wrapping back around from beginning to end with two somewhat comical criminals having a discussion in a diner, and Tim Allen trying to play the part of the producer listening to a pitch while having no timing for such dialog.

Too bad, I was hoping for at least something that would have me leaving the theatre chuckling.

I think it was just fantastic!!!

[ivan-rock1996 · 9/10 · 11 January 2012]

This is my first review and i hope i'll be good at writing it...

So let start... I must say i didn't even want to watch it,but it must been faith who maid me to..and i started to watch it and with every scene i was more and more excited.I don't even need to mentions that this movies has it all,and i mean everything that a great movies should have...besides comedy,this movie have a real story,a romance,even have a little bit of action,and that's the things which viewers want to watch,not the new movies without the real feelings...and this is coming from a 16 year old boy.

And I recommend this movie for all to watch it.

Capt. Ameri-can or Ameri-can't?

[lee_eisenberg · 7/10 · 31 January 2007]

"Who Is Cletis Tout?" is a strange, mildly confusing, but fairly entertaining movie about mistaken identities, as told by a young woman (Portia de Rossi), a hit-man (Tim Allen) and some other people. It's a little hard to follow, but nice entertainment in a pinch. I just really liked Allen's movie-centric mnemonics, and it's good to see him doing a more serious role.

So, this movie's OK as simple entertainment; don't expect any kind of religious experience. Also starring Richard Dreyfuss and Christian Slater.

So yes, Capt. American, let's all sing in the rain.

Great Movie

[bfavre · 30 August 2003]

I thought this movie was great. Christian was charming as usual. I was very surprised at Tim Allen performance. He was pretty incredible. I read some other reviews that said it was like Pulp Fiction, Snatch and Memento. I guess I can see that it sort of reminds me of those films all rolled into one. I was never bored with this movie. It kept my interest from start to finish. This is for sure a keeper!