The Imposters
The Imposters ★★ Ship of Fools 1998 (R)
Its the 1930s, and third-rate actors Arthur and Maurice (Tucci and Platt, respectively) are out of work. Inadvertently forced into hiding on a cruise ship, they encounter a virtual ship of fools while slinking around in an array of costumes. The wacky story unfolds as the stow aways run into various characters: the Nazi-like, crop-wielding head steward (Scott), a gay Scottish wrestler (Connolly), an anarchist bomber from an unnamed Eastern European nation (Shalhoub), his country's deposed queen (Rossellini), and a pair of murderous con artists posing as French tourists. Written and directed by Tucci, pic reunites much of the cast from Tucci and Scott's “Big Night.” Unfortunately, they weren't as successful this time. Too much free-reign hamming by the big-name indie cast sinks this homage to Buster Keaton and the Marx Brothers. 101m/C VHS, DVD . Stanley Tucci, Oliver Platt, Elizabeth Bracco, Steve Buscemi, Billy Connolly, Allan Corduner, Hope Davis, Dana Ivey, Allison Janney, Richard Jenkins, Matt McGrath, Alfred Molina, Isabella Rossellini, Campbell Scott, Tony Shalhoub, Lili Taylor, Lewis J. Stadlen, Woody Allen; D: Stanley Tucci; W: Stanley Tucci; C: Ken Kelsch; M: Gary DeMichele.