Trial and Error
Trial and Error suffers from the biggest mistake that a comedy could make: it just isn't funny. In fact, it's so not funny that I wonder why they called it a comedy. Probably because Jeff Daniels falls through a ceiling and lands in the courtroom. Okay, so it is funny in some parts, but not because of the two stars. The supporting cast is what makes Trial and Error better than what it would have been. It's sad to see Michael Richards, one of the stars of TV's funniest comedy (see how I slipped that opinion in?), shoved into this mess.
This film has so many problems with it that it doesn't stop to take time to show us the good things about it. Yes, there are good things, such as the judge's reactions to everything. But everything seems subpar and forced. The love between Daniels and Theron is the best thing in the film, and probably would have made a better romantic comedy instead of what it is. However, director Jonathan Lynn didn't choose which kind of comedy to make, and ends up trying to put slapstick and romantic together.
The film begins with Charles Tuttle (Daniels), a lawyer who is getting married to his boss' daughter. The day of his bachelor party, he gets sent to Nevada to get a continuance for the trial of Benny Gibbs (Rip Torn), a man accused of selling people "genuine copper engravings of the Great Emancipator" (a penny) for $17.99. However, his best man, and best friend, Richard Rietti (Michael Richards) arrives ahead of him and surprises him with a bachelor party. This leads to Tuttle getting drunk and being unable to show up in court. As a result, Rietti, who is a so-so actor (we catch a glimpse of his ability in an audition), takes Tuttle's place in order to get the continuance. Unfortunately, the prosecutor, Elizabeth Gardner (Jessica Steen), presses to get on with the case, and the judge (Austin Pendleton) agrees.
This sets up a very good premise, but the execution of the rest of the plot just doesn't work as well as it should. In probably the most gratuitous laugh of the film, Tuttle falls through the ceiling of the courtroom and lands on the defense's table. While I laughed at this, I also felt that it was just a cheap trick to make sure we actually laughed at least once in this film. The strange thing is that the funniest moments of the film aren't when people are tripping over things or falling down, but the smart and realistic dialogue. In my favorite moment of the film, one of Tuttle's friends poses as a chemist (or something) and explains that Gibbs was under the influence of... sugar! The chemist shows a chart of the chemical elements of sugar, and cocaine. She then explains that sugar is very similar to cocaine with the exception of a few atoms here and there. I laughed at this, first, because I am taking chemistry in high school, and second, because it appeared that the jury was actually buying into it.
As I said before, the relationship between Tuttle and Billie (Theron) is the best thing in the film. I really didn't expect to see this subplot going on, but I was happy that it was. It gave me a chance to recover from the usually unfunny trial plot. Theron gives a terrific performance and really sticks out from the rest of the cast. Unfortunately, I was confused through most of the film as I thought that the lawyer was Billie and Billie was the lawyer. Advice to the filmmakers: try not to pick women who look THAT similar.
With all the bad decisions from Lynn, Trial and Error almost won me over. The cast is very good. Michael Richards makes his screen debut, and his character is actually different from the one he plays on "Seinfeld." Jeff Daniels makes a convincing lawyer, and his scene with the shotgun is very funny. Alexandra Wentworth recycles other actresses' work to create her cliched character. In fact, she got on my nerves a lot through the film. However, to compensate for her character, Charlize Theron gives the scene-stealing performance (once you realize that she isn't the lawyer). Her performance may be the only really original performance in the film. Jessica Steen has the thankless job of being the lawyer, but she actually does a very good job of making her character come to life. Rip Torn is quite good as the criminal who gives one of the best and funniest stories in the film. Austin Pendleton is also good, although I have seen his character done many times before.
Trial and Error is rated PG-13 for some language, and some mild violence. While director Lynn couldn't recreate the humor of My Cousin Vinny, his cast has saved this mostly unfunny film with their own charm. Maybe he should have just thrown the trial plot completly out, and focused his attention on the love between Billie and Tuttle. As with most of the characters, I've seen it done before, and better.