The Longshot
1986·Comedy·1h 29m
7.1
★
Four losers borrow money from gangsters to bet on a "sure thing", but lose. The gangsters go after them to get their money.
Directed by Paul Bartel
slapstick comedy
horse racing
comedic geniuses
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Tim Conway
Dooley
Harvey Korman
Lou
Jack Weston
Elton
Ted Wass
Stump
Dick Enberg
Radio Announcer
Anne Meara
Madge
Frank Bonner
Realtor
Stella Stevens
Nicki Dixon
Edie McClurg
Donna
Eddie Deezen
Parking Attendant
Jonathan Winters
Tyler
Paul Bartel
Blind Man (uncredited)
Crew
Paul Bartel
Director
Tim Conway
Writer
Charles Fox
Original Music Composer
Robby Müller
Director of Photography
Mike Nichols
Executive Producer
Tom Egan
Associate Producer
Popular Reviews
2 reviews
Jacob Paddison
3.0★ · 01/25/26
In 1972, Brian De Palma and Paul Bartel released Sisters and Private Parts, respectively — both psychological thrillers exploring voyeurism and identity through the lens of dingy hotel murder. Both are good.
In 1986, De Palma and Bartel released Wise Guys and The Longshot, respectively — buddy comedies in which some guys make bad bets at the racetrack and get tangled up with the mob. Both are bad.
They've also both directed Nancy Allen in films involving political conspiracies.
These are just some of the fun connections I was making throughout my disastrous watch of The Longshot, a film whose tagline claims "you'll laugh from start to finish". Well I tell you what Mr. Longshot™, I sure as shit wasn't! I liked the part where they drag out the buildup to the bet for the entire duration of the film, and then when they hit big, it ends.
Awful pacing aside, its low-stakes approach to the plot, the restrained energy, and rote sitcom direction make the attempts at big comedic set-pieces fall extremely flat. Bartel's never been a visually inventive director, but he's a guy who you can rely on to bring some sicko shit to your screen that you ain't ever seen or heard before. But alas, this is not so much a Paul Bartel film as it is an excuse for a bunch of Carol Burnett expats to do a wacky farce of shenanigans.
Why he was tacked on as director, I do not know. What I do know for sure is you can skip this laughless, joyless, nothingburger of a comedy.
In 1986, De Palma and Bartel released Wise Guys and The Longshot, respectively — buddy comedies in which some guys make bad bets at the racetrack and get tangled up with the mob. Both are bad.
They've also both directed Nancy Allen in films involving political conspiracies.
These are just some of the fun connections I was making throughout my disastrous watch of The Longshot, a film whose tagline claims "you'll laugh from start to finish". Well I tell you what Mr. Longshot™, I sure as shit wasn't! I liked the part where they drag out the buildup to the bet for the entire duration of the film, and then when they hit big, it ends.
Awful pacing aside, its low-stakes approach to the plot, the restrained energy, and rote sitcom direction make the attempts at big comedic set-pieces fall extremely flat. Bartel's never been a visually inventive director, but he's a guy who you can rely on to bring some sicko shit to your screen that you ain't ever seen or heard before. But alas, this is not so much a Paul Bartel film as it is an excuse for a bunch of Carol Burnett expats to do a wacky farce of shenanigans.
Why he was tacked on as director, I do not know. What I do know for sure is you can skip this laughless, joyless, nothingburger of a comedy.
In 1972, Brian De Palma and Paul Bartel released Sisters and Private Parts, respectively — both psychological thrillers exploring voyeurism and identity through the lens of dingy hotel murder. Both are good.
In 1986, De Palma and Bartel released Wise Guys and The Longshot, respectively — buddy comedies in which some guys make bad bets at the racetrack and get tangled up with the mob. Both are bad.
They've also both directed Nancy Allen in films involving political conspiracies.
These are just some of the fun connections I was making throughout my disastrous watch of The Longshot, a film whose tagline claims "you'll laugh from start to finish". Well I tell you what Mr. Longshot™, I sure as shit wasn't! I liked the part where they drag out the buildup to the bet for the entire duration of the film, and then when they hit big, it ends.
Awful pacing aside, its low-stakes approach to the plot, the restrained energy, and rote sitcom direction make the attempts at big comedic set-pieces fall extremely flat. Bartel's never been a visually inventive director, but he's a guy who you can rely on to bring some sicko shit to your screen that you ain't ever seen or heard before. But alas, this is not so much a Paul Bartel film as it is an excuse for a bunch of Carol Burnett expats to do a wacky farce of shenanigans.
Why he was tacked on as director, I do not know. What I do know for sure is you can skip this laughless, joyless, nothingburger of a comedy.
In 1986, De Palma and Bartel released Wise Guys and The Longshot, respectively — buddy comedies in which some guys make bad bets at the racetrack and get tangled up with the mob. Both are bad.
They've also both directed Nancy Allen in films involving political conspiracies.
These are just some of the fun connections I was making throughout my disastrous watch of The Longshot, a film whose tagline claims "you'll laugh from start to finish". Well I tell you what Mr. Longshot™, I sure as shit wasn't! I liked the part where they drag out the buildup to the bet for the entire duration of the film, and then when they hit big, it ends.
Awful pacing aside, its low-stakes approach to the plot, the restrained energy, and rote sitcom direction make the attempts at big comedic set-pieces fall extremely flat. Bartel's never been a visually inventive director, but he's a guy who you can rely on to bring some sicko shit to your screen that you ain't ever seen or heard before. But alas, this is not so much a Paul Bartel film as it is an excuse for a bunch of Carol Burnett expats to do a wacky farce of shenanigans.
Why he was tacked on as director, I do not know. What I do know for sure is you can skip this laughless, joyless, nothingburger of a comedy.
Mister FatPRO
9.0★ · 04/09/24