National Lampoon's Gold Diggers

National Lampoon's Gold Diggers
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGary Preisler
Screenplay byGary Preisler
Story byMichael Canale
Produced by
  • Don Ashley
  • Amy Greenspun
  • Gary Preisler
Starring
CinematographyThomas L. Callaway
Edited byRobert Brakey
Music byChristopher Horvath
Production
companies
Distributed byP&A Distributors
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release dates
  • June 15, 2003 (2003-06-15) (CineVegas)
  • September 17, 2004 (2004-09-17) (United States)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$829,140[1]

National Lampoon's Gold Diggers (also known as National Lampoon's Lady Killers) is a 2003 American black comedy film written and directed by Gary Preisler. It features two friends (Will Friedle and Chris Owen) who marry two elderly sisters (Louise Lasser and Renée Taylor) so they can inherit their fortunes when they die.

Plot

Two dimwitted friends try to get rich through small crimes, including an unsuccessful attempt to mug two elderly women. They agree to get married, the women scheme to kill them off and collect on a life insurance policy, the men think the elderly women will die and leave them a big inheritance.

Cast

Reception

Box office

The film was considered a dismal failure, with a theatrical run of only 1 week, and earning less than $400,000 as opening weekend receipts (less than $400 per theater).[1]

Critical response

The film received overwhelmingly negative reviews. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, with 44 reviews, the film has a rare approval rating of 0% – meaning no favorable reviews whatsoever – receiving an average rating of 1.8/10.[2] The film was included on the site's Worst of the Worst list of movies of the decade (2000–09).[3] The site's critical consensus reads: "It aspires to Farrelly-level offensiveness, but the PG-13 rating and a dearth of decent gags renders Gold Diggers tame, toothless, and dull." According to film review website Metacritic, which compiles and averages critics' review scores, the film is the 11th worst reviewed film of all time.[4] It also holds a score of 6 out 100 based on reviews from 14 critics, indicating "overwhelming dislike".[5]

Janice Page of the Boston Globe panned the film, and wrote: "Put it this way: National Lampoon's Gold Diggers makes "The Anna Nicole Show" look sophisticated. Page continued "Not only is there nothing thoughtful or interesting about this latest ultra-crass contribution to the Lampoon shelf, there's not even anything very funny."[6] Luke Sader of The Hollywood Reporter called it "Cheap-looking, broad and ultimately unnecessary comedy."[7] Justin Chang of Variety described it as "By turns pointless and pointlessly mean-spirited."[8]

Home media

An unrated DVD was released in 2005. National Lampoon's Gold Diggers brought in $1.29 million during its first week on the rental market.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "National Lampoon's Gold Diggers (2004) - International Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  2. ^ National Lampoon's Gold Diggers at Rotten Tomatoes
  3. ^ "Worst of the Worst 2000-2009". Rotten Tomatoes.
  4. ^ "Highest and Lowest Scoring Movies". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2010-02-13. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  5. ^ "National Lampoon's Gold Diggers". Metacritic.
  6. ^ Janice Page (September 17, 2004). "Lampoon's 'Diggers' isn't in it for the funny - The Boston Globe". Boston.com.
  7. ^ "Movie Reviews | Hollywood Reporter". The Hollywood Reporter.
  8. ^ Chang, Justin (17 September 2004). "National Lampoon's Gold Diggers". Variety.
  9. ^ C.S.Strowbridge. "Incredibles Ride into the Sunset". The Numbers. Retrieved 1 December 2011.


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