While the influence of Pulp Fiction is most visible in the work of low-budget independent filmmakers, Hollywood big studios too tried to cash in on the hype created by Tarantino's masterpiece. One of such titles is Get Shorty, 1995 satirical comedy directed by Barry Sonnenfeld.
The plot of the film, based on 1990 novel by Elmore Leonard, deals with Chili Palmer (played by John Travolta), debt collector employed by Miami mafia. During the job in Las Vegas, he is hired by the locals to track and collect debt from Harry Zimm (played by Gene Hackman), Hollywood producer of low-budget movies. Chili finds Zimm but, influenced by Hollywood glamour, decides to get into movie-making business. He pitches the script idea to Zimm and later uses his gangster skills in order to muscle and con variety of Hollywood individuals into the project.
Few films looked as promising as Get Shorty, especially to those viewers still under deep impression of Pulp Fiction. At first sight, two films had lot in common – they both belonged to the genre of black comedy, script was based on the novel by the author often associated with Tarantino and, finally, the protagonist was played by John Travolta, the actor whose career was re-launched by his memorable performance in Pulp Fiction. Unfortunately, like in many similar occasions, high expectations only led to huge disappointment.
The main problem of the film lies in its major plot theme - idea that the success in Hollywood requires same Machievallian skills as the success in organised crime. This idea is indeed intriguing, but the screenwriter Scott Frank and director Barry Sonnenfeld simply refuse to lift it above "high concept". To make things even worse, any sort of satirical edge is lost in this film, which could be explained by Get Shorty being produced by major studio (apparently not willing to engage in Hollywood self criticism). So, we are left with some lame and unconvincing combination of The Player and Pulp Fiction. To make things even worse, the film is stuffed with multitude of characters, none of them being especially convincing and memorable, despite being played by usually competent character actors like Hackman, Danny de Vito or Delroy Lindo. John Travolta as Chili Palmer tries to outdo the "coolness" of Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction, but his efforts only bring comparisons between two films, which are bound to make Get Shorty even worse. On the other hand, there are some bright moments and scenes that can make you laugh, but in the end most of those believing the hype would conclude that Get Shorty, although watchable, represents one one huge disappointment.
RATING: 4/10 (+)
(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews on September 27th 2002)
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Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/8012-get-shorty?language=en-US
Critic: AA
