Movies-TV

Complete Fun

This is complete fun. Richard Dreyfuss does an excellent job of playing the harried unkempt professor of anthropology. Mr. Dreyfuss has complete control of the script and all his supporting actors give him their best support. And what a cast! Check this out:Lily Tomlin .... Ruth AllenNatasha Lyonne .... Shelly KrippendorfDavid Ogden Stiers .... Henry SpiveyJenna Elfman .... Veronica MicelliMila Kunis .... Abbey Tournquist (Mila Kunis has a bit part but was obviously the cutest one on the entire set. :)Gregory Smith .... Mickey Krippendorf (Kudos go out to this rising star b/c he did an excellent job as the son supporting his father.)BTW, I was laughing in places where there were only physical comedy. Dreyfuss is completely hilarious. 9/10-Zafoid

No moral here!

The problem with this movie was not only flat, boring comedy (it really seemed to drag on for a 90-minute flick) but the way the main characters got away with lying! Anthropologist James Krippendorf makes up this big lie about a unique New Guinea tribe, whose name is constructed from his 3 kids' names. He keeps piling lies on top of lies and even drags Jenna Elfman down. I would have liked to see him, his family and Elfman get theirs for so much lying; instead an 11th-hour trick by Krippendorf's daughter convinces adversary Ruth Allen (Lily Tomlin) there really is a Shelmickedmu Tribe. At least in "The Blues Brothers" (1980) they got thrown into prison for all that destruction in the Chicagoland area. Centering a whole movie around lying and deception and letting them get away with it stinks. This movie sent out a poor moral message and was a crappy comedy besides.

Not as bad as others say.

Frankly, this is the funniest movie I've seen this year. I laughed my head off at the incredible extremes that Richard Dreyfuss' character goes to in order to placate his fellow academics in this. Granted, I don't know if I would show this to young children, but still I liked it very much. Great slapstick!

Classic slapstick at its nouveau best

Dreyfuss has always been a master of high humor and KT is another enjoyable vehicle for it. Elfman is funny and vivacious, as well as lovely to look at. Both stars work well together. I laughed throughout; appreciating the movie for what it was meant to be: good comedy. I recommend this film for anyone wanting a lot of good laughs.

Hilarious!

This movie is great! Richard Dreyfuss and Jenna Elfman are a good team, and the three child actors who portray the children of Dreyfuss are really good, too. This is a good movie for the family to enjoy together, as there is little or no foul language or nudity. You will laugh a lot!

Krippendorf's Tribe....Funny but at the same time a waste of Richard Dreyfuss's talents

For some unknown reason I actually enjoyed watching the movie. It was only after a few hours that I began to realise how bad it was. The question then begs as to does that make it a good movie then if I enjoyed it whilst I was watching it?Lets look at the plot...In essence its stupid and insults ones intelligence to think that that we are expected to believe the nonsense. Yet I enjoyed some of the comic elements of Richard Dreyfuss and Jenna Elfman as they "frauded" the anthropolgy community.Lets look at the actors. Richard Dreyfuss has certainly seen beeter days.
James Krippendorf is not going to go down as his greatest character, and this movie is certainly not his career masterpiece. Havuing said that, he wasn't bad in the movie, it was the movie that was bad/Jenna Elfman is gorgeous and "chirpy"/ Her character Veronica Micelli is similar to her Dharma character. This begs one to question the limits of her acting range.From the reviews I have read of the movie, it seems it got "bagged by many"/
The average rating at IMBD of 4.9 (as at 17/12/99) suggests that everyone else agrees. Yet I gave it a 7/10 on first viewing. View the movie without expecting to think too much about the plot....You may just enjoy it....

Not Richard Dreyfuss at his best but a very funny movie

I can't believe how everyone is ready to crucify Richard Dreyfuss for doing this movie. Give the guy a break! It's light comedy. It isn't meant to be Shakespeare! Because Richard Dreyfuss has done some marvelous acting in some great roles, he's not allowed take anything but dramatic roles? Not every movie has to be socially redeeming with likeable, moral characters. This is not Richard Dreyfuss at his best by any means, but it also isn't as bad as everyone is making out either. I don't think this movie would be judged quite so harshly if it weren't Richard Dreyfuss in the lead role and that is a real shame. He is a talented actor who is capable of playing a wide variety of characters, not the least of which includes comedy(He was hysterical in "Moon over Parador"). Lighten up everyone. "Great actors" should be allowed to do roles that aren't necessarily "great".

People just don't know humor when they hear it...

As much as I don't care for Dreyfuss or Elfman, I really enjoyed this movie, and thats a shocker to everyone who knows me because I walked into the theater with my once normal "everything [is bad]" attitude; If I can think something's funny, anyone can. Do yourself a favor, ignore the cynical reviews everyone else says, THIS IS FUNNY STUFF!!

This is a family film?

I think not.With all the adult references and situations in this thing I have a real hard time understanding why anyone would take their kid to see it. OK, it involves a "family," or rather a widower with three kids, but the buck stops there as far as so-called "family entertainment" goes. People taking their kids to see this film remind me of the same breed of parents who let their kids watch Spin City: The logic being they think it's funny, and because there's no nudity nor "gross" humor in it, it's therefore okay for kids to watch.Wrong. Kids, like adults, understand words, phrases, gestures, but don't always comprehend their entire context (though they have a hint of the meaning). This is why we have things like Sex-Ed in our schools; to keep them from getting into trouble. But that's neither here nor there, because the films been out since 1998, and most people who were inclined to see it (with or without their children) already have.As far as a movie on its own I'd give this thing a passing grade. It's really the kind of film that would've been made prior to 1970, where cross cultural understanding was just coming out of its infancy. The formula of a "lost tribe" is a vehicle used in classic comedies (TV and feature film) of eras gone by. In today's age of interconnectivity, just on the most basic level of common sense understanding, it's hard to imagine a tribe of people not having been contacted by modern society. But hey, it's a movie, so anything's possible.It is a junk film on one level. The humor, for what it is, didn't need to be so blatant, obvious, and mildly blue. There was a real opportunity to create something here, but, as usual, the marketing "geniuses" probably got their hands on the script before either cast or crew, and dictated how many and what kind of jokes were to be in the film. I say that because I have a real hard time believing any intelligent screenwriter would write action and dialogue portrayed in this film... unless hey were a hack B-movie producer.For all that the story's actually kind of likable, and the general look of the film (bright colors and well lit scenes) is rather pleasing. And the acting is actually quite good. Dreyfuss doing his usual high energy stuff is always fun to see. But the meat of the film, the actual words spoken, actions performed, and one disappointing and obnoxious prop protruding from Dreyfuss'es crotch, leaves much to be desired.Frank Parkin and Charlie Peters are given the writing credits for this flick. To them I say "Don't quit your day job."

Oh, the pain!

What a disappointment; and I waited, impatiently, for this movie to come out. Every Richard Dreyfuss film I've seen deserved (very close to) a '10'--and Jenna Elfman was great on TV as 'Dharma' (and more recently in some TV movies)--but this movie was just plain lousy. Fortunately, each of the main characters remained respected actors after this flop.The plot in "Kripendorf's Tribe" was totally ridiculous, and I couldn't even manage to get one laugh out of the entire film. The idea of inventing a bogus tribe--and of filming his yard while dressed as a member of that tribe--yuk! I couldn't wait for this movie to end--and that is quite unusual for me.In my opinion, this film is "flap-stick" in nature--totally not my kind of flick. It may be enjoyable to some children, but it was not for mine.Save your money, don't even rent this waste of time!

Krippendorf's Funny!

Professor Krippendorf got so caught up in being a parent after his wife passed away that he spent his anthropology grant money with nothing to show for it. In essence, he embezzled it. Having broken the law and ruined his career (if he gets found out), he decides that there's really no difference between a small fraud and a big one and so he goes ahead to invent a giant hoax. The popularity of the bizarre tribe he invents is so immense that he can't escape its vortex and takes shameless advantage of everyone including his family and his amorous and greedy grad student to perpetuate his humbug. What makes this flick funny is the over-the-top, go-for-broke way in which the characters abandon every moral fibre. And then there's the surprise ending!

Terrible film

I had the misfortune of seeing this film on TV, and the biggest mistake was watching it all the way through. I have great respect for Dreyfuss as an actor (Mr Holland's Opus was a classic film, as was Close Encounters and Jaws), but this film hits rock bottom. There was no laughter coming from any member of our household all the way through the film. How this could be called a family comedy is beyond me, because it's not for family (unless you think that teaching your kids that it's OK to get a woman drunk to sleep with her is a good thing), and it's not a comedy, because a comedy is meant to be funny.I rank this alongside Luggage of the Gods as the most unfunny comedy I've ever seen.

Can we say stupid mistake

Richard Dreyfuss and Jenna Elfman made a stupid mistake when they decided to add their names to this disastrous and lame film. Krippendorf's Tribe is the type of film that falls under the category of films that shouldn't have been made. Everything stunk about this film from the script to the costumes Richard Dreyfuss and Jenna Elfman had to wear. Even the supposed romance between Dreyfuss and Elfman was a mistake in the script. I gave this film my full attention for 90 minutes but it didn't live up to what I was expecting. One thing I noticed lacking from this film was comedy, true comedy. The jokes were not really jokes but attempts at jokes. I don't remember laughing at all and if I did it was at them instead of with them.I'am really sorry I wasted my time on this mistake of a film. The Razzies were correct in making this dullest comedy of 1998. They should have given worst actor awards to Dreyfuss and Elfman, too. No way would anyone make me recommend this film.

Unbearable Even For Insomniacs

It's 2:30 am, I'm lying in bed, and I can't sleep. Flipping through channels, I see a company logo indicating a movie is about to start. Whenever this happens, I am mentally and physically unable to change the channel until I know what the movie is. Seeing that it stars Richard Dreyfuss and Jenna Elfman, I know immediately it is Krippendorf's Tribe, which I remember being advertised but never saw. Not having anything else to do, I keep watching.That was my first mistake.The second thing I did wrong was to continue watching past the first commercial break, and on to the end credits. I was completely fascinated by how utterly terrible this movie is. I don't think I've ever seen a movie this awful with so many recognizable, decent actors taking part. Dreyfuss, Elfman, Lily Tomlin, David Ogden Stiers, Stephen Root, Natasha Lyonne, Siobhan Fallon, Elaine Stritch, Tom Poston, Susan Ruttan...all names I know, all actors I've seen before, never in anything this ridiculous and pointless.During the opening credits, we see Professor Krippendorf and his family in New Guinea, hanging out with a local tribe. Next we see the Professor on his couch two years later watching his video of this trip. It is soon revealed his wife has died, and apparently he has been on this couch ever since, because Jenna Elfman shows up at his door to remind him he has a presentation that night about the lost tribe of New Guinea. She's supposed to be his former student, now fellow professor of anthropology, but she spends the entirety of the movie acting as agent between Krippendorf and a cable network. Sounds like the writer really paid a lot of attention to this character.So he sits at McDonalds with his unruly children and tries to write a speech for his presentation, but comes up with nothing. When he arrives at the lecture hall, hundreds of people wait for his groundbreaking research to be revealed. Of course, he doesn't have any research. Whatever this lost tribe is, he never found it. So it's still lost. But I'm asking myself, what lost tribe? I just saw the video footage of him with a tribe in New Guinea! Is that not them? If not, who are they? Why are all these people at the lecture hall expecting something of him? If he didn't find anything, why don't they already know that? Where did they get their expectations? Why can't he just say "I didn't find that tribe, and my wife died, and I've been kind of depressed"? Why didn't he tell them that when he got home from New Guinea?Other stupid questions: Why did he buy a big screen TV with the grant money? Why didn't he use the grant money to pay his mortgage and his bills instead of allowing his home to near foreclosure? Why is he so close to losing his house if he's still on staff at the university? If he has an office and friends there, why don't they have any idea what's been going on with him professionally for the last two years?I realize a supposedly screwball comedy requires there to be a great deception during the first act, which must then be supported through the third act until all is revealed. That's fine, but as far as the story being told, there is no reason for them to expect anything, so there is no reason to lie. It's my understanding he'd have this presentation to tell them what he found. If he didn't find anything, why can't he say so? Why do they expect something amazing? Who told them something amazing had happened? And why is this business of a "lost tribe" being brought up as if I knew what they were talking about? Is that why he went to New Guinea? To find a lost tribe? Why has this exposition not been supplied to me? All I know is, the movie opened with him talking to members of a tribe, and now he's saying he lost the lost tribe. That makes no sense. None of the first part of the movie makes any sense.That's only the beginning. The rest of movie is filled with jokes that are either totally inappropriate or just plain fall flat. Jokes about circumcision? Is this the funniest thing they could think of? One of his kids puts on some kind of show and tell about a native girl's first menstruation. Why? The only good thing about this scene is the one-line role of a young Mila Kunis as his classmate playing the native girl. He's even unwrapping a bloody cloth in the next scene. I just don't see the point, or the humor.Nothing in this movie is funny. Everything plays like a bad old sitcom at best. Three minor positive notes: One - the aforementioned Mila Kunis, who has a spectacular voice, though as I said she only has one line, but it was nice to see her. Two - Jenna Elfman's butt. In her underwear. Not exactly a reason to see a movie, but if you are watching the movie, it's there in a pair of brief scenes; yes that pun was intended. Three - cinematographer Dean Cundey, always a pro with the pretty pictures. Why he chose to work on this movie, I'm sure I'll never know. I hope they paid him handsomely.

Richard Dreyfuss hits bottom

Ever wonder what happened to Richard Dreyfuss?
An academy award winning actor who has really gone downhill in recent years. Makes me think his acting days are over . Back in the 70's and 80's he was a huge star and wonderful. Now hes a has been who should quit. Like Woody Allen ,his career is over. Mr Dreyfuss doesnt have the power or charisma anymore to get good roles. Unlike mature stars Sean Connery and Harrison Ford who have major clout in Hollywood,Mr Dreyfuss does not have that anymore and should retire gracefully. Krippendorfs tribe is on par with movies like Meatballs and Porkys, infantile humor and a plot so stupid its ridiculous. Please Mr Dreyfuss ,retire and enjoy life and stop making stupid movies and kill that lame tv show 'The Education of Max Bickford" it is an abysmal tv show.

fun movie -- worthless DVD

I've been looking forward to getting this movie on DVD for some time. But where are the specal features that make DVD almost worth the high prices they charge? How about complete English and French support (both audio and subtitles), audio commentaries, making of, deleted scenes / outtakes, cast info, etc.? I enjoy the humor of the script, the performances of the actors(/actresses), and the beauty of Jenna Elfman (amazing legs and other natural attributes...), but the lack of features will prevent me from buying this DVD.

Disappointing and disturbing (some minor spoilers included)

I can't see how anyone can call this a family film. There are numerous phallic references, including a creation of a "circumcision" scene done with two boys and an axe. Every character in the film is manipulative and dishonest in every way. All of the professors try to take credit for work they did not do, including the work of Krippendorf (which even HE did not do.) I wanted to pity him for being a widower but that issue barely came up and does not excuse his stealing thousands of dollars of grant money for his own personal use. (This is criminal!) But to get away with it, he invents a fictitious tribe he claims to have researched with all kinds of "unusual" tribal practices, falsifying anthropological research and tainting information about primitive peoples (in the film). This leads to more and bigger opportunities to lie about this fictitious tribe for financial gain. His out of control children live in squalor and he uses them to pull off his hoax, teaching them how to lie, steal and cheat. (The whole family even steals farm animals for this stunt.) Great family values. And we're supposed to laugh when he is disrespectful to his deceased wife's parents when they want to put the kids (their own grandchildren) into a more disciplined school environment? Then there's the annoying Jenny Elfman who pushes her way into a life and takes credit for his "research". He wants nothing to do with her until she introduces him to a TV executive who wants to pay him to air films of his research. Then he uses her by secretly filming the two of them having sex dressed as tribe members and selling the video! Then he is offered more grant money to continue his research and she wants half of it (before she even knows about the sex video)--then they get caught in the hoax. But they get away with their theft, fraud and other criminal behavior because the one responsible person in the whole film, the one who earlier voiced a conscience about the misdeeds (his daughter) pulls off the biggest hoax of all to protect him and they get away with this nonsense and live happily ever after, apparently on the fraudulently obtained grant money wrested from the hand of a benevolent elderly lady benefactor. Shameful. And we're supposed to pity him for a being a single (though incompetent) f

Warning Not Widescreen as described

Amazon has this DVD mislabeled as widescreen 1.85:1 but it is actually 1.33:1 fullscreen. I have received a replacement to my original order and both were the wrong aspect ratio. It even says on the box 1.33:1 full screen.


Other than that this is a good movie.

Actually, 3.5 stars

"Krippendorf's Tribe" isn't Richard Dreyfuss's best movie to date, especially having released the stunning "Mr. Holland's Opus" two years previous. Some of his lines were overreacted. Besides this, there are good elements in the movie. Some funny scenes will catch the audience's eyes. However, the borderline between fantasy and reality needed to be recognized by the producers. Despite, faking eyecatching "Shelmikedmu" rituals to gain national recognition is clever. Such scenes lead the audience to a surprising conclusion. Lily Tomlin plays the funny role that viewers either love or hate. Some of Jenna Elfman's lines were underreacted, but when she shines, she shines bright. Notice rising star Gregory Smith, the middle child. He's performed better, but his role was still underrated.

Fans of certain actors in this movie should rent "Krippendorf's Tribe" once. Some mixed opinions about the outcome will arise, but everyone will be entertained.

Very original and funny movie

In the 90's there haven't been too many films that are completely original, but here's one! This movie is one of those rare comedies that actually takes the time to set up a plot, and allow time for character development. Richard Dreyfuss is one of the best actors ever, and Jenna Elfman is soooo cute!