Memoirs Of An Invisible Man Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
Women want him for his wit. The C.I.A. wants him for his body. All Nick wants is his molecules back.
An adventure like you've never seen.
Nick Halloway is accidentally made invisible during an accident. When Jenkins finds out about Nick, he set out to recruit him into the world of espionage, seeing the potential for an invisible CIA agent. When Alice Monroe falls in love with Nick, they are forced to flee the attentions of Jenkins. Nick also has the problem of living invisibly whilst trying to find a cure.
| Chevy Chase | Nick Halloway |
| Daryl Hannah | Alice Monroe |
| Sam Neill | David Jenkins |
| Michael McKean | George Talbot |
| Stephen Tobolowsky | Warren Singleton |
| Jim Norton | Dr. Bernard Wachs |
| Pat Skipper | Morrissey |
| Paul Perri | Gomez |
| Richard Epcar | Tyler |
| Steven Barr | Clellan |
| Gregory Paul Martin | Richard |
| Patricia Heaton | Ellen |
| Barry Kivel | Drunk Businessman |
| Donald Li | Cab Driver |
| Rosalind Chao | Cathy DiTolla |
| John Carpenter |
5.70 out of 10 (6569 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Fascinating film with Daryl Hannah
posted on 25 Feb 2009Practically irreproachable adventure cinema - fascinating, beautiful, improbably effective (and for the beginning 90 years simply event in the world of special effects), places ridiculous, and places the intense show which does not allow to come off the screen. The original and original decision of a problem of Herbert Wells of which I since the childhood have become engrossed in reading, finds the happy decision in John Carpenter's film.Chevy Chase, to tell the truth, anywhere especially it is not pleasant to me. There are, certainly, at it excellent roles, but it, basically, pure comedies " Three Amigos ", " National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation " and " Nothing But Trouble ". In other genres it either changes, or looks a little unnaturally, as here, for example. It is good, that, observing of special effects and turns of a fascinating plot, game Chevy Chase often simply you do not notice.And here for the sake of whom it is really possible to look this film, so it for the sake of Daryl Hannah. Here it is delightful, charming, charming, sexual, fine, beautiful, charming, attractive as an angel, however, as well as everywhere. Ms. Daryl Hannah in my list of the most beautiful girls of Hollywood for a long time borrows one of the first places, and each film in whom it plays, it is possible to look only just for the hell of it to see it on the screen! Sam Neill has not so liked. For me it, first of all the positive hero and in a role of the villain is not looked at all...In general, film is good. For time it is very good, and to our time - it is simply good and interesting. Owing to participation Daryl Hannah it becomes also wonderful!;)
Interesting
posted on 30 Dec 2008What if an ordinary man was invisible? And what if that ordinary man was chased by a group of scientists who want to analyse the effects of invisibility in a human? Full of breakthrough special effects, this film works as an interesting modern day variation of the invisible man theme, with plenty of gags, but also with some cool moments. Chevy Chase is a perfect choice, as Sam Neill in the role of the bad guy. It is a pity that this film remained relatively obscure, it really has originality, albeit distorted by the demands of the studio system.
Very Entertaining!
posted on 10 Nov 2008This is a very entertaining film! It is one that I have watched many times over the years. I actually saw this in the theater, because I was and am such a fan of Chevy Chase. However, this came out after his heyday, and it was di rigeur (sp?) by that time to bash anything that Chevy did. I even liked some of his talk show stuff, but that is another matter isn't it! Say what you want about Chase, he had a fantastic run didn't he? If you are a fan of comedy, then you must admit that he left his mark. I can't imagine that anyone watching this couldn't get some entertainment out of it. If you know it is about an invisible man, then I think you know somewhat what you are getting into, if you don't care about that stuff, then obviously stick to what you like, but this was a good one, and if I were Chevy I'd be very proud to have this in my porfolio of films, cheers.
Strangely touching
posted on 10 Jun 2008This movie is indeed underrated, and perhaps largely unknown due more to its relatively low budget than to its concept or execution. Chevy Chase is strangely touching portraying in dramatic tones a character caught in what would at first seem a purely comedic situation. Nick Holloway's predicament is well-realized and well thought-out, and many of the special effects - though not elaborate - are both humorous and intriguing. Darrell Hannah is her usual sensuous and beautiful self. Well worth a watch.
Although silly, the script offers some amusing moments
posted on 10 Apr 2008It's always risky to try to do a movie about a strange, illogical situation. Some have succeeded, like "Groundhog Day"; this one doesn't. Chase goes invisible. Chase deals with his situation. There should be more, but there isn't - apart from the unconvincing storyline about the chase.After you get past the point where the story really starts, "Memoirs of an Invisible Man" gives you some amusing moments. Occasionally, it tries to be serious and fails. The script doesn't offer much to write home about, except if you want to write about badly-executed dramatic situations the movie doesn't necessarily even need. When people say one shouldn't use voice-over in movies, they have this film as evidence. The narration here is badly-used, rather unfunny and, at points, very redundant.I won't say anything about how some may find Chase playing an invisible man ironic; I don't know the man well enough. The music sounds a bit too pompous for this movie.A few funny moments in the form of sight gags and (deliberately?) ridiculous lines; some nice special effects and a small surprise in the end. The film is watchable but never anything else. What's more, it fails to leave the carbon monoxide in the protagonist's lungs in the smoking scene. Kids would've learned, kids would've learned...
"Memoirs of an Invisible Man" - 10/10
posted on 04 Apr 2008As children, we get the impression that if we were invisible, we could get away with almost anything. We could raid the cookie jar on top of the refrigerator, we could look up a pretty girl's dress, or we could be recruited by corrupt members of the government for high profile assassinations, in which no one is blamed for it. That is sort of the dilemma with Nick Halloway (Chevy Chase), after a lab accident zaps away his molecules and renders him transparent. He's forced to go on the run, once his presence is known of course, and with no one to turn to, except Alice Monroe (Daryl Hannah), the woman he fell in love with before his accident.It goes without saying that many of the effects in this movie are pretty dated, especially by today's standards, but are still pretty convincing.
The performances are excellent, especially from Chase. We do get a feel of his character's desperation, as he tries to cope with his new style. Daryl Hannah is perfect as the love interest and Sam Neill is terrifying as the corrupt CIA agent on Halloway's tail.The story of the Invisible Man has been through many incarnations and adaptations, but I believe that only a few have really been able to effectively capture the psychological aspects of not being able to be seen by people. The Invisible Man stories are pretty dark and disturbing, as many times the themes in them have remained pretty consistent in dealing with loneliness, alienation, and insanity. "Memoirs of an Invisible Man" deals with these issues pretty well, though at times you feel that more could have been done with the story, which is its only major drawback.Other than that, it's still pretty entertaining and moving to watch.
Fun, but the book was better
posted on 10 Nov 2007This was a fun movie, and a good vehicle for Chevy Chase's humor, but I liked the book for its more realistic treatment of the problems that an invisible man would have (like the little bits of food that are visible after he eats, and keeping track of his one set of invisible clothes)
An Highly Visible Movie
posted on 20 Aug 2007This movie is a good surprise.It tells the story of a modern invisible man. There is no question about experiment, mad scientist, etc... because the hero is a simple trader, and his life turns into a mess the day he becomes accidentally invisible.On this simple idea, this movie succeeds in a lot of genres: it is a fantasy movie, a comedy, a thriller, a romance, a Carpenter's movie with a subtile critic of America....The locations are also very enjoyable and spouses well the need of the story: the urban life of San Francisco & the countryside near the ocean. In the city, the action is dynamic, while in the country, there is much time for reflexion.All the tricks of the invisibility are well done. Every 5 minutes, you will be delighted to see a funny, inventive shot. On the psychological side, all the implications of this situation are confronted: the loneliness, the power, oneself's identity, the value of appearance, etc....At least, all the actors are wonderful: Hannah delivers her traditional but so much sensitive portray of a delicate, naive, sincere woman. Chase excels with his attitude and he sure brought his comedy experience.In conclusion, congratulations Mr. Carpenter !!! Your talent have blended harmoniously all this, and in spite of of being far away of your traditional horror movie, you prove that you are a great director !!!!
Forgotten and Extremely Underrated film from Carpenter.
posted on 21 Jul 2007A weary stock analyst Nick Halloway (Chevy Chase) got caught in a nuclear freak accident that made Nick invisible. When an ruthless spy (Particularly chief adversary:Sam Neill) try to catch Nick to make him join his CIA operative as a Invisible Spy and to study him. The only person that could help him is a lovely documentary producer (Daryl Hannah) in a way, she's never seen him before but NicK is running out of time.This rarely seen Comedy/Adventure/Thriller is directed by John Carpenter (In The Mouth of Madness, Starman, Village of the Damned-1995). This is One of Carpenter's warmest films. Carpenter gives a lot of heart in this film. The movie presents One of Chevy Chase's best performances. Sam Neill has an scene stealing performance as the Ruthless Spy. Daryl Hannah is cute as always in the film.This picture was a Box Office Disappointment back in 1992. This has some of the best Visual Effects ever presented in a movie back in the early 90's. Industrial, Light and Magic (George Lucas' Visual Effects Company) made memorable CGI effects in this film.DVD has an sharp anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) transfer and an fine-Dolby 2.0 Surround Sound. DVD has a few features like:The Dawn of Digital F/X, Outtakes and an Hidden Feature. It would have been nice if the DVD has an running commentary track by director:Carpenter and actor:Chase. But we can't always have we want in our favorite films.This film is Based on a Novel by H.F. Saint and the Screenplay was written by Robert Collector, Dana Olsen (The 'Burbs) and William Goldman (Dreamcatcher). The film suffered a bit during filming because of Warner Bros. The Studio wanted a funny Chevy Chase film, while the lead actor wanted to be in a serious role. Chase only got half of what he wanted. The film suffer also by plenty of re-writes during filming. This is one of Carpenter's most underrated film. Do not miss this genuine forgotten film. Panavision. (****/*****).
THIS WAS A GOOD MOVIE!
posted on 08 Nov 2006I must say, going into this movie I had some preconceived expectations and pretty high desire to see this, based on the fact that I am a huge science fiction fan as well as a technology / special effects fan. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the film, mainly because of the style of the story telling. It was at the present and went back several months and then came back up to the present, which is a method of storytelling I enjoy the most.
On top of the that, performances by Mr. Chase, Ms. Hannah, and Mr. Neil, were all top-notch. Special Effects too thrown in were top notch as well, not only cause we were dealing with an invisible man, but we got the viewpoint from two sides, that from the main actor's standpoint (played by Chevy Chase) but from that of how others saw him, or rather how they didn't see him. By the end of the movie, I felt sorry for Nick but at the same time I wanted to be him.For a good family movie with mystery, suspense, comedy, and some drama, you won't be disappointed in checking out this rare gem. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
I just can't see Chevy Chase in this role
posted on 04 Aug 2006I'll start out by saying I've never seen Daryl Hannah looking better. Having that out of the way, I will say this film wasn't particularly funny nor was it anything more than an average picture, but the special effects were special indeed. Neill was fine as the C.I.A. goon intent on cashing in on someone else's misery. All things considered, I still think being invisible would be a plus. Hannah gave all the good reasons.
Being unseen can been helpful or hurtful
posted on 23 Jun 2006Chevy Chase is at it again. This time he plays a yuppie who become totally transparent after a freak accident. In "Memoirs of an Invisible Man", Nick Halloway(Chase) becomes both victim and pawn of the CIA. Halloway becomes invisible following an explosion in a laboratory which, makes him a perfect weapon against the enemy. However, someone in the CIA wanted him for more than that. So Nick escapes, and goes to the woman he loves dearly, Alice Monroe(Darryl Hannah). She thinks that Nick is dead, but when she sees the truth, it's out of sight. Literally. Nick's personality and wit gives him the edge when Jenkins(Sam Neill) would give him a promise to give him back his molecules so he can be living a normal life again. So far, Nick finds his condition a bit of a plus so far. He can play practical jokes, without getting caught. The only way you can get caught is to misuse the ability of stealth. It's a lot of fun, it's too bad it didn't do well at the box office. This movie is perfect for home viewing I believe. It wouldn't hurt to be invisible, just get used to it. 4 out of 5 stars!
Passable film adaptation of one of the best books ever written
posted on 03 Jun 2006If you have not read the book, you might find this an adequate, reasonably imaginative, and entertaining film.
Unfortunately, because the excellent book of the same name by H.F. Saint which inspired it is so superlatively brilliant, this film suffers badly by contrast.
Tells the story of an ordinary man (Chevy Chase) who is accidentally turned invisible, but still needs to eat, drink, sleep, open doors to pass through them, etc. Government agents see him as a huge opportunity for both spying and scientific reseach. Our hero realises that if the government gets hold of him his life won't be that of a human being but a lab rat, so he goes on the run. The main plot line of the story tells of his battle to keep out of the hands of the government forces and their sinister ringleader, excellently played by Sam Neill.
He also manages to set up a romance with Daryl Hannah's character.
Probably one reason that the book worked so much better than the film is that invisibility is a subject much more easily described by words than pictures. It was vastly easier for H.F. Saint to write what was happening to his character than for the film to show that there was an invisible man in the room. Having said that, one or two images from the film which did manage this well are quite unforgettable, such as Sam Neill staggering towards a door with his hand up behind his back as if an invisible person was holding it there, and a gun magically suspended with the business end pressed against the side of his head. All credit to Neill for a great bit of acting there.
Overall I would have to describe this as competent but not brilliant, with some good acting from the three leads. But if you are looking for a story about an invisible man which really is brilliant, read H.F. Saint's book. (Or indeed HG Wells' classic original.)
Not a true Carpenter flick, but a true Chase flick
posted on 03 May 2006Chase plays an egocentric successful prick who by accident becomes invisible. Government sleaze ball Neill wants to apprehend Chase and use him to "serve" his country as a spy.This movie isn't called John Carpenter's Memoirs of an Invisible Man, and with good reason. There is nothing Carpenteresque about this film, it feels completely like a Chevy Chace vehicle with state of the art special effects. If you like Chase you'll enjoy this film somewhat, just don't mistake it for an authentic John Carpenter movie. Chase delivers his fair share of decent one-liners and overall the film is quite enjoyable, but a lot of priority has been given to the film's spectacular special effects. The story grows a bit tiresome and it doesn't have any tricks up it's sleeve, it's mostly just Neill chasing Chase.If you're a special effects nut then this will appeal to you. Chase fans (like myself) will like it too but this ain't no great affair. Sam Neill is a convincing bad guy and Daryl Hannah is always lovely to look at. I can't help thinking that Carpenter couldn't have had total creative control, for this is completely a by the numbers comedy. Oh well, maybe he's just slumming this time around.
Decent all the way
posted on 19 Apr 2006This comedy directed by horror maestro John Carpenter is actually pretty decent. The special effects still look amazing.
The plot is thin, but who cares? It's well acted (it would be better if you're a fan of Chevy Chase) and hilarious in some places. Slows a bit down in the second half but picks up for a good finale.
Memoirs of an Invisible Fletch? :(
posted on 01 Mar 2006This John Carpenter movie is actually a really good spin on the entire invisible man concept. Chevy Chase is a little too large of a man to pull off the invisible man role. He does do physical comedy well and is okay at drama here. Unfortunately, he's not at his "Fletch" level in the movie either; something I'm sure everyone expected to happen, because there's his completely unnecessary voice-over/narration. Basically, this seems to be a casting mistake, and a part probably intended for a non-comedic actor?The fx are excellent, as we see an invisible man see himself eat, then vomit; he smokes and we see a very short but stunning effect. And the building where it all began is quite a feat of computer and chroma-key engineering. There are a lot of fx here that predate every fx the stinkfest "Hollow Man" gave us 8 years later. The chase (pun not intended) and "Fugitive"-like story is hardly original, though Carpenter does move things along for the most part. The very last scene during the closing credits doesn't lend credence to the semi-serious tone which preceded it.Although "Memoirs--" is no classic, this invisible man movie is far superior to the aforementioned dog "Hollow Man". And at least it has a friggin' point.
Pleasant enough
posted on 26 Feb 2006Sci-fi/horror/political drama-comedy in which Chase unexpectedly finds himself invisible and a hot commodity with the intelligence circuit, particularly the incredibly evil Neill. Chevy in distress is usually fun to watch, even more so when Hannah's helping out (in another attractive performance).
Good Movie
posted on 13 Jul 2009I enjoyed Memoirs of an Invisible Man, its no classic but better than its flop reputation. I've always been a fan of Chevy Chase and I'm also a huge fan of John Carpenter although I never imagined that Carpenter would direct a Chevy Chase movie, but to be honest if I had not heard that John Carpenter had directed this or seen his name in the credits and had just watched the movie oblivious to the fact I don't think I would have guessed this was a Carpenter movie. Nothing about it screams John Carpenter, its much more a Chevy Chase movie although a slightly more serious one than normal. He's pretty good in this, more straight and with less of the physical and wacky comedy that made his name. Daryl Hannah is as beautiful as ever as the love interest and Sam Neil makes a good villain. One thing I will say about this film is it seems like it may have been heavily cut as it seems a bit disjointed at times. Special credit to the special effects guys though , amazing effects for a 1992 movie. All in all a rather good movie.