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By Steve Crum 

THROWING BACK to May 30, 1997, when the comedy Gone Fishin’ opened. My review appeared on Rotten Tomatoes. (It’s still there.) But until now I have never admitted that (gulp)…my take on the movie stands alone as the ONLY positive review among all the nationwide film critics. 

It is a dubious honor. In other words, the movie is deemed overwhelming Rotten, except for my singular Fresh reaction. 

I can only surmise that 29 years ago, I had either overdosed on Diet Dr. Pepper OR was in the mood for a Dumb and Dumber type comedy. Alas, Gone Fishin‘ is too dumb and beyond dumber for the masses. (It was a box office dud as well, making only $19 million on its $53 million cost.) Hey, at least two positive quotes via the Chicago Tribune are featured on the DVD cover! 

Wikipedia describes the movie as “a 1997 American comedy film starring Joe Pesci and Danny Glover as two bumbling fishing enthusiasts. Nick Brimble, Rosanna Arquette, Lynn Whitfield and Willie Nelson co-star. It is the only collaboration between Glover and Pesci outside of the Lethal Weapon franchise. Christopher Cain directed the film. J. J. Abrams and Jill Mazursky wrote the film’s script.”

Incidentally, the leading roles of Joe and Gus were first offered to John Candy and Rick Moranis. Both turned it down as they were busy with other projects. 

What a break for Candy and Moranis!

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MY GRADE: 3/5

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