It was 1999. The world was terrified of Y2K, The Matrix was busy redefining gravity, and Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn were just trying to get through a dinner in Manhattan. Looking back at The Out of Towners movie 1999, it feels like a time capsule of a specific brand of chaotic comedy that we don't really see anymore. Critics weren't kind. Honestly, they were pretty brutal. Rotten Tomatoes still lists it with a "Splat," and most reviewers at the time compared it unfavorably to the 1970 original starring Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis. But if you actually sit down and watch it now, there's a frantic, desperate energy to it that hits differently in the age of travel anxiety.
George and Gwen Kellerman aren't just "characters." They are the personification of every person who has ever had a flight cancelled or a luggage bag lost in the void. They’re a couple from Ohio heading to New York City for George’s big job interview. Simple, right? No. Absolutely not.
The Chaos of The Out of Towners Movie 1999 Explained
The movie is a remake, which is always a dangerous game in Hollywood. Neil Simon wrote the original screenplay, and while the 1999 version keeps the skeleton of the plot, it cranks the absurdity up to an eleven. Sam Weisman, the director, decided to lean heavily into the slapstick strengths of his leads. Steve Martin plays George Kellerman with this specific brand of high-strung, vein-popping frustration that he perfected in Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Goldie Hawn is Gwen, the eternal optimist who slowly unravels as the city of New York systematically tries to destroy their lives.
They lose their luggage. They lose their money. They get mugged. They end up in a high-speed chase. It’s a literal nightmare.
One of the weirdest and most memorable parts of the film involves John Cleese. He plays Mr. Mersault, the manager of the posh hotel they can't afford. Cleese is doing this bizarre, almost surreal performance—including a scene where he dances in drag that feels like it belonged in a completely different movie. It’s jarring. It’s strange. Yet, it’s also the kind of "anything goes" filmmaking that defined late-90s studio comedies. They weren't trying to be "grounded" or "gritty." They just wanted to see Steve Martin scream at a dog.
Why the 1999 Remake Felt So Different
The original 1970 film was dark. Like, genuinely stressful. Jack Lemmon played George as a man on the edge of a nervous breakdown because of the urban decay of New York. In the 1999 version, the city isn't the villain as much as the situation is. New York in 1999 was actually doing pretty well; it was the era of Giuliani’s cleanup and the Disney-fication of Times Square. Because the city wasn't actually a terrifying hellscape anymore, the movie had to invent more ridiculous scenarios to keep the plot moving.
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This is where the movie loses some people.
It stops being a relatable story about travel woes and starts being a series of sketches. You've got the scene in the church where they accidentally get high on drug-laced incense. You've got the "Sexaholics Anonymous" meeting they stumble into. It’s episodic. Some people hate that. They want a tight, three-act structure where every beat leads logically to the next. But there's a charm in the messiness. If you’ve ever actually been stuck in a city you don’t know with zero dollars in your pocket, life does feel episodic and nonsensical.
Casting Alchemy: Martin and Hawn
You can't talk about The Out of Towners movie 1999 without talking about the sheer wattage of the stars. This was one of the last times we saw these two comedy titans operating at this specific level of physical comedy.
Steve Martin's physicality is underrated. Look at the way he carries his body when he's angry—shoulders hunched, jaw set, walking like he's trying to push the Earth out of his way. Goldie Hawn, meanwhile, has this incredible ability to be both flighty and deeply grounded at the same time. She’s the heart of the film. Without her, George would just be an unlikable jerk. She makes you care why they're trying to save this marriage and this career.
- George Kellerman: High-stakes executive, desperately insecure.
- Gwen Kellerman: The wife who just wants a nice dinner and some attention.
- Mr. Mersault: The legendary hotelier with a penchant for high heels.
The chemistry is undeniable. They had worked together previously in Housesitter (1992), and that comfort level shows. They finish each other's sentences. They know how to react to each other's facial tics. Even when the script by Marc Lawrence (who later wrote Miss Congeniality) gets a bit thin, the actors carry it through sheer force of will.
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The New York of 1999: A Lost World
Watching this movie today is a trip down memory lane for anyone who loved Manhattan in the 90s. We see the old yellow cabs, the pre-smartphone struggle of finding a payphone, and a version of Central Park that feels mythic. There is a specific scene involving a car chase that takes them through various landmarks, and while it's clearly staged for comedy, it captures a vibrant, bustling energy that feels very "old New York."
Interestingly, the film was actually shot partly in New York but also in Ontario, Canada. Toronto often stood in for NYC back then because of tax credits. If you look closely at some of the street scenes, you can spot the giveaway signs of "Hollywood North," but for the most part, the production design does a solid job of selling the Big Apple dream—and the Big Apple nightmare.
Critical Reception vs. Reality
When the film hit theaters in April 1999, it was up against some heavy hitters. It didn't set the box office on fire. The "official" word was that it was a pale imitation of the original.
But here’s the thing: Critics often judge a remake based on what it isn't. They wanted the biting social satire of Neil Simon’s 1970s script. What they got was a wacky, slapstick-heavy adventure. If you judge The Out of Towners movie 1999 on its own merits as a popcorn comedy, it actually works quite well. It's fast. It’s colorful. It features a sequence where Steve Martin has to climb a building. What more do you want on a Tuesday night?
The film also touches on the mid-life crisis in a way that’s surprisingly poignant if you squint. George is terrified of being replaced by younger, cheaper labor. Gwen is terrified that her children leaving for college means her life is effectively over. Underneath the jokes about losing luggage is a story about two people trying to prove they still matter.
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Does it hold up?
Mostly, yes. Some of the humor is definitely "of its time." The "Sexaholics Anonymous" bit feels a little dated, and the pacing in the middle of the second act drags a bit. However, the scene where they are forced to eat a child's leftover pizza in a park because they're starving is still hilarious. It’s that "rock bottom" humor that is universal.
Actually, the movie is a great example of the "Comedy of Errors" trope. Everything that can go wrong, does. It’s a precursor to modern "bad trip" movies like Date Night or The Hangover. It paved the way for the idea that a comedy could be built entirely on the stress of a single night.
How to Watch and What to Look For
If you’re going to revisit this flick, don't go in expecting a masterpiece. Go in expecting a masterclass in 90s studio comedy.
- Watch the background actors: The "New Yorkers" in the film are played with such over-the-top grit that it’s clearly a parody of how tourists view the city.
- Pay attention to the score: Marc Shaiman, who did the music, is a legend (Hairspray, South Park). The music drives the frantic pace of the movie.
- John Cleese’s eyes: He looks like he’s having the time of his life being absolutely ridiculous.
Practical Steps for Fans of 90s Comedy
If this look back at The Out of Towners movie 1999 has you feeling nostalgic, there are a few things you can do to scratch that itch. First, track down a copy of the original 1970 version to see the contrast. It’s a fascinating study in how comedy evolved over 30 years—moving from cynical and dry to bright and physical.
Second, look into the filmography of screenwriter Marc Lawrence. He went on to direct Two Weeks Notice and Music and Lyrics. You can see the seeds of his "romantic chaos" style in this film.
Finally, if you're planning a trip to New York, maybe don't watch this right before you leave. Or do. It’ll make your inevitable 20-minute subway delay feel like a walk in the park compared to what George and Gwen went through. Just remember to hold onto your luggage and maybe avoid any incense-heavy churches if you have a big meeting the next morning.
The best way to enjoy this movie today is to embrace the absurdity. It’s a loud, messy, star-studded romp through a city that no longer exists, led by two of the greatest comic minds of their generation. It doesn't need to be "prestige" to be fun. Sometimes, you just want to watch two legends try to survive a very long night in New York.