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Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Paula Prentiss, Klaus Kinski, Dana Elcar ... see more see more... , Miles Chapin , Michael Ensign , Joan Shawlee , Fil Formicola , C.J. Hunt , Bette Raya , Ronnie Sperling , Suzie Galler , Neile Adams , Gary Allen , Frances Bay , Billy Beck , Ed Begley Jr , Pat Bishop , Jon Cutler , Myrna Dell , Frank Dent , Rod Gist , Patti Jerome , Tom Kindle , Ben Lessy , Biff Manard , Gene Price , Charlotte Stewart , Lorna Thayer , Archie Lang , Frank Farmer , Neile McQueen

As if in some way Billy Wilder sensed that Buddy Buddy would ultimately turn out to be his final feature film, Wilder lets loose scatter-shot stingers at a wide range of pop-culture targets -- from se... read more read more...x clinics, to 60 Minutes, to movie references, to disco, to Betamax video recorders. Based on Francis Veber and Edouard Molinaro's L'emmerdeur (known in the United States as A Pain in the A. . .), Buddy Buddy concerns the unlikely pairing of a gruff hitman and a suicidal klutz. Walter Matthau plays a professional killer going by the name of Trabucco, who is on his way to rub out gangster Rudy "Disco" Gambola (Fil Formicola), set to testify against the mob. As Trabucco heads off to a hotel across the street from the courthouse where he plans to set his hit, he runs into the depressed Victor Clooney (Jack Lemmon), who laments the fact that his wife has left him for the head of a weird Californian sex clinic. Trabucco keeps walking and sets up his rifle in a hotel room. He is disturbed by Victor trying to hang himself in the adjoining hotel room and tries to prevent him from killing himself by restraining him, but Victor breaks loose and climbs onto the ledge of the hotel window. To get Victor to come back in, he agrees to drive him to the clinic to see his wife. The two go to the clinic where Victor's wife Celia (Paula Prentiss) informs Victor that she is in love in the head of the clinic, quack Dr. Zuckerbrot (Klaus Kinski). When Victor finds out that Celia is filing for divorce, he heads back to the hotel to kill himself, with Celia and Dr. Zuckerbrot in pursuit. Arriving at the hotel, they plan to inject Victor with a sedative but stick Trabucco with the needle instead. Trabucco reveals to Victor his assignment to kill Rudy, and Victor tries to help him with the killing. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Flixster Users

47% liked it

507 ratings

Critics

62% liked it

13 critics

R, 1 hr. 36 min.

Directed by: Billy Wilder

Release Date: January 1, 1981

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Flixster Reviews (30)

  • scrambledegg7
    March 1, 2010
    scrambledegg7
    The weakest of the Jack Lemmon/Walter Matthau movie pairings I've seen. It has one or two funny moments, but overall both actors are underutilized, the script is weak, the story is cliched except for it's far-too-abrupt ending, and the characters are *too* bizarre and caricatured... read more for us to do much but just stare at them in confusion. Far from a great film.
  • vidiot49
    March 28, 2008
    vidiot49
    The hilariuous team of Matthau and Lemmon delivers again. Directed by Billy Wilder, this one will have you rolling in the aisles.

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Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

This movie is appalling. It made me want to rub my eyes. Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Instead of the sentimental cop-out that usually closes his films, Wilder has isolated an impossibly tiny center of real value and belief, an optimism that is extremely moving in its microscopic dimens... Full Review

Vincent Canby
January 1, 2000
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Slight but irresistible. Full Review

August 14, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

A slight, but amusing, black farce. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
March 15, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Easy to sleep on. Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
March 4, 2006
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com

Another amusing pairing of Lemmon and Matthau as mismatched personalities.

Carol Cling
February 10, 2006
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal

Nice to see Lemmon and Matthau again, but this is hardly their finest hour.

February 9, 2006
Time Out

There is some byplay with doubles, disguises and mistaken identity, but the rest is all bland Panavision, dreary back projection, and laboured dialogue. Full Review

Steve Crum
June 15, 2005
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Not top Billy Wilder, but worthwhile to see Lemmon and Matthau.

May 24, 2003
Film4

Wilder helming the classic comic pairing of Matthau and Lemmon is always going to be difficult to dismiss, but it has to be said that all involved had seen better days at the time this got made. Full Review

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Buddy Buddy Trivia

  • Buddy Ebsen was originally cast as the Tinman in The Wizard of Oz. Why did the part have to be re-cast?  Answer »
  • In the movie Elf, what did Buddy eat at the doctor's office?  Answer »
  • In the movie Elf, according to Buddy, what is the best way to spread Christmas cheer?  Answer »
  • In the movie Elf, what did Buddy eat off the street when he got to New York?  Answer »
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