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Tim Allen, Ray Liotta, Julie Bowen, Kelsey Grammer, Jeanne Tripplehorn ... see more see more... , Sigourney Weaver , J.K. Simmons , Helen Slayton-Hughes

Fresh out of prison and eager to start a new life, ambitious ex-con Tommy (Tim Allen) plots to revive the family business and rekindle the romance with his ex-flame, only to discover that life as a fr... read more read more...ee man can be even tougher than life on the inside. In order to get back on his feet, Tommy moves in with his extended family, including his sister, Viki (Sigourney Weaver), a compulsive liar, and her husband, Ed (J.K. Simmons), a weatherworn cynic. Thanks to Viki, Tommy's grandmother thinks he's been in France the last few years. Now, as Tommy scrambles to get his life back together, his no-nonsense probation officer, Angela (Jeanne Tripplehorn), tracks his every move. Informed by his sister that his former girlfriend Christy (Julie Bowen) perished in a freak accident, Tommy goes to work flipping patties at Pirate Burger. Then, one day, Christy walks into the restaurant and it's like they were never apart -- aside from the fact that she's now engaged to marry Frank (Kelsey Grammer). Meanwhile, as Tommy's criminally inclined pal Gray (Ray Liotta) attempts to lure him back into a life of petty thievery, the confused ex-con begins to feel like he's falling for his probation officer. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

26% liked it

2,911 ratings

Critics

8% liked it

12 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 36 min.

Directed by: Tim Allen

Release Date: January 8, 2010

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DVD Release Date: April 13, 2010

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Stats: 237 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (237)

  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    November 21, 2010
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    It was ok, wasn't that bad. Tim Allen directed this movie, he should stay only in front of the camera instead of been behind it too.

    A recently paroled ex-con who has trouble adjusting to the wacky normalcy of life outside of prison. He has spent the last three years behind bars... read more after getting caught committing a crime and taking the rap for his much more dangerous pal.
  • LWOODS04
    April 6, 2010
    LWOODS04
    Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, J.K. Simmons, Julie Brown, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Ray Liotta, Kelsey Grammer

    DIRECTED BY: Tim Allen

    It's about a man named Tommy who went away to prison for three yrs. after taking full responsibility for a crime he and his more dangerous partner c... read moreommitted. Now out after his three stint in prison, Tommy is having a tough time with the outside life and trying to hold on to some type of normalcy of his life before prison while also trying to live out the lies his sister keeps telling.
    I thought it was funny. I laughed quite a bit. It is an odd comedy. Sigourney Weaver was really funny. I liked her quirky character. Just one of those films that you will want to see for a laugh. Nothing special about it. But worth the rental.. Not theater worthy.
  • xxdebxx
    April 17, 2010
    xxdebxx
    Tommy (Tim Allen) is released from prison after serving a three year sentence stint for video piracy and returns home to his chronic liar of a sister Vicky, (Sigourney Weaver) who told his grandmother that he's been in France all this time, to spare her the real story. Vicky als... read moreo told Tommy that his old flame, Christy (Julie Bowen), died while he was in prison. That turns out to be another lie; Christy is alive, well and living with Frank (Kelsey Grammer), a rich electronics salesman.

    Looking to bounce back and avoid the mistakes he made previously, Tommy tries to resist temptations proffered by his old partner in crime (Ray Liotta) who is trying to lure him back into the piracy game and seeks to restart his late father's house-painting business. The bad news is, he's forced by his parole officer, Angela (Jeanne Tripplehorn) to accept a demeaning job at a local burger joint.

    Let's not forget J.K. Simmons as Tommy's sarcastic over sexed brother-in-law and Angela's kid who tries to use Tommy in a matchmaking scheme.

    Will Tommy be able to move on, avoid the illegal temptations of his former accomplice, rebuild his late dad's painting business and hook up with his sexy probation officer whose Little Leaguer son has taken a shine to him? Watch it to find out!
  • jim222001us
    May 17, 2010
    jim222001us
    Tim Allen stars as Tommy, a man who has just been released from prison, to find out that his sister (Sigourney Weaver) has told their grandmother that he was in France. His sister also lied about his ex girlfriend (Julie Bowen) dieing in a horrible car accident.

    Bowen is now... read more engaged to a television salesman (Kelsey Grammer), but is willing to cheat on him with Tommy on the weekend. While Tommy is looking to paint for a living, like his father, but his successful low life buddy (Ray Liotta) that got him put in jail, is willing to give him a job and won't take no for an answer.

    I agree with the critics that called the movie a mess. The plot is all over the place and good actors like J.K Simmons are wasted. However the movie actually kept my attention and Sigourney Weaver was actually pretty funny as the sister that can't tell the truth to save her life. While compared to some of the junk Allen has been in, the movie isn't that bad. Which is probably got Allen interested enough to even direct the movie. I think he'll find a good script again sooner or later, Galaxy Quest was really good for example.
  • MOVEECRITIC
    April 4, 2010
    MOVEECRITIC
    A different side of Allen is revealed in his directorial debut. Tim plays a more mature, serious character which contributes to the monotony of the film. Boredom is met with a few jokes but overall it lacks the needed ingredients on the outside as well as inside of a successful b... read moreig screen flick.
  • psyclock7
    February 2, 2011
    psyclock7
    A friend loaned me this on and I almost fell asleep on it. The funny parts were way to few and way to far apart to hold your attention for long. Though my girl Sirgourny did her best, it wasn't the actors fault. It weas the script...See at your own risk
  • NobleKnight
    May 8, 2010
    NobleKnight
    Given that this is directed and stars Tim Allen, he attempts to bring out the comedy/drama side of him.
    As much as one hopes for this to be a come back from the Tool Man himself, it does not really make a lift off.
    Ray Liotta seems to be in this film only because he seems to be t... read morerying to get out of his gangster typecast role, and this would be the 2nd movie he's been in with Allen; Wild Hogs (2007).
    It has enough laughter in it to bring a smile to your face, but nothing more than that. In attempt to be a director, Allen is not much for one to be #1.
    Better luck next time Tim.

View All Crazy on the Outside Reviews

Critic Reviews

A.O. Scott
January 25, 2010
A.O. Scott, At the Movies

I just get bored thinking about it. Full Review

Michael Phillips
January 25, 2010
Michael Phillips, At the Movies

Terrible, terrible. Full Review

Joe Neumaier
January 22, 2010
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News

Allen's forced approach to Judd Pillot and John Peaslee's Screenwriting 101-style script has merely left everyone floating on their own. Full Review

Peter Travers
January 14, 2010
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Allen screws up his directing debut with a script that smothers his wit in a blanket of bland. Full Review

Frank Scheck
January 14, 2010
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

Tim Allen's directorial debut, a strained comedy drama about an ex-con trying to go straight, isn't nearly crazy enough. Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum
January 13, 2010
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

Each actor appears to have received the script to a different movie, while Allen adds his own directorial touch of sexual vulgarity. Full Review

Bill Goodykoontz
January 13, 2010
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

You'd think that getting Allen, Sigourney Weaver, J.K. Simmons, Kelsey Grammer, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Ray Liotta together for a comedy would be at the least intriguing, but as it turns out, not so much. Full Review

Joe Leydon
January 11, 2010
Joe Leydon, Variety

Looking and sounding like a second-tier '80s made-for-cabler, Crazy on the Outside is the sort of bland trifle one might watch to kill time during an extended flight. Full Review

Tom Long
January 8, 2010
Tom Long, Detroit News

Crazy is just too tame for his own good. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
October 13, 2010
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media

Winds up as a fairly inspirational comedy, without being truly memorable. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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