See what happens when a dirty bum meets the filthy rich.
Overview
Beverly Hills couple Barbara and Dave Whiteman find their lives altered by the arrival of a vagrant who tries to drown himself in their swimming pool.
Ratings
Curator score: 5.0/10
IMDb: 6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 77%
Metacritic: 72
TMDB: 5.9/10
Director
Paul Mazursky
Production
Touchstone Pictures, Silver Screen Partners II
Cast
Nick Nolte, Bette Midler, Richard Dreyfuss, Little Richard, Tracy Nelson, Elizabeth Peña, Evan Richards, Donald F. Muhich, Paul Mazursky, Valerie Curtin, Jack Bruskoff, Geraldine Dreyfuss, Barry Primus, Irene Tsu, Michael Yama, Ranbir Bahi, Felton Perry, Eloy Casados, Michael Greene, Ken Koch
Curator Review
Verdict
A breezy, well-cast 1980s social satire that gets more mileage from tone, performances, and class friction than from big laughs. It’s not razor-sharp enough to be essential, but it’s charming, observant, and still easy to enjoy if you like eccentric ensemble comedies with a satirical edge.
Best for
fans of 1980s studio comedies with a satirical streak
viewers who enjoy class-clash and culture-clash stories
people who like strong ensemble chemistry over plot mechanics
fans of Paul Mazursky’s humane, lightly caustic comedy style
Skip if
you want a consistently high-joke-density farce
you dislike softened social satire
you prefer modern pacing and sharper narrative escalation
you’re looking for a deeper or harsher critique of wealth and privilege
Overview
Paul Mazursky turns a high-concept premise into something looser and more humane than the setup suggests. The movie is less interested in punching down at the rich than in letting everyone reveal their vanity, loneliness, and need for connection. That gives it a pleasant, slightly shaggy rhythm that depends heavily on the cast landing every beat.
Worth noting
Nick Nolte is the engine, bringing a volatile, comic physicality that keeps the film from becoming too polite. Richard Dreyfuss and Bette Midler are equally sharp as the Beverly Hills couple, and the movie gets a lot of mileage out of watching these personalities collide inside a pastel dream of Reagan-era affluence.
Bottom line
It’s not the most biting satire of its decade, and some of the social commentary is softened by the film’s easy charm. But as a character-driven comedy with a strong sense of place, it’s funny, odd, and more durable than its reputation suggests.
Top Letterboxd reviews
demi adejuyigbe · 91 likes
Decided to watch in honor of Little Richard's passing, who also popped up in Last Action Hero a few days ago. Pleasant surprise. :)
The bones of this thing are fairly standard– an outsider somehow enters a family with problems and ends up improving their lives and becoming part of the family. In this way, it is much like the really-does-not-hold-up-to-time 2004 Steve Martin film Bringing Down The House, which I cannot recommend enough that you erase from your memory… more
Matt Singer (3★) · 83 likes
Nick Nolte has huge Cosmo Kramer energy in this, which is not something I would have previously considered possible.
Dave Taylor (3.5★) · 50 likes
At some point during a ‘free Superchannel weekend’ back in the late 80’s, my family taped this on a blank VHS. Therefore, parts of this movie are super-nostalgic because of the sheer number of times I’ve seen them (particularly the ‘eating dog food’ scene, and the first video montage the son makes…because there are boobs in it). But the rest of the movie is just as nostalgic due to the sheer amount of pastel colours blanketing the house interiors (honestly,… more At some point during a ‘free Superchannel weekend’ back in the late 80’s, my family taped this on a blank VHS. Therefore, parts of this movie are super-nostalgic because of the sheer number of times I’ve seen them (particularly the ‘eating dog food’ scene, and the first video montage the son makes…because there are boobs in it). But the rest of the movie is just as nostalgic due to the sheer amount of pastel colours blanketing the house interiors (honestly,… more
MichaelEternity (3.5★) · 35 likes
Curious movie - not really that funny because it refuses to exploit a million different opportunities for great comedy within its premise, but still hugely likable, so it succeeds more on vibes, like these 3 particular actors bouncing off each other, caricatures of (and a clearly autobiographical sense for) the L.A.-wealth lifestyle, cute dog, posh estate, the idealistic notion that rich people could befriend a homeless guy, a breezy low-stakes attitude toward everything going on. Easy to see why this… more Curious movie - not really that funny because it refuses to exploit a million different opportunities for great comedy within its premise, but still hugely likable, so it succeeds more on vibes, like these 3 particular actors bouncing off each other, caricatures of (and a clearly autobiographical sense for) the L.A.-wealth lifestyle, cute dog, posh estate, the idealistic notion that rich people could befriend a homeless guy, a breezy low-stakes attitude toward everything going on. Easy to see why this… more
chavel (5★) · 34 likes
“My talent is survival.”— Jerry the bum
Down and Out in Beverly Hills, by Paul Mazursky at his most virtuoso, is one of the smartest comedies ever made. The acting by everyone involved is richer every time I see it, but it has always been apparent to me that Nick Nolte as duplicitous, audacious, ingeniously freeloading Jerry Baskin is the best acting of his career. The rest of the cast play privileged snobs who think they have honest charity in… more
1996 · Comedy, Romance · 1h 59m · R · Curator 7.8/10 (359.1K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus
A polished ensemble farce that thrives on performance chemistry, social performance, and domestic chaos.