Where to watch Trapped in Paradise
1 1/2 Stars
Bill Firpo has managed to stay honest, but can’t help but be dragged into things by his larcenous brothers, the clever Dave and the kleptomaniac Alvin. When the three find a bank so easy to rob that they can’t resist, the only question is whether or not they can get out of town before the big snowstorm hits. While the three brothers run around town with their stolen loot, they are besieged with the kindness of the town-folk that might just set them on the path of righteousness.
Nicolas Cage is often criticized for his prolificness, sometimes releasing up to six movies a year over the course of the last decade or so. But if you look back 30 years to 1994, you’ll notice that the ever-working Thespian headlined four movies that hit screens during that calendar year. The best of which was Red Rock West, and the least of which, unfortunately, is Trapped in Paradise. While Nic Cage has undoubtedly appeared in numerous bad films, he’s never been bad. The man commits all the way. And that’s part of the problem with the would-be holiday comedy, Trapped in Paradise. Cage brings an intensity and general unlikability to his character, which is tonally opposed to the goofy clowning of comedians Jon Lovitz and Dana Carvey.
The amiable film tries to create a screwball element, but nothing gels, and the plot points are telegraphed well in advance. Only for enthusiasts of Christmas-themed movies or Nicolas Cage completists. Others will find this a long-winded and virtually laugh-less affair. However, the downtime on set gave director/writer George Gallo the freedom to write the first draft of Bad Boys (1995). Which was initially conceived as a vehicle to retest Lovitz and Carvey. Fortunately, the failure of Trapped in Paradise at the box office forced the studio to turn to Martin Lawrence and Will Smith, launching their big-screen careers.
Directed by: George Gallo
Written by: George Gallo
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Jon Lovitz, Dana Carvey