Master of Disguise (PG)

A messy disappointment for Dana Carvey fans.

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About Our Ratings
Common Sense rates it
1
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • Studio: Columbia Tristar
  • Directed By: Perry Andelin Blake
  • Cast: Brent Spiner, Dana Carvey
  • Running Time: 80 minutes
  • Release Date: 08/02/2002
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 01/28/2003
  • Genre: Comedy
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • MPAA Explanation: bathroom humor

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie is too vulgar for a PG rating and too dumb for audiences of any age. Pistachio is fascinated with women who have large rear ends and his jokes when a character serves appetizers ("do you have a little wiener and tiny nuts?"). He disguises himself as a cow patty. And slapping an opponent while yelling "Who's your daddy?" is a way of showing manliness and competence. Pistachio himself is a annoyingly disturbing character, an odd child-man with an inexplicable accent and an unforgivable haircut.

Families can talk about how being able to imitate someone requires very careful observation.

Message

Social Behavior:

None

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

None

Violence

A lot of hitting Comis Peril

Sex

Crude humor, including flatulence, vulgarity

Language

Some

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Nell Minow

Carvey plays Pistachio Disguisey, the youngest in a family with magical powers to transform themselves. His father (James Brolin) never told him of the family's secret because he wanted to protect him. So little Pistachio does not know why he has a Tourette-like compulsion to imitate everyone he sees. When his parents are captured by bad guy Devlin Bowman (Brent Spiner), who suffers from intestinal distress whenever he tries his evil laugh (now are you laughing?), and it is up to Pistachio to save the day. Pistachio's grandfather (Harold Gould) arrives to give him a few quick lessons in transformation and self-defense.

Is it any good?

1
This misbegotten mess of a movie is a terrible disappointment for fans of Dana Carvey. It is also a disappointment for fans of comedy and fans of movies. It really is hard to imagine how the talented Carvey can have taken what sounded like a can't-miss premise and missed so completely. Carvey's genius for impressions is utterly wasted. So is his charm. So is his time. So is ours.

Weak references to classics like "The Exorcist," "Star Wars," and other oldies will have no meaning to kids. Audience members old enough to recognize Jesse Ventura, Jessica Simpson, and Bo Derek might enjoy their brief cameos. But even at less than 70 minutes, the movie feels endless, with an extended post-credit sequence that just adds insult to injury.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 6 reviews.

Age 11+
0


Posted on 01/02/08 by Tsion Adult contributor

Annoying, Disturbing, and a Complete Waste of Time

Dana Carvey is out of his mind. Not only did he star in this mess of a movie, he co-wrote it. What was he thinking? The movie tells the story of Pistachio, a strange child-like adult who is barely understandable through his Italian accent and thinks that good women have huge buttocks. He discovers that he is a Master of Disguise like his ancestors, and he must rescue his parents from an evil businessman who has gas problems. The movie has an unexpected and uncalled for amount of sexual humor, making jokes about the sizes of womens' hind quarters and mens' genitals, all the while showing make-out scenes and the like. Slapstick violence is shown throughout, and mild language is present. I'm going to be frank with you. Don't watch it. Don't let your kids watch it. It's a stupid, twisted, mess of an innapropriate waste of time. I hope that gets my point across.
3


Posted on 09/15/05 by hb09 Kid contributor, age 9

Weird... I do like the turtle dude though!

Not very good but, not that bad either. Good for 6+.
3


Posted on 05/05/05 by kevin Kid contributor, age 9

hilarios

I dont know why people hate this film?
Age 11+
1


Posted on 03/02/05 by fritzsky Adult contributor

5


Posted on 01/13/04 by Forknose Kid contributor, age 15

It's Dana Carvey!

Dana Carvey has always been funny. This movie is great. I would say it is good for anyone too. I would give it a G rating. Dana Carvey is just one of those actors who can make a seemingly average looking movie great.
Age 11+
1

Posted on 06/06/03 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Goofy Movie

This movie has some really funny parts and some questionable sexual comments as well. That's Why I say 11+

Adult Reviews

There are 3 reviews.

Age 11+
0


Posted on 01/02/08 by Tsion Adult contributor

Annoying, Disturbing, and a Complete Waste of Time

Dana Carvey is out of his mind. Not only did he star in this mess of a movie, he co-wrote it. What was he thinking? The movie tells the story of Pistachio, a strange child-like adult who is barely understandable through his Italian accent and thinks that good women have huge buttocks. He discovers that he is a Master of Disguise like his ancestors, and he must rescue his parents from an evil businessman who has gas problems. The movie has an unexpected and uncalled for amount of sexual humor, making jokes about the sizes of womens' hind quarters and mens' genitals, all the while showing make-out scenes and the like. Slapstick violence is shown throughout, and mild language is present. I'm going to be frank with you. Don't watch it. Don't let your kids watch it. It's a stupid, twisted, mess of an innapropriate waste of time. I hope that gets my point across.
Age 11+
1


Posted on 03/02/05 by fritzsky Adult contributor

Age 11+
1

Posted on 06/06/03 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Goofy Movie

This movie has some really funny parts and some questionable sexual comments as well. That's Why I say 11+

Kids Reviews

There are 3 reviews.

3


Posted on 09/15/05 by hb09 Kid contributor, age 9

Weird... I do like the turtle dude though!

Not very good but, not that bad either. Good for 6+.
3


Posted on 05/05/05 by kevin Kid contributor, age 9

hilarios

I dont know why people hate this film?
5


Posted on 01/13/04 by Forknose Kid contributor, age 15

It's Dana Carvey!

Dana Carvey has always been funny. This movie is great. I would say it is good for anyone too. I would give it a G rating. Dana Carvey is just one of those actors who can make a seemingly average looking movie great.
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