Based on a French play, 'Down and Out in Beverly Hills' is great fun! An engaging film that comes in-tact with a well-done screenplay & knock-out performances by its superb cast.'Down and Out in Beverly Hills' Synopsis: A millionaire adopts a homeless bum only to make things go crazy. 'Down and Out in Beverly Hills' is entertaining from start to end. Sure, there are some loose ends in the writing, but for the most part, the film works largely. The Adapted Screenplay is well-done & pretty funny too. Paul Mazursky's Direction is crisp. Cinematography, Editing & Art Design, are fabulously done. Performance-Wise: Nick Nolte is simply flawless as the homeless bum. He emerges a scene-stealer here! Richard Dreyfuss & Bette Milder are excellent, as well. The on-screen chemistry between Dreyfuss & Midler is, electric! On the whole, 'Down and Out in Beverly Hills' succeeds.

I haven't watched this since the late 80's and just watched it again. It's really a masterpiece. It's a psychological/sociological/historical expose about the California life before the crash. It's also very prophetic in many ways; Such as Dreyfuss' character, Arnold was humping his help, all the hanger makers are in China now, and alternative medicine/practices are endemic outside of California now... :-)Prophetically also was Nolte's pre-incarnation as the "Dude" Labowski played by Jeff Bridges two decades later... I have a family member that became a millionaire from property value growth, growing a business, and then selling it all before the crash. Dreyfuss, Midler, and Nolte have proved to be three of the best performers of our lifetimes. Anyway, try it. You'll like. I'd love to see the Cohen brothers make a sequel or remake... :-)

Americanization of the 1932 French comedy "Boudu sauvé des eaux", based on the play by René Fauchois, is one of Paul Mazursky's most misguided ventures (although it was a big hit in 1986, a time when the words 'Beverly Hills' were a current catchphrase at the cinema). Wealthy, pampered, but highly dysfunctional denizens of Southern California take in a hobo who has tried to drown himself in their swimming pool. Upon moving in, the now-cleaned up bum/con-artist discovers he's more normal than his filthy-rich patrons. Paint-by-numbers filmmaking, done up in loud colors. Richard Dreyfuss, Nick Nolte and, particularly, Bette Midler do everything they can with meager material. *1/2 from ****

Sure it hasn't dated all that well, but look at this 1986 hit as a nice time capsule of L.A. from that time period. A period that basically ended with the sobering and terrifying riots of 1992. Down and Out in Beverly Hills deals with a well-to-do yet dysfunctional family having its priorities rearranged by a bum who first attempts to drown himself in their swimming pool. Nick Nolte, looking only a little scruffier than his 2002 Hawai'ian shirt mugshot plays the Jerry Baskin character on different levels. Early on he seems much like the typical run of the mill schizophrenic homeless person chasing after a dog who found himself a better owner. Then, after his dunk in the pool, we see that he is actually quite intelligent and observant. Almost instantly he sees what is wrong with everyone in the household. He just can't seem to point any of that intellect toward improving his own situation. Even when it is laying there right in front of him.The patriarch of the family is Dave Whiteman who embodies some of Richard Dreyfuss's better work. He is very successful, yet he it just too uptight. Something seems lacking for him. It isn't the appearance of the bum that sets him off. He actually is the one who most wants him to stay if perhaps to live vicariously through him in some ways. Bette Middler is on hand as Dave's sexually unfulfilled wife who mostly spends her time with worthless self-help gurus. She even has one hired for their cutesy little dog. Nolte is apparently the only man around who has what it takes to recharge her batteries in bed! The family has an attractive yet obviously anorexic daughter and an androgynous son. A sexpot Hispanic maid is also on hand for Dave to use at his will... that is until Nolte moves in on her as well. The film takes place over about a month's time and there really isn't much plot to speak of other than seeing how these characters are altered by Nolte's character.The film has several funny moments, and thankfully Ms. Middler is not allowed to sing too much. The theme song by the Talking Heads is always welcome to the human ear. Some of the comedy, mostly involving the cutesy dog reactions and Little Richard's exasperated yelling are more annoying than anything else. There are some great performances and many funny observations about successful Angelinos at that time. Not much of a message to be learned from any of it, however. Maybe that is why it works. 8 of 10 stars.The Hound.