July 21-27 Eddie Griffin Week: This motherfucker is funny!

Inspired by the Marx Brothers comedies A Night at the Opera and A Day at the Races, Brain Donors finds Roland T. Flakfizer (John Turturro), Jacques (Bob Nelson) and Rocco Melonchek (Mel Smith) as its heroes, as they screw up an opera being put on by Lillian Oglethorpe (Nancy Marchand), a wealthy widow.

Director Dennis Dugan wanted Adam Sandler for this, but Paramount disagreed. He’d work with the comedy star on several films after this. It was written by Pat Proft, along with some assistance by David and Jerry Zucker, who produced this. When they left Paramount, the name was changed from Lame Ducks and a theatrical run was pretty much shelved, leaving this movie to find its audience on home video.

If you love slapstick humor or are ready to call out the Marx Brothers references in this, you’re going to love it. As for Eddie Griffith, he shows up as a messenger. I love how much fun Turturro seems to be having, as he’s usually in serious roles.