The Pickle

Synopsis

"The Pickle" is a 1993 comedy film directed by and starring Paul Mazursky, with Danny Aiello playing a significant role. The story follows Harry Stone, a struggling film director who makes a deal to direct a lucrative but critically dubious film called "The Pickle," a slapstick family comedy. Faced with artistic compromise, Harry reflects on his career, relationships, and personal values while dealing with the pressures of Hollywood. The film serves as a satirical look at the movie industry, exploring themes of creative integrity, commercialism, and the challenges artists face when balancing passion with commercial success.

Cast

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  Danny Aiello

  Harry Stone

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  Dyan Cannon

  Ellen Stone

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  Clotilde Courau

  Françoise

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  Shelley Winters

  Yetta

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  Barry Miller

  Ronnie Liebowitz

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  Jerry Stiller

  Phil Hirsch

Reviews

"The Pickle" received predominantly negative reviews from critics and audiences alike. On IMDb, it holds a low rating of 4.4/10, reflecting general dissatisfaction among viewers. Rotten Tomatoes reports a 20% approval rating, indicating that the majority of critics did not favor the film. Critics often cited the movie's uneven tone and lackluster humor as major drawbacks. For instance, some reviewers felt that the satire failed to effectively critique Hollywood’s commercialism, landing instead in clichéd and predictable territory. While Danny Aiello's performance was noted as a strong point, it was not enough to elevate the film overall. Metacritic's score, where available, is similarly low, pointing to a consensus of weak storytelling and uninspired execution. However, a few viewers appreciated the film’s candid look behind the scenes of filmmaking and found parts of its meta-humor entertaining. Overall, "The Pickle" is regarded as a lesser entry in Paul Mazursky's filmography, mainly appealing to those interested in Hollywood-centric satires despite its flaws.

See also

Interstellar

Pulp Fiction

Titanic

Shutter Island