Madhouse

Madhouse is a hilarious and spirited domestic comedy film released in 1990. The movie stars Hollywood favorites like Kirstie Alley, known for her award-winning role in Cheers; John Larroquette, known from the courtroom sitcom, Night Court; and the versatile character actor Richard Alexander. The film is directed by Tom Ropelewski, who wonderfully rolls out a series of comedic misadventures that leave audiences laughing hysterically.

As the title suggests, Madhouse presents quite a chaotic picture of a happy suburban house which swiftly morphs into a 'madhouse.' The central characters are Mark (John Larroquette) and Jesse Bannister (Kirstie Alley), a yuppie and seemingly perfect couple living in a beautiful house situated in an idyllic suburban neighborhood. He's a Wall Street stockbroker, and she's a television reporter, both leading a comfortable and, most importantly, quiet life. Their otherwise peaceful existence is swiftly turned upside down with the arrival of unexpected house guests.

Alley's character, Jesse, is a warmhearted soul who invites her estranged sibling Claudia (Alison La Placa) and her husband for a visit. Together they bring along a whirlwind of chaos and disruption that extends from a 'short visit' to an uncompromising stay. As if housing two extra people wasn't challenging enough, a magnitude of other eccentric visitors parade through their home, each leaving their distinct mark of pandemonium. If the scenario sounds familiar, it’s because it taps into everyone's worst nightmare: house guests who refuse to leave long after they've exhausted their welcome.

In Madhouse, the couple's orderly, neat and quiet world shatters before their very eyes, descending their home into wild chaos and sleep-deprived nights. Their peaceful suburban home transforms into a madhouse brimming with stubborn pets, relentless police, irate neighbours, and destructive renovations, all the while coping with their houseguests from the darkest pits of hell. In the mix of the madness, the couple struggles to keep their sanity and their relationship intact.

The bulk of the film's humor comes from the outlandishly absurd situations that Jesse and Mark find themselves embroiled in, each more outrageous than the last, constantly testing their patience and endurance. The character performances, especially by Kirstie Alley and John Larroquette, are commendable. They effectively manage to bring out frustrated looks, sneaky plots, and hilarious punchlines that enable the audience to establish a connect with the characters instantly.

Kirstie Alley's gift for screwball comedy shines in her role as Jesse, the nice sister turned tormented homeowner, and John Larroquette, in his understated style, allows Mark’s growing annoyance with their visitors to simmer to a boiling point. Together, they're hilarious, displaying amazing chemistry and slapstick charm on screen. Likewise, the house guests and other wacky characters, especially Claudia (Alison La Placa) and her husband, are brilliantly drawn and add to the film's zaniness.

Director Tom Ropelewski manages to instill plenty of delightfully funny moments in this film, preventing it from becoming just another clichéd comedy. The comedic situations are effectively amplified by the performance of the cast, combined with tight dialogues and well-timed physical comedy. Although the movie's concept is not exactly unfamiliar, Ropelewski’s Madhouse undoubtedly holds its own, thanks to its unique approach, comedic rhythm, and unexpected development of events.

However, the greatest selling point of Madhouse is arguably its universality. It is easy to identify and empathize with the chaos and hilarity that ensue, especially for anyone who has ever had to endure a prolonged visit from unwelcome guests.

While Madhouse is primarily a comedy, at its heart it's also a movie about a couple struggling to keep their relationship intact amidst catastrophe and chaos. It shows us what many of us are capable of when our patience, love, and hospitality are pushed to the edge.

In essence, Madhouse is an enjoyable, light-hearted film that successfully manages to tickle the funny bone while simultaneously sending shivers down the spine at the thought of our homes disrupted in such outrageous ways. It serves as a warning to good Samaritans everywhere about the potential chaos that can ensue from seemingly harmless acts of hospitality. A must-watch for those who appreciate a good laugh.