The Blue Iguana

The Blue Iguana is an unconventional campy action-comedy released in 1988, featuring Dylan McDermott, Jessica Harper, and James Russo. The film, set in the flashy expanse of 1980s pulp action and dark humor, shatters Hollywood's standard molds and showcases unique characters in an offbeat setting.

The movie revolves around Vince Holloway, played by Dylan McDermott. Vince is an ethics-bound bounty hunter, unenthusiastically pulled into an operation far from his comfort zone– an international setting regulated by rules outside his domain. The U.S. Treasury solicits Vince's service in exchange for pardoning his petty crimes. He is tasked with recovering $20 million in laundered cash from the sleepy border town of Diablo. Pitched against Vince is a set of unusual suspects, including a powerful and corrupt local sheriff, a seductive bar singer, a suspicious insurance agent, criminal masterminds, and a club of quirky manic killers.

This film showcases the fine performance of Dylan McDermott as the anti-hero bounty hunter caught between his dim past and a chance at redemption. He infuses Vince with an intriguing blend of cynicism, humor, and machismo. Jessica Harper plays the femme fatale and the film's love interest with equal parts mystery and allure. Making an impact with his performance is James Russo as Reno, a mob boss with unique quirks that contribute to the movie's eccentric charm.

Staying true to its name, The Blue Iguana packs quite a lot of vibrant oddity into its narrative arc. The dialogues, the undertones of black humor, and the deliberate eccentricity authenticate the United States' dark underbelly, sprinkling a lively, neon-lit ‘80s charm throughout.

The film also deserves credit for its striking aesthetics. The backdrop shifts from gritty cityscapes to dusty Western terrains, dappled with disregard for the convention. It adds a rich, visual texture to the narrative, enhancing the overall pulpy atmosphere that makes the film stand out.

Renowned American musician, composer, arranger, and producer LeRoy Holmes contributed the original music to the film, injecting it with a lively soundtrack to match the flashy visuals and dialogue. The movie effectively uses its sound design and lively score to amplify dramatic moments and underscore the comedic beats.

As a genre-defying offering, The Blue Iguana does not shy away from sporting copious action sequences, shootouts, and car chases. Despite these adrenaline-pumping events, the film consistently maintains an undercurrent of comedy, often verging on the edge of slapstick humor and always nailing the punchlines. The action scenes are choreographed and executed well, blending smoothly with the film's overall mood and pacing.

Director and writer John Lafia ensures that the film maintains a steady balance between action, suspense, and humor, while encompassing peculiar elements that set it apart from the mainstream fare. His embodiment of a peculiar, often dismissed slice of American culture, coupled with an appreciation for the outlandish and the absurd, threads the film together in an effectively chimeric manner.

Of special note is the film's underlying commentary on morality, identity, and redemption. Vince's journey, one that intertwines the conflicts of law, crime, and personal desires, makes for an intriguing exploration of the complexity of human character, albeit wrapped under the fabric of a genre flick.

Although overly chaotic and absurd at times, The Blue Iguana swaggers its frenzied style with confidence. A masterpiece of '80s pulp noir, navigating through a quirky, action-packed narrative, this film might not appease everyone's taste but certainly rewards those with an appetite for unconventional action-comedies.

It's an audacious cinematic experience, teetering between the realms of high-octane action and quirky comedy with an undercurrent of dark humor. A must-watch for those who appreciate unconventional storytelling and wish to take a detour from the mainstream, The Blue Iguana is a wild, colorful ride that proves there is no rulebook to cinema!