Ishtar
Ishtar

Movie spotlight

Ishtar

2020
Movie
6 min
English

An experimental short film influenced by the Mesopotamian deity Ishtar. Five guests - who are gender non-conforming, trans or non-binary - hold a feast in a fictionalised English country garden to explore both the history of their ancestors and their present-day selves.

Insights

IMDb4.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes18%
Metacritic31/100
Google Users35%
Director: Elaine MayGenres: Comedy, Adventure

Plot Summary

Two inept American lounge singers, Lyle Rogers and Chuck Clarke, travel to the Moroccan city of Ishtar for a lucrative gig. However, they soon find themselves embroiled in a dangerous political conspiracy involving a beautiful and mysterious woman named Shirin, a rebellion, and valuable documents. Their misguided attempts at diplomacy and their sheer incompetence only escalate the chaotic situation.

Critical Reception

Ishtar is widely regarded as one of the biggest box office bombs in Hollywood history and a notorious critical failure. It was panned by most critics upon its release for its convoluted plot, unfunny humor, and perceived extravagant budget. Audiences also largely rejected the film, contributing to its legendary status as a cinematic disaster.

What Reviewers Say

  • A colossal failure that defied expectations for its comedic ambition and instead delivered an unfocused, tiresome, and expensive misfire.

  • Despite a talented cast and director, the film is a tedious and nonsensical journey filled with predictable jokes and a baffling narrative.

  • The movie's legendary status as a flop is well-earned, with almost every aspect falling short of its intended comedic and adventurous goals.

Google audience: Google users largely found 'Ishtar' to be a painfully unfunny and poorly conceived film. Many expressed disappointment in the lack of coherent storytelling and the grating performances of the lead actors. The consensus points to a movie that is more baffling than amusing, contributing to its reputation as a cinematic misstep.

Fun Fact

The film's production was plagued by notoriously lengthy and expensive shooting schedules, ballooning its budget to an estimated $50 million, making it one of the most expensive comedies ever made at the time.

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