Payne
Payne is an American television series, patterned after the British program Fawlty Towers. It starred American actor John Larroquette, who portrayed assistant district attorney Dan Fielding on the American television program Night Court. Larroquette was also an executive producer for the series. Payne was a mid-season replacement on CBS and aired in March and April 1999. The show also starred JoBeth Williams, Julie Benz and Rick Batalla. Despite fairly positive reception, and receiving the blessing of John Cleese, who agreed to take a recurring role if the show was renewed, Payne was quickly cancelled. Nine episodes were filmed; eight were aired. The show is not available on DVD.
Insights
Plot Summary
The film follows the eccentric and troubled millionaire Wellington "Welly" Payne as he grapples with his failing business empire and his own sanity. After a bizarre incident, he finds himself in a dire situation, leading to a series of increasingly absurd events. Welly's struggles escalate as he tries to maintain control amidst chaos and peculiar characters.
Critical Reception
Payne was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics, who found its humor forced and its plot nonsensical. The film struggled to find an audience, and is largely remembered as a critical and commercial failure.
What Reviewers Say
- The film's humor falls flat, relying on overly broad gags and predictable situations.
- The plot is considered convoluted and difficult to follow, lacking a clear narrative drive.
- Many critics found the performances uninspired, failing to elevate the weak material.
Google audience: Audience reception for Payne was mixed, with some finding humor in its quirky and absurd nature, while others were put off by its unconventional storytelling and comedic style.
Fun Fact
The film is based on the play "King Lear" by William Shakespeare, adapting the tragedy into a modern dark comedy.
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