Men at Work (film)
Encyclopedia
Men at Work is a 1990 American action comedy film written and directed by Emilio Estevez
, and starring Estevez and his real life brother Charlie Sheen
.
who dream of owning a surf shop. The two uncover an illegal toxic dumping operation in their own city, Las Playas. The movie begins with the pair collecting trash as they usually do, by tossing garbage cans in the street and making noise that disturbs the residents. One of the local cops hassles them frequently, but Carl and James seem to have gotten used to this treatment.
After work, the pair spies on a woman living across the street with a telescope; they discover that she is being mistreated by a man who is with her. Determined to right the wrong, Carl shoots the man in the rear with a pellet gun
. He and James both hide and laugh. Shortly afterwards, the man - a local politician named Jack Berger - is strangled and ends up found the next day by Carl and James in a yellow can. They decide that turning in the body would implicate themselves, as they had shot him earlier.
Carl and James ask the advice of crazed Vietnam War
vet Louis Fedders (Keith David
), who helps them to stash the body. Carl goes over to meet Susan Wilkins (Leslie Hope
), the woman who they saw with Berger the night before. Louis ends up exacerbating the situation when he kidnaps a pizza delivery man who sees him with the body.
James, Louis, and the pizza man end up leaving the apartment to follow Carl and Susan, but they are pulled over by the cops from earlier in the movie. Louis, however, uses the pellet gun to get them out of trouble. Meanwhile, Carl and Susan are discovered by the hitmen who had killed Berger. The couple are eventually stuffed into cans and set to be disposed of in a lake that serves as an illegal toxic dump for a local businessman, Maxwell Potterdam III, who was also the man who had Berger killed.
Carl and Susan manage to escape from the cans and reunite with the others. The group fights the toxic dump workers and brings down Potterdam.
and Hermosa Beach
in California
.
. Considering its relatively small production budget, Men at Work did well in theaters, grossing $16,247,964 USD, $3,184,311 of that within the first week.
/Wea, July 18, 1990)
Emilio Estevez
Emilio Estevez is an American actor, film director, and writer. He started his career as an actor and is well-known for being a member of the acting Brat Pack of the 1980s, starring in The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire...
, and starring Estevez and his real life brother Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen
Carlos Irwin Estevez , better known by his stage name Charlie Sheen, is an American film and television actor. He is the youngest son of actor Martin Sheen....
.
Plot
Carl Taylor (Sheen) and James St. James (Estevez) are a pair of troublemaking garbagemenWaste collector
A waste collector is a person employed by a public or private enterprise to collect and remove refuse and recyclables from residential, commercial, industrial or other collection site for further processing and disposal...
who dream of owning a surf shop. The two uncover an illegal toxic dumping operation in their own city, Las Playas. The movie begins with the pair collecting trash as they usually do, by tossing garbage cans in the street and making noise that disturbs the residents. One of the local cops hassles them frequently, but Carl and James seem to have gotten used to this treatment.
After work, the pair spies on a woman living across the street with a telescope; they discover that she is being mistreated by a man who is with her. Determined to right the wrong, Carl shoots the man in the rear with a pellet gun
Air gun
An air gun is a rifle , pistol , or shotgun that fires projectiles by means of compressed air or other gas, in contrast to a firearm, which burns a propellant. Most air guns use metallic projectiles as ammunition. Air guns that only use plastic projectiles are classified as airsoft...
. He and James both hide and laugh. Shortly afterwards, the man - a local politician named Jack Berger - is strangled and ends up found the next day by Carl and James in a yellow can. They decide that turning in the body would implicate themselves, as they had shot him earlier.
Carl and James ask the advice of crazed Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
vet Louis Fedders (Keith David
Keith David
Keith David Williams , better known as Keith David, is an American film, television, voice actor, and singer. He is perhaps most known for his live-action roles in such films as Crash, There's Something About Mary, Barbershop and Men at Work...
), who helps them to stash the body. Carl goes over to meet Susan Wilkins (Leslie Hope
Leslie Hope
Leslie Ann Hope is a Canadian actress, best known for her role as Teri Bauer in the Fox show 24 where she played the wife of the main character Jack Bauer.-Life and career:...
), the woman who they saw with Berger the night before. Louis ends up exacerbating the situation when he kidnaps a pizza delivery man who sees him with the body.
James, Louis, and the pizza man end up leaving the apartment to follow Carl and Susan, but they are pulled over by the cops from earlier in the movie. Louis, however, uses the pellet gun to get them out of trouble. Meanwhile, Carl and Susan are discovered by the hitmen who had killed Berger. The couple are eventually stuffed into cans and set to be disposed of in a lake that serves as an illegal toxic dump for a local businessman, Maxwell Potterdam III, who was also the man who had Berger killed.
Carl and Susan manage to escape from the cans and reunite with the others. The group fights the toxic dump workers and brings down Potterdam.
Cast
- Charlie SheenCharlie SheenCarlos Irwin Estevez , better known by his stage name Charlie Sheen, is an American film and television actor. He is the youngest son of actor Martin Sheen....
– Carl Taylor - Emilio EstevezEmilio EstevezEmilio Estevez is an American actor, film director, and writer. He started his career as an actor and is well-known for being a member of the acting Brat Pack of the 1980s, starring in The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire...
– James St. James - Keith DavidKeith DavidKeith David Williams , better known as Keith David, is an American film, television, voice actor, and singer. He is perhaps most known for his live-action roles in such films as Crash, There's Something About Mary, Barbershop and Men at Work...
– Louis Fedders - Leslie HopeLeslie HopeLeslie Ann Hope is a Canadian actress, best known for her role as Teri Bauer in the Fox show 24 where she played the wife of the main character Jack Bauer.-Life and career:...
– Susan Wilkins - Dean CameronDean CameronDean Cameron is an American television and film actor. He is best known for his role as Francis "Chainsaw" Gremp in the 1987 Mark Harmon comedy Summer School....
– Pizza Man - John GetzJohn Getz-Personal life:Getz, one of four children, was born in Davenport, Iowa, and grew up in the Mississippi River Valley. He began acting while attending the University of Iowa, where he helped found the Center for New Performing Arts...
– Maxwell Potterdam III - Hawk WolinskiHawk WolinskiDavid J. "Hawk" Wolinski is an American keyboardist, songwriter and record producer probably best known for his work with the funk band Rufus and their lead singer Chaka Khan....
– Biff - John LavachielliJohn LavachielliJohn Lavachielli began his career as an actor in 1983 in The Lords of Discipline as Mark Santoro, Paramount's adaptation of the Pat Conroy novel of the same name. He also appeared in the 1990 film Men At Work, as well as the action adventure, The Rocketeer.John's television guest star appearances...
– Mario - Geoffrey BlakeGeoffrey BlakeGeoffrey Blake may refer to:*Geoffrey Blake , Fourth Sea Lord*Geoffrey Blake , American film and television actor*Geoffrey Blake , English athlete...
– Frost - Cameron DyeCameron DyeCameron Dye is an American actor. He played "Fred" in the movie Valley Girl.Dye was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dye's family moved around the United States and in the mid-1970s he attended Sylvania High School in Sylvania, Ohio. Later, Dye moved to California and attended Mills High School in...
– Luzinski - John PutchJohn PutchJohn Putch is an American actor, director and screenwriter. He is best known for his recurring role as Bob Morton on the 1980s sitcom One Day at a Time and as Sean Brody in the film Jaws 3-D.-Career:...
– Mike - Tommy HinkleyTommy Hinkley-Life and career:Hinkley's on-screen career now spans more than 20 years, and since the beginning it has been supplemented by a heavy dose of television guest roles, and periodic regular turns on TV series, including the short-lived Showtime series Hard Knocks, that also featured Bill Maher...
– Jake - Darrell Larson – Jack Berger
- Sy RichardsonSy Richardson-Early life:Richardson was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He started singing at age 12 and recorded his first record with Lil June and the Januarys at 16. Richardson served two years on active duty with the United States Navy.-Career:...
– Walt Richardson - Troy EvansTroy EvansTroy Evans is an American football linebacker and special teams player who is currently a free agent. Evans previously played for the St...
– Captain Dalton - Jim "Poorman" TrentonJim TrentonJames "The Poorman" Trenton is an American radio broadcaster. He was a disc jockey on KROQ in Los Angeles from 1982-1993. He is best known for co-creating and hosting the evening Loveline radio talk show. Trenton also discovered and hired his then-co-host Dr. Drew Pinsky...
– Narrator
Production
The original screenplay was tentatively titled Clear Intent and slated to star another Brat Packer alongside Estevez. The majority of the movie was shot in Redondo BeachRedondo Beach, California
Redondo Beach is one of the three Beach Cities located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 66,748 at the 2010 census, up from 63,261 at the 2000 census. The city is located in the South Bay region of the greater Los Angeles area.Redondo Beach was originally part of...
and Hermosa Beach
Hermosa Beach, California
Hermosa Beach is a beachfront city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Its population was 19,506 at the 2010 census, up from 18,566 at the 2000 census....
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Reception
The film was not critically well-received, earning only a 35% rating on Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
. Considering its relatively small production budget, Men at Work did well in theaters, grossing $16,247,964 USD, $3,184,311 of that within the first week.
Soundtrack
Men at Work (RhinoRhino Entertainment
Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
/Wea, July 18, 1990)
- "Wear You to the Ball" - UB40UB40UB40 are a British reggae/pop band formed in 1978 in Birmingham. The band has placed more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and has also achieved considerable international success. One of the world's best-selling music artists, UB40 have sold over 70 million records.Their hit singles...
- "Super Cool" - Sly & Robbie
- "Big Pink House" - Tyrants in TherapyTyrants in TherapyThe Tyrants in Therapy are an American “Punk Cabaret” band, which was formed in Los Angeles in 1983. Having started as a foursome, they have operated, since 1994, with only two members: songwriter, lead singer and producer Michael J; and songwriter and lead singer AbbeAbbe...
- "Feeling Good" - Pressure Drop
- "Back to Back" - Blood Brothers
- "Take Heed" - Black UhuruBlack UhuruBlack Uhuru are a Jamaican reggae group formed in 1972, initially as Uhuru . The group has undergone several line-up changes over the years, with Duckie Simpson always maintaining group control and ownership...
- "Here and Beyond" - Sly & Robbie
- "Truthful" - Blood Brothers
- "Reggae Ambassador" - Third WorldThird WorldThe term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO , or communism and the Soviet Union...
- "Give a Little Love" - Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers
- "Playas Dawn" - Stewart CopelandStewart CopelandStewart Armstrong Copeland is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band The Police. During the group's extended hiatus from the mid-1980s to 2007, he played in other bands and composed soundtracks...
- "Pink Panther No. 23" - Stewart CopelandStewart CopelandStewart Armstrong Copeland is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band The Police. During the group's extended hiatus from the mid-1980s to 2007, he played in other bands and composed soundtracks...