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{{other uses|Mixed nuts (disambiguation)}}
{{About||the mixture of nuts|mixed nuts|the 1922 short [[comedy]] film, starring Stan Laurel|Mixed Nuts (1922 film)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
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| director = [[Nora Ephron]]
| director = [[Nora Ephron]]
| producer = {{plainlist|
| producer = {{plainlist|
* [[Joseph Hartwick]]
* Joseph Hartwick
* [[Paul Junger Witt]]
* [[Paul Junger Witt]]
* [[Tony Thomas (producer)|Tony Thomas]]
* [[Tony Thomas (producer)|Tony Thomas]]
}}
}}
| writer = {{plainlist|
| writer = {{plainlist|
* [[Nora Ephron]]
* Nora Ephron
* [[Delia Ephron]]
* [[Delia Ephron]]
}}
}}
|based_on = {{Basedon|''[[Santa Claus is a Stinker|Le Père Noël est une ordure (Santa Claus is a Stinker)]]''|[[Jean-Marie Poiré]]}}
| starring = {{plainlist|
| starring = {{plainlist|
* [[Steve Martin]]
* [[Steve Martin]]
Line 29: Line 29:
| music = [[George Fenton]]
| music = [[George Fenton]]
| cinematography = [[Sven Nykvist]]
| cinematography = [[Sven Nykvist]]
| editing = [[Robert M. Reitano]]
| editing = Robert M. Reitano
| distributor = [[TriStar Pictures]]
| studio = [[TriStar Pictures]]
| distributor = [[Sony Pictures Releasing]]
| released = {{Film date|1994|12|21}}
| released = {{Film date|1994|12|21}}
| runtime = 97 minutes
| runtime = 97 minutes
| country = [[United States]]
| country = [[United States]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| budget = $20 million<ref>{{cite web|url=http://catalog.afi.com/Film/60398-MIXED-NUTS|title=AFI-Catalog|website=Catalog.afi.com|accessdate=April 30, 2019}}</ref>
| budget = $20 million<ref>{{cite web|url=http://catalog.afi.com/Film/60398-MIXED-NUTS|title=''Mixed Nuts'' (1994)|website=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]]|accessdate=April 30, 2019}}</ref>
| gross = $6.8 million<ref name="mojo"/>
| gross = $6.8 million<ref name="mojo"/>
}}
}}


'''''Mixed Nuts''''' is a 1994 [[American]] [[Christmas film|Christmas]] [[comedy film]] directed by [[Nora Ephron]],<ref name="Mixed Nuts">{{cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/18886/Mixed-Nuts/full-credits.html|title=Mixed Nuts|work=[[Turner Classic Movies]]|accessdate=May 22, 2016}}</ref> based on the 1982 French comedy film ''[[Le Père Noël est une ordure]]''.<ref name="Le Père Noël est une ordure">{{cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/482058/Le-Pere-Noel-est-une-Ordure/|title=Le Père Noël est une ordure|work=[[Turner Classic Movies]]|accessdate=May 22, 2016}}</ref> Co-written by Ephron and her sister [[Delia Ephron|Delia]], the film features an [[ensemble cast]] which includes [[Steve Martin]], [[Madeline Kahn]], [[Rita Wilson]], [[Anthony LaPaglia]], [[Garry Shandling]], [[Juliette Lewis]], [[Adam Sandler]]<ref name="Mixed Nuts"/> and, in his first film role, [[Liev Schreiber]].
'''''Mixed Nuts''''' is a 1994 American [[Christmas film|Christmas]] [[black comedy film]] directed by [[Nora Ephron]],<ref name="Mixed Nuts">{{cite web|url= https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/18886/mixed-nuts |title=Mixed Nuts|work=[[Turner Classic Movies]]|accessdate=August 4, 2023}}</ref> based on the 1982 French comedy film ''[[Santa Claus is a Stinker|Le Père Noël est une ordure (Santa Claus is a Stinker)]]''.<ref name="Le Père Noël est une ordure">{{cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/482058/Le-Pere-Noel-est-une-Ordure/|title=Le Père Noël est une ordure|work=[[Turner Classic Movies]]|accessdate=May 22, 2016}}</ref> Co-written by Ephron and her sister [[Delia Ephron|Delia]], the film features an [[ensemble cast]] which includes [[Steve Martin]], [[Madeline Kahn]], [[Rita Wilson]], [[Anthony LaPaglia]], [[Garry Shandling]], [[Rob Reiner]], [[Juliette Lewis]], [[Adam Sandler]],<ref name="Mixed Nuts"/> and [[Liev Schreiber]] in his film debut.


The film was released theatrically on December 21, 1994 and was both critically and commercially unsuccessful.
The film was released theatrically on December 21, 1994, and was both a critical and commercial failure.


==Plot==
==Plot==
In a coastal [[California]] town on Christmas Eve, ex-con Felix is seen running from his angry, pregnant wife, Gracie, as she chases him down the road. He accidentally runs into and damages a Christmas tree carried by two rollerbladers. When an argument breaks out among them, a stranger, Philip, unsuccessfully attempts to calm them down. They soon disperse.
In [[Venice, Los Angeles]] on Christmas Eve, an ex-con named Felix is being chased down the road by his angry, pregnant girlfriend, Gracie. He accidentally runs into and damages a Christmas tree carried by two rollerbladers. An argument breaks out among them. A stranger named Philip tries to calm them down. They disperse, and Philip picks up the damaged tree and takes it to his office.


Philip, head of the suicide-prevention hotline "Lifesavers", receives an eviction notice from his landlord, Stanley, after being unable to pay the organization's rent for several months. In addition to him, the hotline is staffed by the selfish, neurotic, and rather fearful office manager, Mrs. Blanche Munchnik and the overly emotional and empathetic supervisor Catherine O'Shaughnessy. Philip, who does not inform his coworkers of the eviction, attempts to convince his girlfriend, Susan, who is a loan officer in a local bank, to grant him a small loan. She refuses the loan before telling him that she has been secretly dating a psychiatrist for four months and is breaking up with him.
Philip runs a suicide-prevention hotline called "Lifesavers,” working there with a judgmental widow named Mrs. Munchnik and an overly sensitive woman named Catherine. Catherine obviously has a crush on Philip, but he seems oblivious. Philip receives an eviction notice from the landlord, Stanley, who is planning to convert the building to condominiums. Philip keeps the eviction notice a secret from his coworkers, and tries to get his loan officer fiancée, Susan, to grant him a small loan to stay in business. Susan refuses to grant the loan and breaks up with Philip, saying she has been cheating on him with a psychiatrist.


The hotline is not too busy on Christmas eve, but they do get a call from a woman who is afraid of the "Seaside Strangler" (a serial killer who has recently targeted women in the neighborhood), and a call from Chris, a depressed trans woman who wants to visit the office in person so as to get away from her judgmental family. Mrs. Munchnik's shift ends, but she gets trapped in the elevator as she leaves. She eventually manages to get Philip's attention and he manages to pull her out.
Despite Catherine's expectation that "you'd expect everyone to be thinking of jumping out of windows or slitting their wrists on Christmas Eve", the staff has received few calls. There is one phone call from a woman who is frightened by a notorious Los Angeles [[serial killer]] dubbed "the Seaside Strangler," and another from Chris, a [[drag queen|drag]] [[transvestite]], who feigns depression to convince Philip to disclose the Lifesavers' office address. Meanwhile, an elevator malfunction leaves Mrs. Munchnik trapped on her way to Christmas Eve dinner. Philip eventually manages to pull her to the top of the elevator when Gracie arrives and attempts to operate it. They are terrified that they will be crushed by the ceiling of the elevator shaft, but eventually they all manage to return to the office.


Felix arrives, begging Gracie to listen to him, and she hits him in the head with a [[fruitcake]], [[concussion|concussing]] him and causing a large cut on his forehead. Philip and Catherine take him to a veterinarian to be treated for his head wound. While the doctor is distracted discussing relationships and pillows with Philip, Felix steals and quickly overdoses on [[animal tranquilizer|dog tranquilizers]] and is taken to a hospital.
Gracie arrives at the office to see her friend Catherine; Felix, chasing Gracie, also shows up. Gracie hits Felix in the head with a fruitcake, giving him a concussion. Philip and Catherine take Felix to a veterinarian friend to get treated for free. At the vet, Felix accidentally overdoses on dog tranquilizers. He is taken to a hospital.


Meanwhile, at the office, the doorbell rings. Gracie quickly throws the door open, accidentally striking Mrs. Munchnik and revealing Chris in the doorway. Gracie leaves Chris to care for the unconscious Mrs. Munchnik. When Philip returns, Chris is sitting on the sofa and convinces Philip to dance with him. When Mrs. Munchnik awakens, she witnesses the dancing and threatens to sue Philip for withholding information of the eviction and for [[inappropriate office behavior]] before leaving.
Chris arrives at the office; Gracie opens the door for her so quickly that she accidentally strikes Mrs. Munchnik and knocks her unconscious. Gracie asks Chris to look after Mrs. Munchnik, then leaves. Philip returns to the office; Chris strikes up a conversation with him and convinces him to dance. Mrs. Munchnik awakens, witnesses their dancing, and threatens to sue Philip for withholding information of the eviction and for inappropriate office behavior. She leaves.


Soon, Gracie, Catherine, and a downstairs neighbor named Louie Capshaw, all return to the office with Chinese food. Meanwhile, her car fixed by the car club, Blanche encounters the fruitcake again, as it has landed and crashes through her windshield, after Philip has a fit and throws it out of the office window. She is distraught, sitting on her car bumper, as fellow neighbor Mr. Lobel walks up to her with his three dogs in tow. Lobel comforts her and Munchnik realizes that she has loved Lobel for so long. Together, they flee to the beach and [[fornication|fornicate]] in the lifeguard's office.
Gracie gives Catherine a makeover; then they return to the office with Chinese food. Downstairs neighbor Louie, who has a crush on Catherine, joins them. Meanwhile, Philip throws the fruitcake out of the office window and accidentally smashes the windshield of Mrs. Munchnik's car, just as she is about to drive away. Fellow neighbor Mr. Lobel approaches her with his three dogs and tries to cheer her up. Mrs. Munchnik suddenly kisses him; they run off to the beach and have sex.


An hour later, Felix arrives at the office brandishing a gun, having escaped from the hospital. Chris gets shot in the foot after attempting to disarm him. Gracie takes the gun and shoots wildly around the office to empty it of ammunition. Two shots go through the front door, killing Stanley- their landlord -who was standing behind it with a bag of his possessions. The sight of the dead Stanley puts Catherine in [[acute stress disorder|shock]]. Philip prepares a bath to calm her down confesses his love to Catherine, who reciprocates. They fornicate in the bathroom.
An hour later, Felix (having regained consciousness and escaped from the hospital) arrives at the office brandishing a gun. Chris attempts to disarm him and gets shot in the foot. Gracie takes the gun and shoots wildly around the office to empty it of ammunition. Two shots go through the front door—and kill the landlord, Stanley, who had just showed up to try to fix the elevator. The sight of the dead man puts Catherine in shock. Philip prepares a bath to calm her down and realizes that he is attracted to her. Catherine and Philip have sex in the bathroom. Meanwhile, Louie and Chris start flirting with each other; Louie makes up a song for Chris on his ukulele.


Gracie and Felix disguise Stanley's body as a Christmas tree: they wrap it in burlap and attach the branches of the office Christmas tree with Super Glue. Everyone leaves the office to help carry the "tree" and leave it on the boardwalk, along with the bag that Stanley was carrying. Outside, they encounter the angry rollerbladers from the first scene, who recognize Felix and decide to destroy his "tree" in revenge. The "tree" crashes to the ground and reveals the dead body. The police arrive and ask for an explanation. Philip says that the gun is Felix's, but then Gracie confesses to the crime instead. Not wanting Gracie to go to jail, Felix grabs the gun, runs to the roof of a building, and threatens to commit suicide.
Meanwhile, Chris takes a one-sided interest in Louie and attempts to flirt with him. Louie reprises his earlier appearance and sings impromptu songs on his prized [[ukulele]]. Gracie and Felix disguise Stanley's body as a Christmas tree with burlap and super glue, and the decision is made to take it and the bag to the boardwalk and leave it there.


Philip must be a real "life saver" and convince Felix not to kill himself. He makes an emotional speech about Christmas, which convinces Felix to climb down and face the consequences. Meanwhile, the detectives have been investigating Stanley's bag. They find fishing line and kelp, the Seaside Strangler's weapons of choice, revealing Stanley to be the serial killer.
As they all carry Stanley's body down the street, they encounter the now-vengeful rollerbladers- their previous two Christmas trees having been destroyed by Felix -who barrel through them in order to destroy their "tree".


⚫
For killing the criminal, Gracie receives a $250,000 reward. She gives Philip some of the money to pay their debts, then promptly goes into labor. Giving birth at midnight on Christmas Day, the scene parodies the [[Nativity of Jesus]]. Philip then proposes to Catherine, and she accepts.
Felix tosses the tree and it crashes to the ground, revealing Stanley's body. When the police arrive, Philip falsely confesses to the killing, but Gracie pulls out the gun as [[involuntary manslaughter|proof of her guilt]]. Felix grabs it and runs to the roof of a nearby building, where he threatens to commit suicide. Philip [[de-escalation|convinces him to climb down]], to much applause. Catherine hands Stanley's bag to the detectives, who search it. They find fishing line and kelp, the weapons of choice for the Seaside Strangler. Stanley was the Seaside Strangler all along.


In the end credits, Felix finally fulfills his dream of becoming a mural artist, painting a mural depicting everything that happened on this eventful Christmas Eve.
⚫
For killing the criminal, Gracie receives the reward of two hundred fifty thousand dollars. She uses this money to satisfy Lifesavers' debts and prevent their eviction, then promptly [[go into labor|goes into labor]]. She gives birth in at midnight on Christmas Day, in a scene that parodies the [[Nativity of Jesus]]. Philip then asks Catherine to marry him the same day, and he obliges.

At the end credits, Felix, who quit his job to paint murals, was finally commissioned and his career takes off from there. His first commission has him painting everything he told Gracie he would paint once he had a wall.


==Cast==
==Cast==
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* [[Kurt Lockwood]] as Rollerblading Snowman (uncredited)
* [[Kurt Lockwood]] as Rollerblading Snowman (uncredited)
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}

==Production==
The film was initially titled ''The Night Before Christmas'' when it was in development at [[Walt Disney Pictures]], but the film went into [[Turnaround (filmmaking)|turnaround]] and ended up at [[TriStar Pictures]].<ref name="MixedNutsVar1">{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/1994/voices/columns/is-a-remake-just-what-the-doctor-ordered-1117862427/|title=Is a remake just what the 'Doctor' ordered? |date=February 13, 1994 |last=Archerd |first=Army |author-link=Army Archerd |work=Variety|access-date=December 23, 2022}}</ref> While the film is set in [[Los Angeles]], due to an impending [[International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees]] strike the filmmakers setup interior filming locations in [[New York City]].<ref name="MixedNutsVar1" /> A snowstorm impacted the travel of the cast and crew who became reliant on the [[New York City Subway]] to get to the set.<ref name="MixedNutsVar1" />


==Soundtrack==
==Soundtrack==
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| name = Mixed Nuts
| name = Mixed Nuts
| type = Soundtrack
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = Various Artists
| artist = various artists
| cover =
| cover =
| alt =
| alt =
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# "The Night Before Christmas" by [[Carly Simon]] – 3:39
# "The Night Before Christmas" by [[Carly Simon]] – 3:39
# "[[Silent Night]]" by [[Baby Washington]] – 3:23
# "[[Silent Night]]" by [[Baby Washington]] – 3:23
# "[[White Christmas (song)|White Christmas]]" by [[The Drifters]] – 2:41<ref>[http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/catalog/soundtrackdetail.php?movieid=8307 ''Mixed Nuts'' (1994)]. SoundTrackCollector.com.</ref>
# "[[White Christmas (song)|White Christmas]]" by [[The Drifters]] – 2:41<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/catalog/soundtrackdetail.php?movieid=8307 |title=''Mixed Nuts'' (1994) |website=SoundTrackCollector.com}}</ref>


==Release==
==Release==
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===Critical reception===
===Critical reception===
[[Review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] gives the film a 10% "rotten" rating based on 30 reviews. The critical consensus reads: "''Mixed Nuts'' may provoke strong allergic reactions in all but the most undemanding filmgoers - and the most forgiving Steve Martin fans".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mixed_nuts/ | title=Mixed Nuts | work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] | publisher=[[Flixster]] | accessdate=October 21, 2014}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], it has a 14 out of 100 rating based on 16 critics.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/mixed-nuts | title=Mixed Nuts | work=[[Metacritic]] | publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] | accessdate=October 21, 2014}}</ref> Audiences surveyed by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film a grade "C+" on scale of A to F.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title= Cinemascore |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date= 2018-12-20 }}</ref>
On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''Mixed Nuts'' holds an approval rating of 13% based on 31 reviews, with an average rating of 3.1/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "''Mixed Nuts'' may provoke strong allergic reactions in all but the most undemanding filmgoers - and the most forgiving Steve Martin fans.”<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mixed_nuts|title=Mixed Nuts|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date=13 July 2022}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film had a weighted average score of 14 out of 100 based on 16 critics, indicating "overwhelming dislike.”<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/mixed-nuts | title=Mixed Nuts | work=[[Metacritic]] | publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] | accessdate=October 21, 2014}}</ref> Audiences surveyed by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film a grade "C+" on scale of A to F.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title= Cinemascore |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date= 2018-12-20}}</ref>

⚫
[[Janet Maslin]]'s review in ''[[The New York Times]]'' mentioned a corpse depicted in the story and wrote that the film "is about as funny as that corpse and about as natural"<ref>{{cite web|date=December 21, 1994|title=Film Review; Hysterics All Dressed Up for the Holidays|first=Janet|last=Maslin|author-link=Janet Maslin|work=[[The New York Times]] |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/21/movies/film-review-hysterics-all-dressed-up-for-the-holidays.html |access-date=August 4, 2023}}</ref> ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' staff wrote that "director/co-scripter Nora Ephron pitches the humor at a cacophonous level and displays the comedic equivalent of two left feet in evolving an absurdist, slapstick yarn. Truly alarming is watching some fine performers, including Kahn and LaPaglia, at their very worst.”<ref>{{cite news |url= https://variety.com/1993/film/reviews/mixed-nuts-1200435509/ |title=''Mixed Nuts'' |date=December 31, 1993 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' wrote: "The movie has a first-rate cast and crew; it's Nora Ephron's first directing job since the wonderful ''[[Sleepless in Seattle]]'' [...] Maybe there's too much talent. Every character shines with such dazzling intensity and such inexhaustible comic invention that the movie becomes tiresome, like too many clowns.”<ref>{{cite news|first=Roger|last=Ebert|author-link=Roger Ebert|url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mixed-nuts-1994 |title=''Mixed Nuts''|work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|date=December 21, 1994|access-date=January 12, 2011|archive-date=October 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011180830/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19941221%2FREVIEWS%2F412210303%2F1023|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Michael Dwyer (journalist)|Michael Dwyer]] in the ''[[Irish Times]]'', reviewing it upon its European release, called Ephron's film "a truly pathetic effort.” and "one of the worst films I have ever seen.”<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Dwyer |title=Some Turkeys, Some Golden |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=22 December 1995 |page=11}}</ref>


⚫
[[Janet Maslin]]'s review in ''[[The New York Times]]'' mentioned a corpse depicted in the story and wrote that the film "is about as funny as that corpse and about as natural."<ref>{{cite web|date=December 21, 1994|title=Film Review; Hysterics All Dressed Up for the Holidays|first=Janet|last=Maslin|work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9501E6D71038F932A15751C1A962958260}}</ref> ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' staff wrote, "Director/co-scripter Nora Ephron pitches the humor at a cacophonous level and displays the comedic equivalent of two left feet in evolving an absurdist, slapstick yarn. Truly alarming is watching some fine performers, including Kahn and LaPaglia, at their very worst."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117793175?refcatid=31 |title=''Mixed Nuts'' |date=December 31, 1993 |publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' wrote "The movie has a first-rate cast and crew; it's Nora Ephron's first directing job since the wonderful ''[[Sleepless in Seattle]]'' [...] Maybe there's too much talent. Every character shines with such dazzling intensity and such inexhaustible comic invention that the movie becomes tiresome, like too many clowns."<ref>{{cite web|first=Roger|last=Ebert|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19941221/REVIEWS/412210303/1023 |title=''Mixed Nuts''|publisher=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|date=December 21, 1994}}</ref> [[Michael Dwyer (journalist)|Michael Dwyer]] in the ''[[Irish Times]]'', reviewing it upon its European release, called Ephron's film "a truly pathetic effort", and "one of the worst films I have ever seen".<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Dwyer |title=Some Turkeys, Some Golden |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=22 December 1995 |page=11 }}</ref>
===Year-end lists===
===Year-end lists===
* 5th worst&nbsp;– [[Desson Howe]], ''[[The Washington Post]]''<ref>{{citation|last=Howe|first=Desson|date=December 30, 1994|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1994/12/30/the-envelope-please-reel-winners-and-losers-of-1994/3cf88a79-b416-4c9a-8ff1-8e9c9a91df37/|title=The Envelope Please: Reel Winners and Losers of 1994|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=July 19, 2020}}</ref>
* 5th worst – [[Desson Howe]], ''[[The Washington Post]]''<ref>{{cite web|last=Howe|first=Desson|author-link=Desson Howe|date=December 30, 1994|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1994/12/30/the-envelope-please-reel-winners-and-losers-of-1994/3cf88a79-b416-4c9a-8ff1-8e9c9a91df37/|title=The Envelope Please: Reel Winners and Losers of 1994|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=July 19, 2020}}</ref>
* 10th worst&nbsp;– Robert Denerstein, ''[[Rocky Mountain News]]''<ref>{{cite newspaper|last=Denerstein|first=Robert|date=January 1, 1995|title=Perhaps It Was Best to Simply Fade to Black|newspaper=Rocky Mountain News|page=61A|edition=Final}}</ref>
* 10th worst – Robert Denerstein, ''[[Rocky Mountain News]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Denerstein|first=Robert|date=January 1, 1995|title=Perhaps It Was Best to Simply Fade to Black|newspaper=Rocky Mountain News|page=61A|edition=Final}}</ref>
* Dishonorable mention&nbsp;– William Arnold, ''[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]''<ref>{{cite newspaper|last=Arnold|first=William|date=December 30, 1994|title='94 Movies: Best and Worst|newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|page=20|edition=Final}}</ref>
* Dishonorable mention – William Arnold, ''[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Arnold|first=William|date=December 30, 1994|title='94 Movies: Best and Worst|newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|page=20|edition=Final}}</ref>
* Dishonorable mention&nbsp;– Dan Craft, ''[[The Pantagraph]]''<ref>{{cite newspaper|last=Craft|first=Dan|date=December 30, 1994 |title=Success, Failure and a Lot of In-between; Movies '94|newspaper=[[The Pantagraph]]|page=B1}}</ref>
* Dishonorable mention – Dan Craft, ''[[The Pantagraph]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Craft|first=Dan|date=December 30, 1994 |title=Success, Failure and a Lot of In-between; Movies '94|newspaper=[[The Pantagraph]]|page=B1}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[List of Christmas films]]
* [[Box office bomb]]
* [[Box office bomb]]


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==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0110538|Mixed Nuts}}
* {{IMDb title|0110538|Mixed Nuts}}
* {{amg movie|133565}}
* {{TCMDb title|id=18886}}
* {{tcmdb title|id=18886}}
* {{mojo title|mixednuts|Mixed Nuts}}
* {{mojo title|mixednuts|Mixed Nuts}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|mixed_nuts|Mixed Nuts}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|mixed_nuts|Mixed Nuts}}
* {{metacritic film|mixed-nuts|Mixed Nuts}}
* {{Metacritic film|title=Mixed Nuts}}


{{Nora Ephron}}
{{Nora Ephron}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mixed Nuts}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mixed Nuts}}
[[Category:1994 films]]
[[Category:1994 films]]
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[[Category:1994 black comedy films]]
[[Category:1990s Christmas comedy films]]
[[Category:1990s Christmas comedy films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:1990s serial killer films]]
[[Category:1990s pregnancy films]]
[[Category:American black comedy films]]
[[Category:American Christmas comedy films]]
[[Category:American Christmas comedy films]]
[[Category:American LGBT-related films]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ-related films]]
⚫
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Nora Ephron]]
[[Category:Films directed by Nora Ephron]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Nora Ephron]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Nora Ephron]]
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[[Category:Films about trans women]]
[[Category:Films about trans women]]
[[Category:TriStar Pictures films]]
[[Category:TriStar Pictures films]]
[[Category:1994 comedy films]]
[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
[[Category:1990s American films]]
[[Category:Films about landlords]]
[[Category:1994 LGBTQ-related films]]
[[Category:LGBTQ-related black comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language black comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language Christmas comedy films]]

Latest revision as of 02:26, 22 December 2024

For other uses, see Mixed nuts (disambiguation).

Mixed Nuts
Theatrical release poster
Directed byNora Ephron
Written by
Based onLe Père Noël est une ordure (Santa Claus is a Stinker)
by Jean-Marie Poiré
Produced by
Starring
CinematographySven Nykvist
Edited byRobert M. Reitano
Music byGeorge Fenton
Production
company
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing
Release date
  • December 21, 1994 (1994-12-21)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$20 million[1]
Box office$6.8 million[2]

Mixed Nuts is a 1994 American Christmas black comedy film directed by Nora Ephron,[3] based on the 1982 French comedy film Le Père Noël est une ordure (Santa Claus is a Stinker).[4] Co-written by Ephron and her sister Delia, the film features an ensemble cast which includes Steve Martin, Madeline Kahn, Rita Wilson, Anthony LaPaglia, Garry Shandling, Rob Reiner, Juliette Lewis, Adam Sandler,[3] and Liev Schreiber in his film debut.

The film was released theatrically on December 21, 1994, and was both a critical and commercial failure.

Plot

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In Venice, Los Angeles on Christmas Eve, an ex-con named Felix is being chased down the road by his angry, pregnant girlfriend, Gracie. He accidentally runs into and damages a Christmas tree carried by two rollerbladers. An argument breaks out among them. A stranger named Philip tries to calm them down. They disperse, and Philip picks up the damaged tree and takes it to his office.

Philip runs a suicide-prevention hotline called "Lifesavers,” working there with a judgmental widow named Mrs. Munchnik and an overly sensitive woman named Catherine. Catherine obviously has a crush on Philip, but he seems oblivious. Philip receives an eviction notice from the landlord, Stanley, who is planning to convert the building to condominiums. Philip keeps the eviction notice a secret from his coworkers, and tries to get his loan officer fiancée, Susan, to grant him a small loan to stay in business. Susan refuses to grant the loan and breaks up with Philip, saying she has been cheating on him with a psychiatrist.

The hotline is not too busy on Christmas eve, but they do get a call from a woman who is afraid of the "Seaside Strangler" (a serial killer who has recently targeted women in the neighborhood), and a call from Chris, a depressed trans woman who wants to visit the office in person so as to get away from her judgmental family. Mrs. Munchnik's shift ends, but she gets trapped in the elevator as she leaves. She eventually manages to get Philip's attention and he manages to pull her out.

Gracie arrives at the office to see her friend Catherine; Felix, chasing Gracie, also shows up. Gracie hits Felix in the head with a fruitcake, giving him a concussion. Philip and Catherine take Felix to a veterinarian friend to get treated for free. At the vet, Felix accidentally overdoses on dog tranquilizers. He is taken to a hospital.

Chris arrives at the office; Gracie opens the door for her so quickly that she accidentally strikes Mrs. Munchnik and knocks her unconscious. Gracie asks Chris to look after Mrs. Munchnik, then leaves. Philip returns to the office; Chris strikes up a conversation with him and convinces him to dance. Mrs. Munchnik awakens, witnesses their dancing, and threatens to sue Philip for withholding information of the eviction and for inappropriate office behavior. She leaves.

Gracie gives Catherine a makeover; then they return to the office with Chinese food. Downstairs neighbor Louie, who has a crush on Catherine, joins them. Meanwhile, Philip throws the fruitcake out of the office window and accidentally smashes the windshield of Mrs. Munchnik's car, just as she is about to drive away. Fellow neighbor Mr. Lobel approaches her with his three dogs and tries to cheer her up. Mrs. Munchnik suddenly kisses him; they run off to the beach and have sex.

An hour later, Felix (having regained consciousness and escaped from the hospital) arrives at the office brandishing a gun. Chris attempts to disarm him and gets shot in the foot. Gracie takes the gun and shoots wildly around the office to empty it of ammunition. Two shots go through the front door—and kill the landlord, Stanley, who had just showed up to try to fix the elevator. The sight of the dead man puts Catherine in shock. Philip prepares a bath to calm her down and realizes that he is attracted to her. Catherine and Philip have sex in the bathroom. Meanwhile, Louie and Chris start flirting with each other; Louie makes up a song for Chris on his ukulele.

Gracie and Felix disguise Stanley's body as a Christmas tree: they wrap it in burlap and attach the branches of the office Christmas tree with Super Glue. Everyone leaves the office to help carry the "tree" and leave it on the boardwalk, along with the bag that Stanley was carrying. Outside, they encounter the angry rollerbladers from the first scene, who recognize Felix and decide to destroy his "tree" in revenge. The "tree" crashes to the ground and reveals the dead body. The police arrive and ask for an explanation. Philip says that the gun is Felix's, but then Gracie confesses to the crime instead. Not wanting Gracie to go to jail, Felix grabs the gun, runs to the roof of a building, and threatens to commit suicide.

Philip must be a real "life saver" and convince Felix not to kill himself. He makes an emotional speech about Christmas, which convinces Felix to climb down and face the consequences. Meanwhile, the detectives have been investigating Stanley's bag. They find fishing line and kelp, the Seaside Strangler's weapons of choice, revealing Stanley to be the serial killer.

For killing the criminal, Gracie receives a $250,000 reward. She gives Philip some of the money to pay their debts, then promptly goes into labor. Giving birth at midnight on Christmas Day, the scene parodies the Nativity of Jesus. Philip then proposes to Catherine, and she accepts.

In the end credits, Felix finally fulfills his dream of becoming a mural artist, painting a mural depicting everything that happened on this eventful Christmas Eve.

Cast

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Production

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The film was initially titled The Night Before Christmas when it was in development at Walt Disney Pictures, but the film went into turnaround and ended up at TriStar Pictures.[5] While the film is set in Los Angeles, due to an impending International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees strike the filmmakers setup interior filming locations in New York City.[5] A snowstorm impacted the travel of the cast and crew who became reliant on the New York City Subway to get to the set.[5]

Soundtrack

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Mixed Nuts
Soundtrack album by
various artists
ReleasedNovember 22, 1994
GenreChristmas
Length37:56
LabelSony Music
ProducerGeorge Fenton
  1. "Mixed Nuts" by Dr. John – 2:29
  2. "I'll Be Home for Christmas" by Fats Domino – 4:08
  3. "Santa Baby" by Eartha Kitt – 3:26
  4. "Jingle Bells" by Eastern Bloc – 2:25
  5. "Blue Christmas" by Leon Redbone – 2:24
  6. "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" by The O'Jays – 5:14
  7. "Mixed Notes" by George Fenton – 3:48
  8. "Grape Jelly" by Adam Sandler – 1:25
  9. "Christmas Melody" by George Fenton – 2:54
  10. "The Night Before Christmas" by Carly Simon – 3:39
  11. "Silent Night" by Baby Washington – 3:23
  12. "White Christmas" by The Drifters – 2:41[6]

Release

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The film opened on December 21, 1994, and made $2,307,850 in its first weekend, ranking number 12 in the domestic box office. By the end of its run, it had grossed a mere $6,821,850.[2]

Critical reception

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On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Mixed Nuts holds an approval rating of 13% based on 31 reviews, with an average rating of 3.1/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "Mixed Nuts may provoke strong allergic reactions in all but the most undemanding filmgoers - and the most forgiving Steve Martin fans.”[7] On Metacritic, the film had a weighted average score of 14 out of 100 based on 16 critics, indicating "overwhelming dislike.”[8] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade "C+" on scale of A to F.[9]

Janet Maslin's review in The New York Times mentioned a corpse depicted in the story and wrote that the film "is about as funny as that corpse and about as natural"[10] Variety staff wrote that "director/co-scripter Nora Ephron pitches the humor at a cacophonous level and displays the comedic equivalent of two left feet in evolving an absurdist, slapstick yarn. Truly alarming is watching some fine performers, including Kahn and LaPaglia, at their very worst.”[11] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote: "The movie has a first-rate cast and crew; it's Nora Ephron's first directing job since the wonderful Sleepless in Seattle [...] Maybe there's too much talent. Every character shines with such dazzling intensity and such inexhaustible comic invention that the movie becomes tiresome, like too many clowns.”[12] Michael Dwyer in the Irish Times, reviewing it upon its European release, called Ephron's film "a truly pathetic effort.” and "one of the worst films I have ever seen.”[13]

Year-end lists

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Mixed Nuts (1994)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Mixed Nuts (1994)". Box Office Mojo. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Mixed Nuts". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  4. ^ "Le Père Noël est une ordure". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Archerd, Army (February 13, 1994). "Is a remake just what the 'Doctor' ordered?". Variety. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  6. ^ "Mixed Nuts (1994)". SoundTrackCollector.com.
  7. ^ "Mixed Nuts". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  8. ^ "Mixed Nuts". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  9. ^ "Cinemascore". Archived from the original on December 20, 2018.
  10. ^ Maslin, Janet (December 21, 1994). "Film Review; Hysterics All Dressed Up for the Holidays". The New York Times. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  11. ^ "Mixed Nuts". Variety. December 31, 1993.
  12. ^ Ebert, Roger (December 21, 1994). "Mixed Nuts". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  13. ^ Dwyer, Michael (December 22, 1995). "Some Turkeys, Some Golden". The Irish Times. p. 11.
  14. ^ Howe, Desson (December 30, 1994). "The Envelope Please: Reel Winners and Losers of 1994". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  15. ^ Denerstein, Robert (January 1, 1995). "Perhaps It Was Best to Simply Fade to Black". Rocky Mountain News (Final ed.). p. 61A.
  16. ^ Arnold, William (December 30, 1994). "'94 Movies: Best and Worst". Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Final ed.). p. 20.
  17. ^ Craft, Dan (December 30, 1994). "Success, Failure and a Lot of In-between; Movies '94". The Pantagraph. p. B1.
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