Enid is Sleeping

Institute History

  • 1991 Sundance Film Festival

Description

June (Elizabeth Perkins) and her sister Enid are not the best of friends. Indeed Enid has tormented June her whole life. Which may explain why June is having an affair with Enid's husband Harry (Judge Reinhold) and why, which Enid discovers them in an afternoon tryst, she doesn't exactly take it in stride. And June doesn't really mean to kill Enid by conking her on the head to prevent her from shooting Harry. So now June and Harry have a problem—what to do with a body—which forms the basis for this superlative black comedy. The situation is only further complicated by the fact that Harry is the town's police officer, who is supposed to solve crimes, not be involved in committing them. Yet it's dumb and slapstick, as everything imaginable keeps happening to poor June and Harry, but the film keeps on getting laughs.

Unlike many films whose premise cannot be sustained, director Phillips keeps this comedy fast paced and hilarious. Elizabeth Perkins's performance as June, the dumb blonde, as tormented by her sister in death as she was in life, never stops entertaining. And Judge Reinhold, as her lover and partner in crime who must keep his partner, played by Jeffrey Jones, from suspecting any· thing. is the mood of exasperation and perseverance.

The supporting cast of Jeffrey Jones as Floyd, Rhea Perlman as Mavis and Michael J. Pollard as the motel manager are equally delightful. If you're in a mood to enjoy an old-fashioned, absurdist comedy, and you appreciate the style and atmosphere of deranged, small-town America, you're in for a delightful experience.


Saturday January 19 7:00 p.m.
Egyptian Theatre

Sunday January 20 10:00 a.m.
Prospector Square Theatre

Thursday January 24 8:30 p.m.
Trolley Corners Theatre

$10.00

— Geoffrey Gilmore

Screening Details

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