This cheerful caper about confidence tricksters at large on the French Riviera is an ingenious remake of the 1963 film Bedtime Story. Suave Lawrence Jamieson (Michael Caine in the David Niven role) is the one who has it all. Silver-rinsed American matriarchs with enough money to walk lopsided are easy prey and supply him with that to which he has become accustomed: wealth. Freddy Benton (Steve Martin in the Marlon Brando part) isn't yet in that league. All that he lacks is class. Before long, though, the rivals are locked in battle to see who can squeeze $50,000 from an American 'soap queen' (Glenne Headly). There are some gleaming barbs in the duel of wits that follows, with touches of Tom and Jerry supplied by Martin's lunatic sense of humour. Although the story too often marks time to look at the backdrop, laughs still come at regular intervals, the script is almost too sophisticated to contain a swear-word (good grief! ) and you may be surprised at how it all turns out. A civilised comedy that falls only just short of its potential.
