ISHTAR DESERVES IT'S STATUS AS A BAD FILM

"This is unbelievable."

Ishtar gets its name from the Mesopotamian goddess of love and war, and naturally the film deals heavily with both themes...albeit comedically. The film follows a pair of stupid, horrifically untalented lounge singers (Lyle played by Warren Beatty and Chuck played by Dustin Hoffman, they share very little chemistry) who write and perform their own songs, dreaming of one day getting their very own record. Broke and struggling, they take the advice of their agent and head out to perform a gig in Morocco, stopping in the war torn Ishtar on the way. Unfortunately, once in Ishtar both get entangled in its current power struggle, the search for a fabled map, romancing a pretty female revolutionary (Shirra played by Isabelle Adjani), and an age-old prophecy that speaks of two messengers from God. Madness ensues.

Ishtar is an anti-comedy (much like Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job). I would argue that it not being funny is the joke (although you can't help but imagine the filmmakers laughing their butts off at every failed joke). The songs Lyle and Chuck write and perform are just the worst, and neither person is capable of even holding a note (Oh yes, your ears will bleed... A LOT). You want them to give up and get actual jobs so they can support themselves. The two share an odd, co-dependent  relationship, although  most of the film centers around their infatuation with Shirra.

Ishtar is racist and misogynistic. There are plenty of jokes aimed at middle easterners, and poor Isabelle Adjani is asked to stand around, do nothing, and look pretty as two bozos drool all over her (Warren Beatty even takes part in an extended, uncomfortable groping scene. It's crazy to think this film was directed and written by a woman).Elaine May writes and directs, and proves to be dreadfully incompetent at both (ex: There is a lengthy, choppy flashback montage that occurs early on in the film). She also helped write the songs along with Paul Williams, Bruce Gordon, Warren Beatty, and Dustin Hoffman. Unfortunately, the film gets so bad that eventually you can't help but root for our two unlikable idiots to bite the literal bullet.

Ishtar is highly regarded as the worst film ever made, and the honest truth is it just might be. It's downright painful.  Fans of anti-humor might find much to enjoy here, but everyone else need not apply.

0.5 STARS