Protocol (1984) / Comedy

MPAA Rated: PG for innuendo and language
Running Time: 96 min.

Cast: Goldie Hawn, Chris Sarandon, Richard Romanus, Andre Gregory, Gail Strickland
Director: Herbert Ross
Screenplay: Buck Henry
Review published June 8, 1996

A ditzy cocktail waitress (Hawn, Seems Like Old Times) stops an assassination attempt on a middle eastern emir (Romanus, Mean Streets), and becomes the hot personality of the nation. As a reward, she is offered a job working for the white house as Protocol, meaning she must know the rules for visiting dignitaries of decorum. Things get more dicey when the emir wants to marry her and make her part of his harem.

A likeable if unremarkable comedy, with Hawn carrying most of the film on her own charms. Competently directed and written, but this never rises above passable due to overambitiousness and a sloppy last half that gets too manic for its own good. Fun nonetheless.  

Qwipster's rating:

©1996 Vince Leo