Main Cast: Whoopi Goldberg, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Juliet Landau, Bud Cort, Stephen McHattie
Release Year: 1996
Country: US
Run Time: 92 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Whoopi Goldberg headlines this youth-oriented comedy fantasy set in a near future where scientists for some reason have genetically resurrect dinosaurs. This time, the revitalized reptiles are intelligent and equipped with humanoid articulatory tracts so they can speak. They also wear shoes. Goldberg plays a leather-clad smart-alecky detective who is assigned the odious task of teaming up with Teddy Rex, a dino-detective. Naturally lizards and leather don't mix and the two constantly bicker their way into buddyhood as they investigate the death another dinosaur, a death that turns out to be linked with a crazed scientist's nefarious, chilling plot. Goldberg (to her credit) attempted to back out of making this film soon after production started. Were it not for the threat of major legal retaliation by the studio, she may have succeeded. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Bo Johnson - Art Director, Elisabeth Leustig - Casting, Mary Vogt - Costume Designer, Barry K. Thomas - First Assistant Director, Jonathan Betuel - Director, Steve Mirkovich - Editor, Rick Shaine - Editor, Stefano Ferrari - Executive Producer, Robert Folk - Composer (Music Score), Robert Folk - Songwriter, Walter Paul Martishius - Production Designer, David Tattersall - Cinematographer, Richard Gilbert Abramson - Producer, Sue Baden-Powell - Producer, James Webb - Sound/Sound Designer, Jonathan Betuel - Screenwriter
The film was not well-received,[5][9] and was nominated for the 1996 Golden Raspberry Awards.[10] Despite this, it was listed on the Billboard "Top Video Rentals" list for three weeks in August 1996, peaking at #34.[11][12][13]
Though Whoopi Goldberg had made a verbal agreement to star in the film in 1993, she attempted to back out. Abramson filed a US$20 million lawsuit against Goldberg, which they settled very quickly. Goldberg agreed to star in the film for $7 million,[2] $2 million more than the originally agreed-upon amount.[6]
One of the attorneys on the case described this as being similar to the legal battle of Kim Basinger when she tried to back out of the film Boxing Helena.[6]
