It is a stroke of clever genius to cast top comic actors like Michael Caine and Steve Martin as con-men trying to one-up each other. It is cleverer to have both be foils as one is a world class con man passing himself as a prince always in need of financial assistance from women, and the other is a fool who cons women into thinking he needs funding for his sick grandmother. Most of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" can be easily anticipated yet it is still fun and engaging to watch with these charismatic pros.
Caine is Lawrence Jamieson who lives the high life in the town of Beaumont-sur-Mer on the French Riviera. Jamieson is cultured and suave, a true delight as an intellectual who can bribe and steal without losing his devilish, charming wit - you can see how women fall for his act. Martin is Freddy Benson who has arrived on Jamieson's turf and is ready to go on wild shopping sprees. An arrest is arranged by Freddy and his police inspector pal resulting in one of Martin's funniest bits (most likely improvised) as he is aching to remember Jamieson's name as the inspector waits. Eventually, Freddy has to leave the country until he realizes that Jamieson is no aristocrat - he is a con-man too. Like a comedy of infinite errors, Freddy returns hoping to learn from Jamieson on how to be a cultured con-man. He returns once, and then twice - like a hopping, out-of-control energetic bunny, Jamieson can't get rid of him. Finally, a $50,000 bet is placed to see who can con a sweet, compassionate, selfless woman, Janet Colgate (Glenne Headly).
Directed with affectionate restraint by Frank Oz, "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" is a bit long when cutting to the chase sooner would have worked in greater comic fireworks. A scene where Benson is in a wheelchair while trying to convince two sailors that Jamieson, who is dancing and smooching with Janet, is the man who stole his girlfriend - it just carries on far too much screen time. Also, the passage of time is a little too expanded between Janet and Freddy's scenes, particularly when he is trying to bed her. Still, the movie is frequently funny and inventive, particularly towards the end, and it shows how comic flair and mastery of body language from Caine, Martin and the underrated Headly lead to sparks of hilarity.
