🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Bob Rafelson
- Genre: Comedy, Romance, Crime
- Release year: 1992
- Runtime (length): 1h 40min
- IMDb rating: 4.7/10 (3.6K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 0%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A sleazy dog trainer gets tangled with a client who needs a guard dog, but ends up stealing a gossip book from her sister while dodging hitmen and pretending his marriage counseling is fine.
🍿 Man Trouble: Detailed Plot Synopsis
A Guard Dog Trainer and His Client
Harry Bliss is a somewhat sleazy but charming guard dog trainer struggling with financial debt and a troubled marriage. His path crosses with Joan Spruance, an opera singer seeking protection after a series of disturbing incidents, including a break-in at her home. Joan hires Harry to provide her with a trained German Shepherd for security. As Harry works with Joan and her new canine companion, Duke, a complex relationship begins to develop between the two, despite Harry’s existing commitments.

Entanglement with a Tell-All Manuscript
Adding to the complications, Harry is approached and blackmailed by a lawyer representing a powerful, reclusive figure named Redmond Layls. Harry is tasked with a dangerous mission: to steal a valuable manuscript. This manuscript is a tell-all book written by Joan’s eccentric sister, Andy Ellerman, detailing her relationship with Layls. The manuscript contains sensitive information that Layls desperately wants to keep secret, pulling Harry deeper into a web of crime and intrigue.

Stalking and Sisterly Troubles
While navigating her budding connection with Harry and dealing with the guard dog, Joan continues to face harassment and stalking. She moves into her sister Andy’s lavish but peculiar home for safety. Andy’s own chaotic life and the valuable manuscript she possesses further endanger both sisters, linking Joan’s stalking troubles directly to the dangerous world surrounding Andy and Redmond Layls.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Harry Bliss (Jack Nicholson): A sleazy yet affable guard dog trainer who gets involved with a client while being blackmailed.
- Joan Spruance (Ellen Barkin): An opera singer client who hires Harry for protection and becomes entangled in his schemes and personal life.
- Andy Ellerman (Beverly D’Angelo): Joan’s eccentric sister whose tell-all book about her gangster boyfriend drives a major subplot.
- Redmond Layls (Harry Dean Stanton): Andy’s reclusive gangster boyfriend whose secrets are exposed in the controversial manuscript.
- Eddy Revere (Michael McKean): The mysterious masked maniac responsible for stalking and assaulting Joan.
- Laurence Moncrief (Saul Rubinek): The mob attorney who blackmails Harry to retrieve the damaging manuscript.
- Adele Bliss (Lauren Tom): Harry’s wife, whose troubled marriage with him is explored through counseling sessions.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Harry Bliss: “Here I am, sitting in the center of a lot of wealth, the escalation in crime couldn’t be better, and I’m not turning a damn nickel on it!” – Harry expresses his frustration about his financial situation despite being in a lucrative business in a crime-ridden area.
- Joan Spruance: “Sitz!” – Joan gives a command in German to the guard dog, Duke, during a training session, highlighting the dog’s specific training.
- Harry Bliss: “Iwo Jima!” – Harry refers to his Japanese wife, Adele, by this offensive nickname, particularly during their marriage counseling sessions.
- Adele Bliss: “You have woman trouble?” – Adele directly asks Harry if he is having problems with women, touching upon the central theme of the film’s title and his personal life.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $30,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $4,096,030
- Worldwide Gross: $4,096,030
💥 Man Trouble Reviews
Personal Review
Okay, so I heard this movie wasn’t exactly a classic, but I had to see Jack Nicholson in it. Honestly, it’s… a weird one. I went in with zero expectations, and maybe that helped? I actually got a few chuckles out of it, especially the scenes with his character and his wife in marriage counseling – those were unexpectedly funny and dry. The main plot with the dog and the stalking and the book felt pretty messy and hard to follow at times. I kept wondering what was even happening or why certain characters were there. But seeing Nicholson just *be* Nicholson, even in a less-than-stellar script, is kind of entertaining in itself. And Ellen Barkin is always cool, even if the romance felt totally unbelievable. Overall, it’s not one I’ll rush to watch again or recommend widely. It’s definitely a ‘turn your brain off’ movie. But for a die-hard Jack fan just wanting to see him do his thing, there are brief moments of fun, mostly in the weird dialogue and his delivery. Don’t expect a masterpiece, just settle in for a quirky, forgettable ride.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of Jack Nicholson or Ellen Barkin who are interested in seeing them in a lesser-known romantic comedy role.”
- “Viewers interested in quirky or offbeat comedies, provided expectations are tempered.”
- “Individuals looking for a film featuring animal co-stars, although the dog’s role is primarily a plot device.”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Stalking and harassment themes”
- “Adult relationships and potential adultery”
- “Potentially offensive dialogue (e.g., a character being referred to by a derogatory nickname)”
- “Crime and mild violence”
Professional Reviews
- Flicker Magazine: “”Man Trouble” attempts a screwball comedy-thriller mix but mostly feels like a creative mess despite the talent involved. Nicholson coasts, Barkin is saddled with awkward dialogue, and the plot twists pile up without building momentum. It’s a confusing journey, occasionally enlivened by supporting players or dry wit, but ultimately fails to cohere into either a compelling story or a consistently funny film. A disappointing outing for everyone involved.
- The Cinema Standard: “Even the combined charisma of Jack Nicholson and Ellen Barkin can’t save this ‘dog’ of a movie. The chemistry is non-existent, the humor is painfully forced, and the plot meanders without purpose. What starts as a potential romantic comedy quickly devolves into a nonsensical thriller sideline that feels completely tacked on. Only the truly devoted fans might find intermittent amusement, but most viewers will likely feel their time would be better spent elsewhere.
Audience Reactions
The dog often stole the show and provided unexpected moments of fun.: Many viewers agreed that the main plot was confusing and the humor was inconsistent, but some appreciated the performances of Ellen Barkin, Beverly D’Angelo, and occasionally, Jack Nicholson himself, especially in drier, more sarcastic moments.
If you lowered your expectations and embraced the silliness, it could be surprisingly entertaining.: There was a general consensus that the movie was a commercial and critical flop, but a small number of viewers found a quirky charm in its offbeat nature and dry humor, particularly appreciating specific character interactions like the marriage counseling scenes.
Overall Consensus: Widely considered a disappointing and messy film, panned by most critics and viewers for its convoluted plot, inconsistent tone, and lack of chemistry between the leads, though a few found sporadic moments of humor or appreciated individual performances despite the weak material.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “Jack Nicholson primarily agreed to star in the film to help revive the careers of his longtime friends, director Bob Rafelson and screenwriter Carole Eastman, with whom he had previously collaborated successfully on ‘Five Easy Pieces’ (1970).”
🖥️ How to Watch Man Trouble?
As a film released in 1992, ‘Man Trouble’ may not be readily available on major subscription streaming services. It is typically available for digital rental or purchase through platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and other online retailers. Check these platforms for current availability and pricing options.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Man Trouble, you might like these similar films:
- Foul Play (1978): A direct comparison as a screwball mystery/comedy/romance involving a woman who gets caught up in a dangerous plot and finds unexpected help.
- Housesitter (1992): A romantic comedy from the same era involving deception and quirky relationships, sharing a similar lighthearted but complicated tone.
- The Big Lebowski (1998): Shares a thematic similarity in featuring quirky characters caught up in a convoluted, somewhat noir-ish plot that blends crime, comedy, and absurdity.
- Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005): A modern equivalent that blends dark comedy, neo-noir crime, and witty dialogue with unlikely characters thrust into dangerous situations.
- After Hours (1985): A cult classic that deals with a protagonist getting pulled into increasingly bizarre and dangerous circumstances involving eccentric characters over a single night.
🛒 Man Trouble Related Products
- The Jack Nicholson Film Collection: A collection featuring some of Jack Nicholson’s most iconic roles across various genres. Experience his incredible range as an actor.
- Guard Dog Training: A Comprehensive Guide: Learn the techniques and strategies for training protection dogs, from basic commands to advanced security tactics.
- Best of Ellen Barkin: Movie Collection: A compilation showcasing Ellen Barkin’s memorable performances in a variety of acclaimed films.
- 90s Comedy Movies Collection: A selection of popular and cult classic comedies from the 1990s, offering a taste of the era’s humor.
🎧 Soundtrack
Man Trouble features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
- “Every Breath You Take” – performed by Sting
- “Original Score” – performed by Georges Delerue
- “Classical Opera Selections” – performed by Various Artists
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
‘Man Trouble’ is typically available for digital rental or purchase on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. Its availability on subscription streaming services may vary.
‘Man Trouble’ is a romantic comedy about a struggling guard dog trainer, Harry Bliss, who takes on a wealthy opera singer client, Joan Spruance, after she is stalked. Their developing relationship becomes complicated when Harry is blackmailed into stealing a tell-all manuscript written by Joan’s sister.
The film stars Jack Nicholson as Harry Bliss and Ellen Barkin as Joan Spruance. Other notable cast members include Harry Dean Stanton, Beverly D’Angelo, Michael McKean, Saul Rubinek, and Lauren Tom.
Yes, ‘Man Trouble’ is categorized as a romantic comedy. While it incorporates elements of stalking and crime, it is primarily intended to be a humorous film focusing on the relationship between the two leads.
According to trivia from the film’s production, Jack Nicholson mainly agreed to make ‘Man Trouble’ in an attempt to revive the careers of his old friends, director Bob Rafelson and screenwriter Carole Eastman, with whom he had previously collaborated successfully on films like ‘Five Easy Pieces’.
‘Man Trouble’ has a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. Its rating on IMDb is approximately 4.7/10 based on critic reviews and around 3.6/10 based on user ratings, indicating generally poor reception.
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