Line #54 Film/TheManWithTwoBrains


1	%%
2	%%Zero-context examples are not allowed on wiki pages; all such examples have been commented out. Please add proper context before uncommenting them -- a good example should explain how it's an example.
3	%%
4	[[quoteright:310:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_man_with_two_brains_1983_poster.jpg]]
5
6	->'''German Detective:''' You're playing God!\
7	'''Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr:''' ''Somebody's'' got to!
8
9	A 1983 sci-fi comedy film directed by Creator/CarlReiner and starring Creator/SteveMartin as Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr (it's pronounced exactly how it's spelled), a brilliant but arrogant neurosurgeon newly married to a monstrous [[GoldDigger gold-digging]] BlackWidow (Creator/KathleenTurner), who belatedly meets and falls in love with his soulmate, Anne Uumellmahaye (Creator/SissySpacek), whose one tiny defect is that she's a disembodied brain inside a jar. Hfuhruhurr naturally tries to find a body into which he can transplant her, and HilarityEnsues. (No, really!)
10
11	Like all of Martin's early movie work, it's pretty much [[RapidFireComedy gag-a-minute]], with two particular highlights being Hfuhruhurr facing the world's strictest drunk-driving test, and the identity of [[SerialKiller The Elevator Killer.]]
12
13	----
14	!!This film provides examples of:
15
16	* ActorAllusion: Kathleen Turner did this film right after ''Film/BodyHeat'', and her role as FemmeFatale Dolores clearly references it, right down to recreating that film's finger-sucking scene.
17	* AffablyEvil: Dr. Necessiter is a MadScientist who works with a SerialKiller, but you can't deny he's perfectly friendly to Michael. The same goes for the Elevator Killer, [[spoiler:real name Creator/MervGriffin]].
18	* AffectionateParody: A modern-day take on GothicHorror.
19	* AndIMustScream: Since she lacks a body, let alone sensory organs, Anne can't see, hear, feel, or sense anything ''at all'' [[MindlinkMates aside from Hfuhruhurr's voice]][[note]]Except when Dolores tries to cook her in an oven and she feels tremendous heat. Which makes it even '''worse'''[[/note]]. It's no small miracle she remained sane! [[FridgeHorror Now consider all the brains Necessiter keeps in jars...]]
20	* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:After all the atrocities Dolores has carried out over the course of the film, the Elevator Killer dispatches her in the elevator, thereby saving Michael the bother of killing someone himself to transplant Anne into their body.]]
21	* AudienceMurmurs: After Michael makes his big announcement, the Viennese audience gasps and murmurs in astonishment:
22	-->'''Michael:''' What are they saying?\
23	'''Dr. Conrad:''' They are just saying 'murmur, murmur, murmur.'\
24	'''Michael:''' You mean it's just sort of a general murmur?\
25	'''Dr. Conrad:''' Yeah. Murmur.\
26	'''Michael:''' Oh. ''[to the crowd]'' You may ''murmur'' all you like --\
27	'''Crowd:''' ''[loudly]'' Murmur, murmur, murmur, murmur, murmur.
28	* BaitAndSwitch: Michael hears Anne calling for help in the night, and runs into Dr. Necessiter's laboratory to rescue her. When he sees what appears to be a gorilla speaking with Anne's voice, he tries to break it to her, but she notes that she doesn't feel like a gorilla- and then he finds out that Anne's jar is ''behind'' him, and the gorilla just happened to be moving its lips at the same time.
29	* BigEater: [[spoiler: Anne -- at least once she's got a body to do it with.]]
30	* BiggerOnTheInside: Subverted with Dr. Necessiter's apartment: it only ''looks'' bigger. Still almost no closet space.
31	* BigNo: Hfuhruhurr's departed wife, after he asks a portrait of her for her disapproval in regards to his marriage to Dolores.
32	%%* BitchInSheepsClothing: Dolores.
33	* BrainInAJar: Dr. Necessiter has an entire collection of these, thanks to his partnership with the Elevator Killer.
34	* BrainTransplant: Michael Hfuhruhurr's goal for Anne, in order to make sure she doesn't die. [[spoiler:He succeeds.]]
35	* BrainTheft: Dr Necessiter opportunistically removes the brains of a serial killer's victims and keeps them alive in jars, later putting one in the head of a gorilla.
36	* BridalCarry: Dr. Hfuhruhurr does this twice.
37	** The first time he does it with Dolores to carry her across the threshold. Except that he and his wife stay standing there until they get their pictures of that moment brought to them fully developed.
38	** The second time he staggers when he carries Anne in Dolores' body across the threshold at the end.
39	* BunnyEarsLawyer: Dr. Hfuhruhurr and his "screw top" method of brain surgery. He ''literally'' is wearing bunny ears at one point, but it's just a prank.
40	* TheCameo: [[spoiler:Creator/MervGriffin as himself]], who turns out to be the Elevator Killer.
41	* CardCarryingVillain: Dolores, right from the start, when she loves watching forehead veins throb.
42	* CargoShip: InUniverse. A good and long part of the movie involves Hfuhruhurr trying to be romantic with Anne's BrainInAJar, including taking her rowing and putting wax lips on the glass. It all stays PG, though.
43	* CameBackWrong: Necessiter's previous attempts to resurrect a brain-in-a-jar in a new living body. He probably shouldn't have tried to transplant a brilliant doctor into a gorilla...
44	%%* CloudCuckooLander: Dr. Hfuhruhurr.
45	* CoitusUninterruptus: Ramon the gardner walks in on Dolores having sex with Juan, his assistant.
46	-->'''Dolores:''' ''(to Ramon)'' You're through!\
47	'''Juan:''' I don't think so.\
48	'''Dolores:''' Not ''you''!
49	* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Fran says she doesn't mind Hfuhruhurr injecting her with window cleaner.
50	-->'''Fran:''' Hey, what does it do anyway?\
51	'''Hfuhruhurr:''' It causes your brain to die last.\
52	'''Fran:''' I don't mind!
53	* CompanionCube: Hfuhruhurr carries around a little Barbie doll representing his first, deceased wife, and [[SurrogateSoliloquy often speaks to it]] [[TalkingToTheDead as though it were really her]]. Anne's jar could also qualify.
54	* ConvenientComa: After [[spoiler:Hfuhruhurr nearly dies in the transplant procedure, he spends enough time in coma for Anne to get back on her feet in Dolores' body]].
55	* CoveredInMud: When Hfuhruhurr discovers the extent of Dolores' unfaithfulness he shoves her face-first into a suspiciously convenient puddle.
56	-->'''Hfuhruhurr''': Into the mud, scum queen!
57	* CraniumCompartment: Dr Hfuhruhurr has developed the "cranial screwtop" method of accessing the brain, which consists of literally unscrewing the top of the patient's head.
58	* CuteButCacophonic: Fran, a prostitute that Hfuhruhurr [[spoiler:tried to kill so Anne could have her body]]. The look on Michael's face when she starts talking like a Little Rascal on helium cannot be described.
59	%%* DeadManWriting
60	* EvilBrit: Dr. Necessiter is English, and he's a MadScientist, but he downplays this, because he's not actually interested in doing evil.
61	* EvilutionaryBiologist: Downplayed. Necessiter, though his experiments are solely ForSCIENCE! instead of any actual evil, and he's completely unaware that (at least some of) his brains [[AndIMustScream are still fully conscious]].
62	* TheFaceless: Well, considering Anne's a disembodied brain, you only ''hear'' Sissy Spacek.
63	* FailedASpotCheck: When Michael pleads with his deceased wife's portrait for a sign if he is making a mistake falling in love with Dolores. An earthquake splits down the house and the portrait starts spinning as he spirit repeatedly shouts "NO!" He acts like he does not notice any of it.
64	* FanserviceExtra: Fran. She has a relatively small role, but not even her cacophonic voice is enough to wreck the fact that she's super-hot.
65	-->'''Hfuhruhurr:''' Beautiful. Where can I see the rest of you?\
66	''(Fran opens her coat to reveal her toplessness.)''\
67	'''Hfuhruhurr:''' ...''Mama!''
68	* FatSuit: [[spoiler: Turner dons one after Anne's been transplanted into Dolores' head.]]
69	* FemmeFatale: Dolores to the point of (intentional) parody.%%How?
70	* ForTheEvulz: Dolores ''loves'' to watch veins in foreheads throbbing.
71	%%* FunWithForeignLanguages
72	* TheFunInFuneral: We see the dead body of Dolores' former husband being carried off on a stretcher under a white sheet by the police. Followed shortly by a separate stretcher for his poodle (which Dolores literally kicked to death).
73	* FunWithSubtitles: Lampshaded. When the Austrian police realise that Hfuhruhurr speaks English, one of them asks for the subtitles to be turned off and notes that it's roomier without them.
74	* GiveMeASign: Hfuhruhurr asks [[TalkingToTheDead the soul of his departed former wife]] for a little sign, even the smallest sign, that she disapproves his marriage to Dolores. After the entire house shakes and spectral voices wail "NOOOOOO!" and short out the lights for a minute or two, he decides that not getting ''even a '''little''' sign'' from her means she's OK with it. Later, [[ComicallyMissingThePoint he's slightly upset that she didn't give him any warning]].
75	* GoldDigger: Dolores, with a vengeance.
76	* AGodAmI: Hfuhruhurr gets a wee bit unhinged when [[spoiler:in the midst of Anne's transplant procedure, trying to stop the police from interfering. When accused of playing God, he replies, "''Somebody'' has to!"]]
77	* GroinAttack: Hfuhruhurr does this to Dolores while they scuffle. [[RuleOfFunny He nails her right in the balls.]]
78	* HeelRealization: Hfuhruhurr very nearly [[spoiler:kills an innocent woman to use her body. He realizes he can't do it in the nick of time]].
79	* {{Homage}}: ''Donovan's Brain''. It's Dr. Hfuhruhurr's favorite film, too. There's some ''Film/TheBrainThatWouldntDie'' in the film as well.
80	* {{Hypocrite}}: Dolores hates Mexicans (among other ethnic groups) but has no problem sleeping with the gardener.
81	* InsufferableGenius:
82	** Dr. Hfuhruhurr likes to brag Music/DollyParton wants to have his baby.
83	--->'''Dr. Hfuhruhurr:''' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBLmyPpFwvg Would you read that back to me?]] I'm afraid that might make me sound pompous to your readers.\
84	'''Olsen:''' "My brilliant research in brain transplantation is unsurpassed, and will probably make my name live beyond eternity."\
85	'''Dr. Hfuhruhurr:''' Well, that's all right. Take out the "probably". It makes me sound wishy-washy.
86	** Later:
87	--->'''Dr. Hfuhruhurr:''' ''(mildly annoyed)'' I ''told'' him to take ''out'' the "probably".
88	* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler:The epilogue warns that Merv Griffin did ''not'' turn himself in, and is still at large as the Elevator Killer.]]
89	* KickTheDog: In her first appearance on-screen, Dolores feeds her elderly husband his own tropical fish just to torture him, and then when he vengefully orders his poodle to kill her before having a rage-induced heart attack, she literally kicks it to death.
90	* LoveMakesYouEvil: Or at least willing to kill.
91	%%* LittleProfessorDialog
92	* MadScientist: Several. Necessiter is only the most obvious one.
93	* MeaningfulName: Dolores. It means ''pain''.
94	* MindlinkMates: Hfuhruhurr and Anne, natch. Why they share this PsychicLink is never explained.
95	%%* TheMourningAfter: Hfuhruhurr for his first wife.
96	* MrFanservice: Juan, the gardening assistant. There's a reason he catches Dolores' eye.
97	* MsFanservice: In both instances, they're PlayedForLaughs.
98	** Dolores. She's so hot, in a deleted scene she makes a bellhop ''instantly'' go through puberty.
99	** Then there's Randi Brooks as Fran.
100	* NinjaProp: When Dr. Hfuhruhurr is driving to the lab with Dolores, he is pulled over by a policeman who speaks German to him, with English subtitles appearing in the middle of the screen. When the doctor replies in English, the policeman says, "Oh, you speak English?" He turns and calls offscreen, "You can stop the subtitles, now," adding, "That's better; we have more room down there, now!"
101	* NonFatalExplosions: Combined with SoftWater, this happens to Hfuhruhurr after the Austrian police accidentally damage Dr. Necessiter's laboratory equipment.
102	* OldFashionedRowboatDate: Hfuhruhurr goes on one with Anne, putting a hat on her jar and some plastic lips. Then Dolores spots him through her binoculars.
103	* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Parodied when Dolores growls at Hfuhruhurr, "I'll get you for this, you nigger kike wop!" Since he's obviously not black- though he could possibly be of Jewish or Italian descent- she's most likely just saying this to be mean, and give the audience more reason to cheer Michael on for throwing her out of his life, literally.
104	* PrecisionFStrike: Michael's response to the idea of planting Anne into a gorilla's body to save her life.
105	-->'''Michael''': ''I can't fuck a gorilla!!''
106	* PsychoPoodle: A heroic version with the poodle of Dolores' former husband. He orders it to kill her for feeding him his own tropical fish and giving him a rage-induced heart attack, but all it can do is shred her nightie. And then she kicks it to death.
107	* RammingAlwaysWorks: The Viennese police ask Necessiter's neighbor for a battering ram to break into the doctor's apartment, and get one. Through a series of errors, they ram all the way across and fly out of the building [[SoftWater into a pool]].
108	* RepeatToConfirm: Played for laughs. After the car accident, Hfuhruhurr tells a little girl on the street to call the paramedics with a complex set of instructions. She repeats everything flawlessly.
109	* RightThroughTheWall: Necessiter's awesome apartment has "stone walls" made of paper. His butler even punches through one to demonstrate. He does not get along well with his neighbors.
110	* SelectiveObliviousness: Hfuhruhurr never sees, or unwittingly chooses not to see, that Dolores is cheating on him with nearly every male she comes across.
111	-->'''Dolores:''' ''(seeing the gardners)'' What are those assholes doing on the porch?\
112	'''Hfuhruhurr:''' ''(chuckling)'' Those aren't assholes. It's pronounced ''azaleas''.
113	* SerialKiller: The Elevator Killer, who injects window cleaner into his victims. [[spoiler: He turns out to be Creator/MervGriffin, AsHimself]].
114	* SexyCoatFlashing: Hfuhruhurr asks the prostitute if he can see the rest of her, prompting this.
115	* ShoutOut: Hfuhruhurr loves Creator/JudyGarland's ''Under the Bamboo Tree''. So does Anne.
116	* SorryOciffer: Dr Hfuhruhurr is stopped by a traffic cop while attending a conference in Austria; when asked if he has been drinking, he replies "No, I dron't dink... don't drink".
117	* SwitchToEnglish: Dr. Hfuhruhurr gets pulled over by a German-speaking policeman. When he replies to the policeman in English, the policeman says, "Oh, you speak English! Good!" and directs his partner to [[FunWithSubtitles turn off the subtitles.]]
118	* TooDumbToLive: Fran. When she asks what injecting her with window cleaner will do, Dr. Hfuhruhurr tells her that it'll kill her, leaving the brain to die last.
119	-->'''Fran:''' I don't mind!
120	* TheUnpronounceable: "Hfuhruhurr." Various characters take unsuccessful stabs at it, though the doctor claims it's pronounced exactly as it's spelled. He pronounces it "Hoff-hhhhaaarrrrrr." Anne Uumellmahaye is another example, though her name is pronounced more or less how it's spelled: "Uuuuhhhh-mell-muh-hay." The fact that they can both pronounce each other's names perfectly on the first attempt is a sign that they're soulmates.
121	-->'''Anne:''' How else is it supposed to be pronounced? It's spelled H-F-U-H-R-U-H-U-R-R, isn't it?
122	* UnusualPetsForUnusualPeople: Dr. Necessiter, the MadScientist, keeps at least three green lizards- one of them's an iguana- in his laboratory, along with some [[NeverSmileAtACrocodile moat alligators]]. He also has a gorilla, but the gorilla is a brain transplant recipient, not a pet.
123	* VillainBall: Dolores' plan hinges on [[FauxAffablyEvil faking innocence]] and seducing rich men, driving them either to suicide or until their hearts give out from stress by taking advantage of their better natures. Unfortunately, she tends to break character whenever they are at their breaking point just to rub it in their face how much she loves to watch them squirm. This causes her plans to fail both times, her husband at the beginning of the film leaving her out of his will before trying to kill her, and Michael divorces her when he realizes what she is doing (and later killed by the Elevator Killer).
124	* YourDaysAreNumbered: Dr. Necessiter reveals that nearly every BrainInAJar he's procured has had a limited lifespan, and despite living longer than most of them, Anne is equally subject to this. Because of that, in order to save her life, she'll have to be transferred into either a gorilla's body- [[NoJustNoReaction which Michael understandably rejects]]- or a freshly-killed human one. Michael appears to be considering MurderIsTheBestSolution to save Anne's life, but he can't bring himself to it. [[spoiler:Luckily, the Elevator Killer doesn't have those same problems.]]

Context Film / TheManWithTwoBrains