I like watching a movie without expectations, but this love-comedy was well worth the time. I watched this movie only because it had Reese Witherspoon in in, who I am becoming more and more impressed with, particularly in comedies. She steals the scenes in this movie, and is the catalyst for all that happens. It is a surprisingly funny and good movie. Reminds me of Blood Simple (for all the weird things that keep happening) and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (for all the weird things that keep happening). Not a well orchestrated movie, because things are somewhat disjointed (she takes him to the airport, but drops him off at the downtown convention center (reality mistake) and no reason for the cops to be there as they attempt to leave the restaurant after not paying (movie mistake)), but the acting is good and when the writing is right, it is very good.
64 Reviews
Enjoyable, Cute and Underrated
JayJay_Scotland24 November 2002
I really liked this film. Its really fun and amusing and definatly better than alot of similar teen comedies like 'Loser' and 'She's all That' which are better known and got released at cinemas. Rudd and Witherspoon are both very likeable, while the film has a good sountrack and is short so as not to become tiresome. Jokes mostly hit the mark and there are a few which are very 'Kevin Smith-esq', obviously remaining from his much edited original script. If you want to watch a largely harmless, light hearted, and above all a cute and funny teen romance then you could do alot worse than give this one a rent if you can find it.
Rating: 6.5/10
Rating: 6.5/10
Brings you in
kyle_michaelsen22 October 2008
This movie was surprisingly good. It's not the best-written or most original idea, but the comedy is surprisingly good. Also, Paul Rudd and Reese Witherspoon have great chemistry on-screen, and their comedic delivery is superb. The mail-truck driver is funny, as well. Not to mention that it's got Christine Taylor (you might know her from "The Wedding Singer", "Zoolander", or "Dodgeball").
In the end, it's one of those movies that you'll probably only watch when you have nothing else to do. So the next time you're really bored and have nothing to do, watch this movie- I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
In the end, it's one of those movies that you'll probably only watch when you have nothing else to do. So the next time you're really bored and have nothing to do, watch this movie- I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Hypnotic.
Jack-24716 January 2000
This film was one of those that you will watch because there is nothing better on the television and it just draws your attention. I saw this movie during a free Showtime weekend. I enjoyed this film very much. It was amusing, funny, and had a good storyline on how a boyfriend goes from Minnesota to St. Louis to get a hold of a revenge package that he sent her, with the help of a new friend. I suggest that if you have the chance watch this movie. It will end making you happy.
Good Movie
PCR-227 March 2000
Overnight Delivery Is Not A Movie That Is Something That You Would Put On Your Calendar Of Things To Do, But When You Would Happen To Stumble Upon It You Would Be Somehow Drawn To The Movie.
Now At The Start When We See That Ivy (Reese Witherspoon) Is A Stripper I Was Taken Back By Seeing Reese In Such An Out Of The Norm Role For Her But I Must Say She Is Good In This Film And Is The Stand Out Actor/Actress In The Film, Paul Rudd Was Good As Trips As He Was Desperately Trying To Stop The Package From Arriving.
Overall This Film Is Good But If You Must See A Better Reese Witherspoon Performance See 'Election' and for a just as good or Better Paul Rudd Performance Try 'Clueless' Or 'The Object Of My Affection'. Overall A Good Film With Good Performances By Reese Witherspoon And Paul Rudd, 7 Out Of 10.
Now At The Start When We See That Ivy (Reese Witherspoon) Is A Stripper I Was Taken Back By Seeing Reese In Such An Out Of The Norm Role For Her But I Must Say She Is Good In This Film And Is The Stand Out Actor/Actress In The Film, Paul Rudd Was Good As Trips As He Was Desperately Trying To Stop The Package From Arriving.
Overall This Film Is Good But If You Must See A Better Reese Witherspoon Performance See 'Election' and for a just as good or Better Paul Rudd Performance Try 'Clueless' Or 'The Object Of My Affection'. Overall A Good Film With Good Performances By Reese Witherspoon And Paul Rudd, 7 Out Of 10.
The original "Road Trip" - before it was denatured for the modern teenager
n-mo1 May 2013
A college freshman who thinks his long-distance girlfriend is cheating on him sends her the most disgusting Dear Jane letter imaginable (complete with icky and salacious visual aids). But the next morning, he realizes that the truth of the matter has been distorted across the distance, and vows to retrieve the package. Problem: he sent it overnight delivery, and the package has just been picked up. Now he sets off down-river on a wild goose chase to intercept Global Express and save his relationship, with the help of a new friend...
Overnight Delivery is not a movie for everyone. Namely, it is not a movie for those who cannot:
Like the denatured teenybopper ripoff it inspired in Road Trip, Overnight Delivery contains certain plot points that require suspension of disbelief, and in the grand tradition of black comedies of the road (c.f. Planes, Trains and Automobiles), concentrates an implausibly high number of setbacks and disasters into a single forty-eight-hour stretch of dramatic time.
However, with the exception of one or two, none of these scenarios is really all that unenvisionable in and of itself. The unstable (and ungrateful!) personality of Wyatt Trips would have made for a totally unsympathetic and impossible-to-follow character in the hands of anyone else, but Paul Rudd diggs in and shines with such virile passion that the viewer cannot begrudge him the beautiful women who are so enamored of him (even if we would like him to share the wealth a bit... heh, heh! - sorry, that's my immature side coming out).
On the surface, Reese Witherspoon's performance might not seem so memorable by comparison, but Ivy "von Trapp" Miller is complicated in her own, subtle way, and Witherspoon plays it to perfection. Whereas Wyatt is an obvious (but likable) neurotic and repressed post-adolescent whose pitiful attempts at playing the straight man fool no one, Ivy is actually a straight woman attempting to be a rebel - and good at fooling people into thinking she is. So good, in fact, that at the end, when she offers a HIGHLY quirky suggestion for how to solve their latest problem (by avoiding it), one must wonder just how serious she actually is.
To wit, the chemistry between Rudd and Witherspoon is incredible, and the director does an amazing job of making them bounce off one another before they gradually resign themselves to complementing one another.
I have already compared this movie to its descendant, Road Trip, but this is inevitable, since this latter is so much better known. However, the two films, despite the obvious plot similarities, are not alike. Road Trip is about psychologically high school students struggling to adjust to a new setting. They're not, mentally, out of high school, not even at the end of the film. Overnight Delivery is about two young adults who are already well out of high school but struggling to come to terms with the magnitude of that huge step.
When they do, they are free at last: Wyatt from his repression, and Ivy from her fake rebel persona. Well, mostly, anyway. In the end they stay true to themselves AND their thinly-veiled desires.
Overnight Delivery is not a movie for everyone. Namely, it is not a movie for those who cannot:
- get past high school;
- accept that an updated and higher-profile version of something might not be as good as the quirky original;
- appreciate the tenuous art of stylized-realistic suspension of plausibility for black comedic effect.
Like the denatured teenybopper ripoff it inspired in Road Trip, Overnight Delivery contains certain plot points that require suspension of disbelief, and in the grand tradition of black comedies of the road (c.f. Planes, Trains and Automobiles), concentrates an implausibly high number of setbacks and disasters into a single forty-eight-hour stretch of dramatic time.
However, with the exception of one or two, none of these scenarios is really all that unenvisionable in and of itself. The unstable (and ungrateful!) personality of Wyatt Trips would have made for a totally unsympathetic and impossible-to-follow character in the hands of anyone else, but Paul Rudd diggs in and shines with such virile passion that the viewer cannot begrudge him the beautiful women who are so enamored of him (even if we would like him to share the wealth a bit... heh, heh! - sorry, that's my immature side coming out).
On the surface, Reese Witherspoon's performance might not seem so memorable by comparison, but Ivy "von Trapp" Miller is complicated in her own, subtle way, and Witherspoon plays it to perfection. Whereas Wyatt is an obvious (but likable) neurotic and repressed post-adolescent whose pitiful attempts at playing the straight man fool no one, Ivy is actually a straight woman attempting to be a rebel - and good at fooling people into thinking she is. So good, in fact, that at the end, when she offers a HIGHLY quirky suggestion for how to solve their latest problem (by avoiding it), one must wonder just how serious she actually is.
To wit, the chemistry between Rudd and Witherspoon is incredible, and the director does an amazing job of making them bounce off one another before they gradually resign themselves to complementing one another.
I have already compared this movie to its descendant, Road Trip, but this is inevitable, since this latter is so much better known. However, the two films, despite the obvious plot similarities, are not alike. Road Trip is about psychologically high school students struggling to adjust to a new setting. They're not, mentally, out of high school, not even at the end of the film. Overnight Delivery is about two young adults who are already well out of high school but struggling to come to terms with the magnitude of that huge step.
When they do, they are free at last: Wyatt from his repression, and Ivy from her fake rebel persona. Well, mostly, anyway. In the end they stay true to themselves AND their thinly-veiled desires.
Surprisingly charming.
Ernesto-1315 December 1999
If you liked Forces of Nature, you'll like Overnight Delivery more. Reese Witherspoon has enough energy and charisma for both lead performances. Paul Rudd is like Ben Affleck Lite. It's surprising this movie wasn't promoted more.
Average but enjoyable
HOLTZ18 April 1999
Ok there is a few reasons why I like this movie, Reese Witherspoon being #1, but also because it was filmed partially at the U of M where I go. The movie isn't actually funny, and Paul Rudd is rather annoying plus I can't get over the fact that they were supposed to be going from Minneapolis to Memphis but in reality the locations that were supposed to be those cities are about 5 miles apart. If you can overlook the implausible plot, and just how stupid Rudd's character is, you may enjoy this movie. Reese is definitely the highlight of this movie.
Yuck!
creepy9 March 1999
Two shrill, obnoxious, and utterly unappealing characters bicker while travelling cross-country, which means (of course) that they must get together in the end. The writers managed to write a script that's degrading to both sexes. This movie makes a well-executed bit of fluff like _The Sure Thing_ look like Oscar material in comparison.
A fun 84 minutes
F1ame28 January 2000
A quick intro of characters and a phone call gets the main plot underway. At this point you may think this is another tedious movie where the hero gets so close but just fails every five minutes until the final scene. Well, fortunately it isn't. I think it cleverly balances between the pursuit, the romance and the comedy. None of which are top notch material, but when you have two superb actors in the main roles it keeps you interested. The point of movies are to entertain. If you have a good sense of humour and 1.5 hours to kill, this does entertain.
this is as bad as it gets
sids27 November 1998
This excuse for a movie makes A Life Less Ordinary seem like Gone With the Wind! Paul Rudd, likeable in Clueless, is a complete disaster as a toal nutcase obsessed with stopping an overnight delivery man. His overacting was not only sordid and unfunny but, in my opinion, an embarrassment to American filmmaking. Reese Witherspoon is a great help in contributing to the worst movie of the year, giving the least appealing performance i've seen her give. This movie should be banned from our society! You listening out there??
Very cute, heartwarming flick
WildwoodFlower0827 May 2006
This movie is a little gem, a straight-to-video film with a heart of gold.
Wyatt Trips (Paul Rudd) is still lovingly dating his high school sweetheart, Kim (Christine Taylor). The day before Valentine's Day, he calls her up only to hear about a late night escapade with "The Ricker" from her roommate. Thinking she has cheated on him, he gets extremely upset. His buddies take him to a strip club to cheer him up, where he meets stripper Ivy Miller (Reese Witherspoon). The two team up to write a break up letter, complete with fake used condom and topless picture of them together, to send to Kim, via overnight delivery. However, when Wyatt finds out they he was wrong, he pulls Ivy into a cross-country road trip to get the letter back from an over-achieving delivery man. But could Wyatt end up falling for Ivy instead? (Gee, I wonder) This movie may have some completely insane plot twists and situations that you would just never see, but the stars make it work. Paul Rudd is adorably lovable as Wyatt. He's hilarious and has great physical comedy. Reese Witherspoon gives a perky, funny performance as Ivy. Its one of her more memorable romantic comedy characters.
The movie is so under the radar that it is barely known, but it should be. Any lovers of romantic comedies will fall in love with it, and there's even humor of the likes that would keep the guys interested. A heartwarming movie that will make you feel good all over :)
Wyatt Trips (Paul Rudd) is still lovingly dating his high school sweetheart, Kim (Christine Taylor). The day before Valentine's Day, he calls her up only to hear about a late night escapade with "The Ricker" from her roommate. Thinking she has cheated on him, he gets extremely upset. His buddies take him to a strip club to cheer him up, where he meets stripper Ivy Miller (Reese Witherspoon). The two team up to write a break up letter, complete with fake used condom and topless picture of them together, to send to Kim, via overnight delivery. However, when Wyatt finds out they he was wrong, he pulls Ivy into a cross-country road trip to get the letter back from an over-achieving delivery man. But could Wyatt end up falling for Ivy instead? (Gee, I wonder) This movie may have some completely insane plot twists and situations that you would just never see, but the stars make it work. Paul Rudd is adorably lovable as Wyatt. He's hilarious and has great physical comedy. Reese Witherspoon gives a perky, funny performance as Ivy. Its one of her more memorable romantic comedy characters.
The movie is so under the radar that it is barely known, but it should be. Any lovers of romantic comedies will fall in love with it, and there's even humor of the likes that would keep the guys interested. A heartwarming movie that will make you feel good all over :)
legally brunette
SnoopyStyle20 October 2020
High school sweethearts Wyatt Trips (Paul Rudd) and Kimberly Jasney (Christine Taylor) are dealing with a long distance relationship as they attend different colleges. He phones her but her roommate seems to suggest that Kimberly has a new guy. Heartbroken and angry, he goes to a strip club and gets involved with dancer Ivy Miller (Reese Witherspoon). She convinces him to write her a Dear John letter. They send it overnight delivery with a fake used condom and photo. Hal Ipswich is the overly dedicated new delivery man.
The rom-com road trip is a long standing movie tradition. First, his friends need to be the ones who drag him to the strip club. This is led by two future comedic movie stars early in their careers along with a couple of interesting supporting actors. Rudd and Witherspoon have many of their future moves. I think Witherspoon would blame it on her hair color and being blonde could have helped to accentuate her personality. It needed something and it's so close to being actually good. The two future stars keep almost connecting. They do get somewhere by the end and that does save it. I notice her hair is a little lighter in the sunshine done up in a ponytail at the end. Hmmm... I wonder.
The rom-com road trip is a long standing movie tradition. First, his friends need to be the ones who drag him to the strip club. This is led by two future comedic movie stars early in their careers along with a couple of interesting supporting actors. Rudd and Witherspoon have many of their future moves. I think Witherspoon would blame it on her hair color and being blonde could have helped to accentuate her personality. It needed something and it's so close to being actually good. The two future stars keep almost connecting. They do get somewhere by the end and that does save it. I notice her hair is a little lighter in the sunshine done up in a ponytail at the end. Hmmm... I wonder.
Blechh!
aardvark-108 April 1999
Oh GOD what a wretched piece of trash. I loved Paul Rudd in The Size of Watermelons and, to a lesser extent, 200 cigarettes, so I rented this to see him again. What a waste of money and time.
For a start, does anyone else but me notice that the idea of falling in love with someone you met a mere 24 hours ago, when said 24 hours have been spent bickering non-stop with said someone, when you've just decided that the love of your life for the last two years has been cheating on you, is a pretty stupid idea? I know people who do this, and it's not funny at all. Okay, okay, it's only a movie. It's not a documentary. SOME connection with reality would be nice, though.
As it stands, there's no reason for Paul Rudd and Reese Witherspoon to fall in love, and plenty of reasons for them to run screaming from each other. Reese spends the film goading Paul on to further idiocy, then sneering at him every time he points out that the latest predicament is, in fact, her fault. Paul spends it tearing his hair out because of her behaviour, and then inexplicably following her advice/bringing her along for the next leg of the trip/apologizing for having the temerity to get angry at her. And then alla sudden, when they're arrested, the cop taking Reese's fingerprints looks at her pointedly and says, "Have you told him you're in love with him?" BWUUHAHAHAHAAA!!! I nearly fell off my chair laughing at the idiocy of it all.
And speaking of implausibility, what the hell is with that so-called alleged dorm at the end of the film? Since when do dorms look like four-star convention centre hotels, complete with lovely bay windows, food courts, huge hanging decorations that you can swing on AND balconies?
Terrible. Just terrible. Every stupid, hackneyed cliche vomited into a blender with sadistic, cringeworthy, unfunny slapstick. Don't waste your time.
For a start, does anyone else but me notice that the idea of falling in love with someone you met a mere 24 hours ago, when said 24 hours have been spent bickering non-stop with said someone, when you've just decided that the love of your life for the last two years has been cheating on you, is a pretty stupid idea? I know people who do this, and it's not funny at all. Okay, okay, it's only a movie. It's not a documentary. SOME connection with reality would be nice, though.
As it stands, there's no reason for Paul Rudd and Reese Witherspoon to fall in love, and plenty of reasons for them to run screaming from each other. Reese spends the film goading Paul on to further idiocy, then sneering at him every time he points out that the latest predicament is, in fact, her fault. Paul spends it tearing his hair out because of her behaviour, and then inexplicably following her advice/bringing her along for the next leg of the trip/apologizing for having the temerity to get angry at her. And then alla sudden, when they're arrested, the cop taking Reese's fingerprints looks at her pointedly and says, "Have you told him you're in love with him?" BWUUHAHAHAHAAA!!! I nearly fell off my chair laughing at the idiocy of it all.
And speaking of implausibility, what the hell is with that so-called alleged dorm at the end of the film? Since when do dorms look like four-star convention centre hotels, complete with lovely bay windows, food courts, huge hanging decorations that you can swing on AND balconies?
Terrible. Just terrible. Every stupid, hackneyed cliche vomited into a blender with sadistic, cringeworthy, unfunny slapstick. Don't waste your time.
Stuck in the Middle
gemini3138 July 2001
I was bored. I was hungry. It was a Sunday. While I was cooking something to ease the painful growling in my stomach, I happened upon "Overnight Delivery". Although this movie didn't make my meal more enjoyable, I didn't feel like I was watching paint dry.
It's pretty much the typical banal storyline: Guy has Girl. Other Girl has eye on Guy. Guy screws up and has to go his Girl. Other Girl tags along. Other Girl and Guy have some silly adventure/end up sleeping together/share a kiss. Guy finally goes to Girl, leaving Other Girl alone to fume. Guy realizes, usually by a kiss/some flirting/heavy petting, he's in love with Other Girl. Guy leaves now his Ex-Girl to find Other Girl. Other Girl meets up with Guy, both express their love, and they walk hand and hand for a new adventure/away from wherever they are/to have sex/enter your own scenario here. The End. Don't step on that huge wad of Now and Later's on your way out of the Theatre--oh wait, this was a "direct-to-video" movie. Ooops, nevermind!
I giving this movie a "5". As far as the too cute, too quirky, sometimes-trying-too-hard script (and even some of the acting) is concerned, I have to give it a "1". Come ON. Anyone that has seen this movie (and the thousands like it) know why I'm giving it a "1". NOTE: I adore Kevin Smith, and I know he dipped his pen into the script, but . . . something wasn't right about it. I can't put my finger (or my big toe) on what that "something" was, but it was something.
Yet, the actors/actresses REALLY want you to enjoy this movie. They WANT to entertain you. Nowadays, some actors just read the script, report to work, get the check, and go home to live their over-paid lives. While there are NO Oscar winning performances (although if there was a category for "Most Unexpected Scene In a Movie Involving Guns", this flick may have had a shot, although I doubt it because it went straight to video), I have to give the performances (especially from Paul Rudd and Reese Witherspoon) a "10". I know what you're thinking, and I quote, "How can she give the script a '1', but give the performances a '10'?". It's quite simple: That's how the movie is set up. It's bipolar. Entertaining and utterly awful at the same time.
I wanted to shut off the TV, but I couldn't. I had to see how the movie ended, although in the back of my mind, I already knew. Damn mind games.
God help us all if they decide to make "Overnight Delivery 2" (Don't get any ideas all you budding screenwriters, I see your brains working!), but it wouldn't hurt to rent it one NIGHT, invite some friends OVER, and get some Pizza--DELIVERY. Ok, I was trying to be cute and quirky like the script, but, as per usual, it seems like I was trying too hard. Where's Kevin Smith when you need him? :)
It's pretty much the typical banal storyline: Guy has Girl. Other Girl has eye on Guy. Guy screws up and has to go his Girl. Other Girl tags along. Other Girl and Guy have some silly adventure/end up sleeping together/share a kiss. Guy finally goes to Girl, leaving Other Girl alone to fume. Guy realizes, usually by a kiss/some flirting/heavy petting, he's in love with Other Girl. Guy leaves now his Ex-Girl to find Other Girl. Other Girl meets up with Guy, both express their love, and they walk hand and hand for a new adventure/away from wherever they are/to have sex/enter your own scenario here. The End. Don't step on that huge wad of Now and Later's on your way out of the Theatre--oh wait, this was a "direct-to-video" movie. Ooops, nevermind!
I giving this movie a "5". As far as the too cute, too quirky, sometimes-trying-too-hard script (and even some of the acting) is concerned, I have to give it a "1". Come ON. Anyone that has seen this movie (and the thousands like it) know why I'm giving it a "1". NOTE: I adore Kevin Smith, and I know he dipped his pen into the script, but . . . something wasn't right about it. I can't put my finger (or my big toe) on what that "something" was, but it was something.
Yet, the actors/actresses REALLY want you to enjoy this movie. They WANT to entertain you. Nowadays, some actors just read the script, report to work, get the check, and go home to live their over-paid lives. While there are NO Oscar winning performances (although if there was a category for "Most Unexpected Scene In a Movie Involving Guns", this flick may have had a shot, although I doubt it because it went straight to video), I have to give the performances (especially from Paul Rudd and Reese Witherspoon) a "10". I know what you're thinking, and I quote, "How can she give the script a '1', but give the performances a '10'?". It's quite simple: That's how the movie is set up. It's bipolar. Entertaining and utterly awful at the same time.
I wanted to shut off the TV, but I couldn't. I had to see how the movie ended, although in the back of my mind, I already knew. Damn mind games.
God help us all if they decide to make "Overnight Delivery 2" (Don't get any ideas all you budding screenwriters, I see your brains working!), but it wouldn't hurt to rent it one NIGHT, invite some friends OVER, and get some Pizza--DELIVERY. Ok, I was trying to be cute and quirky like the script, but, as per usual, it seems like I was trying too hard. Where's Kevin Smith when you need him? :)
Three Words
Tresy8 February 2000
"The Sure Thing." Three more words: not as funny. But Reese Witherspoon is always fun to watch. Too bad the movie is more about the cleverness of the script than about establishing believable characters and narrative momentum. Paul Rudd basically reprises his likeable guy role from "Clueless" with Reese playing body double for Alicia Silverstone. Both are wasted.
Who writes this garbage?
warlockholmes18 November 2006
How do you mess up a sure fire romantic comedy formula acted out by talented young actors? By making the characters completely idiotic and more importantly unlikable. Only thing that kept me from giving it a one was Reese Witherspoon. She's got charisma. Paul Rudd has it too, but the script wouldn't allow it to shine through. Don't bother with this one unless you're into mind numbing crap and wasting an hour and a half of your time thinking about how much better this movie could've been. You're better off checking out 40-year Old Virgin where Rudd plays a similar whining character but comes off as much more sincere, tongue in cheek, and actually funny. The physical comedy was a nice idea but seems a little misplaced and does nothing to distract from the incredibly crappy overly obvious dialogue. In fact, I recommend watching this movie with the sound off. The setups are completely obvious so you won't have any trouble following it and you'll get more laughs from Rudd's spastic facial expressions. If you want a good romantic road comedy with some smart, funny dialogue and God forbid, likable characters, try The Sure Thing.
Cute and funny
IkeDOG16 September 1998
This is a funny romantic comedy with some laughs. The movie is held together by the cute and sexy Reese Witherspoon. Her performance makes the movie worth seeing. Paul Rudd gives a good showing also. I would recommend seeing this movie if you are bored one night.
One character ruins it all
Tito-811 June 1999
After giving such a likable performance in "Clueless", it was a shame to see Paul Rudd play such an absolute moron in this movie. This isn't a bad movie by any stretch, but the idiocy displayed by his character takes this film a step beyond mindless fluff. His stupidity got on my nerves, and it's hard to like a romantic comedy when you can't stand half of the future couple. The OVERWHELMING predictability of the film was also something that annoyed me quite a bit. To be fair, Reese Witherspoon did a good job, and there were a fair number of funny moments, but the movie was still a bit of a disappointment overall, and I can't quite recommend this one.
Not so bad!
Bob-25018 October 1998
Not the best film I've ever seen, but it is entertaining.
The screenplay was originally written by Kevin Smith (Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma) and was then re-written by so many people that his name was omitted from the film. His trademark "Jaws" reference remains!
However, there are bits of dialogue that were obviously Smith's or were at least adapted from his original dialogue.
Worth watching, but don't expect too much!
The screenplay was originally written by Kevin Smith (Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma) and was then re-written by so many people that his name was omitted from the film. His trademark "Jaws" reference remains!
However, there are bits of dialogue that were obviously Smith's or were at least adapted from his original dialogue.
Worth watching, but don't expect too much!
I had heard good things about this but...nope
LukeCustomer218 August 2019
Reese Witherspoon is very talented. I am shocked there was a time she was doing material like this, but apparently there was. The plot is very thin. Rudd has a girlfriend from high school who won't do anything with him until marriage. Obviously then he is suffering from severe blue balls. After he calls his sweety and her roommate picks up suggesting that she is cheating on him... Rudd's character starts complaining to anyone who will listen, eventually, that includes a stripper with a heart of gold... Ivy. Ivy is a 1990s stripper with a heart of gold. Meaning she doesn't actually get naked and she is also a college student. Ok then. Ivy tells him to send his sweety a letter implying he is cheating first and send it via overnight mail. Yes "Road Trip" stole this plot. The next day after sending the letter the girlfriend leaves a message explaining the situation so that Rudd character has to get the letter back and has Ivy help him.
For me, there is a weird motivation problem here. Rudd is dying to have sex and as pretty as Christine Taylor is... Reese Witherspoon is just as pretty and cute and very interested in Rudd's character. For him to be rebuffing Reese with his singular focus on his girlfriend seems ... odd.
Paul Rudd is a good actor but here I am not sure he had any clue what or who his character was. He changes wildly from scene to scene and I am not sure I see any reason for Reese's character to be interested in him.
But Reese really sells the character and for that alone I would say this is worth a watch.
For me, there is a weird motivation problem here. Rudd is dying to have sex and as pretty as Christine Taylor is... Reese Witherspoon is just as pretty and cute and very interested in Rudd's character. For him to be rebuffing Reese with his singular focus on his girlfriend seems ... odd.
Paul Rudd is a good actor but here I am not sure he had any clue what or who his character was. He changes wildly from scene to scene and I am not sure I see any reason for Reese's character to be interested in him.
But Reese really sells the character and for that alone I would say this is worth a watch.
Overdone Delivery
mattymatt4ever17 April 2001
I've seen much more torcherous comedies out there that were done in the same sort of format. I admit, some of the scenes work and I did laugh. I just didn't laugh enough. And everything was overdone. Paul Rudd gave the most obnoxious performance of his career--We're used to seeing him in more laid-back roles like in "Clueless" and "The Object of My Affection." Paul can do comedy, if given the right material. This was the only comic role I've seen Paul in, but I can tell he has potential. And he is, undoubtedly, an underrated actor who hasn't yet became a household name. I'm sure this isn't one his proudest roles, and I'll be surprised if it remains on his resume. The material in the script sometimes gets so lame that Paul desperately tries to muster some laughs, but falls completely flat and just makes an ass out of himself. Larry Drake is fun, and seems to hold his own throughout. He was one of the redeeming elements of this often lame comedy. The comic moments are so forced that you wouldn't be surprised if this was made from a rejected sitcom script.
"Overnight Delivery" is a hit-or-miss comedy, and is pretty passable. If you happen to come upon the movie on cable, it's worth a look. I can't say I was disappointed. It went direct to video, how good can it be? But it's an OK movie that's moderately harmless, easy-to-take and entertaining to a degree. But I wouldn't give it a reccomendation.
"Overnight Delivery" is a hit-or-miss comedy, and is pretty passable. If you happen to come upon the movie on cable, it's worth a look. I can't say I was disappointed. It went direct to video, how good can it be? But it's an OK movie that's moderately harmless, easy-to-take and entertaining to a degree. But I wouldn't give it a reccomendation.
An enjoyable road trip movie with cult dialogs
jeehunwherjun23 March 2005
After Freeway and Fear movies the leading role actress Reese Witherspoon shines with a joyful, extrovert and really charming character performed as Ivy Miller. Acting with Paul Rudd performed as Wyatt Trips, she is the girl striving for making her Prince charming aware of her. Christine Taylor performed as Kimberly is a famous cheerleader in their campus, dating with Wyatt. One day, Wyatt turns very jealous by a message from her and then starts to worry about his life as if it is coming to an end. Wyatt's friends help him forget her if she's cheating on him. That night in a dance club, a stripteaser girl named Ivy Von "Trap", alters Wyatt's philosophy of life through destroying his friends' ego. There comes a fight between Ivy and Wyatt's campus gang. This bonds Ivy and Wyatt as friends, after Wyatt forsakes his friends at the fight. Ivy tells the secrets of relations and the nonexistence of love to Wyatt by use of a cult speech. Then it becomes hard for Wyatt to realize the love of Ivy, if he can't rescue his heart from loving Kimberly hopelessly. Then by time a wonderful adventurous love is getting started by Kimberly's letter from Memphis. How a puzzle is this, you can't believe. While Wyatt wants to stop a package from delivery full of Ivy's ideas of good-bye speech that has been sent to Kimberly, there starts the road trip from Minneapolis to Memphis. At the end on the Valentines' Day in Memphis which one will be chosen by Wyatt, Ivy or Kim ? At the ending Wyatt becomes Tarzan to stop the delivery guy, and also becomes a prayer: "Dear God, I swear that I will never send any more package via Overnight Delivery again!"
An abomination
jboudine6 February 2008
I watched this movie last week late night on some random network, the reason being that I was intrigued by the fact that both Paul Rudd and Reese Witherspoon (two great actors) were in the movie and yet I have never heard of it. From the beginning, my suspicions were that the movie would be awful, and sadly, those were confirmed within the first 20 minutes. The myriad of problems in this movie, the ridiculous plot, unrealistic dialog, incomprehensible development/dismissal of characters (e.g. Wyatt's friends), and sub-par acting have reserved a special place for this movie in Video Hell.
I'll start with the plot, the premise of which was promising, but ultimately better conceived in Road Trip (not the greatest movie itself but still somewhat entertaining). Look, I'll buy into suspension of disbelief, but to expect me to believe the whole scenario where Wyatt and Ivy decide to send the photos/condom to his girlfriend borders on insulting.
In the same vein, the dialog sounds like it was written by someone who has never been a college-aged kid, and as a stripper, Ivy's dialog was written very poorly as well.
Concerning character development, both Wyatt's friends and Christine Taylor's part were severely under-developed. For instance, Wyatt's friends appear to be a major part of the movie for the first 20 minutes, only to be unceremoniously dropped for the remainder of the film.
Furthermore, the movie inexplicably bills Christine Taylor as being a main character, yet she is only on screen a grand total of 20 minutes as well. I can only attribute these problems to poor editing, confirmed by the fact that the movie was originally supposed to be 30 minutes.
Finally, I get the feeling that pretty much every big name actor in the movie phoned it in to an extent. Paul Rudd spent the majority of the movie trying his hardest to be John Cusack on crack, which is annoying for the first half of the movie, infuriating for the latter half. This from a guy who has been a scene stealer in pretty much every other movie he's been in. Reese Witherspoon spends most of the movie with an "I need to fire my agent for getting me into this" look, and most of the other characters fail to bring laughs, although granted, they didn't have much to work with in the first place.
The bottom line is that "Overnight Delivery" is not a campy-yet-funny movie along the lines of "Heavyweights" (which has the same IMDb rating ), it's a poorly written piece of drivel which should be used as an example for How-Not-to-Make-a-Movie. If nothing else, I left the movie having a newfound respect for the high-profile names that survived this travesty and went on to bigger and better things.
I'll start with the plot, the premise of which was promising, but ultimately better conceived in Road Trip (not the greatest movie itself but still somewhat entertaining). Look, I'll buy into suspension of disbelief, but to expect me to believe the whole scenario where Wyatt and Ivy decide to send the photos/condom to his girlfriend borders on insulting.
In the same vein, the dialog sounds like it was written by someone who has never been a college-aged kid, and as a stripper, Ivy's dialog was written very poorly as well.
Concerning character development, both Wyatt's friends and Christine Taylor's part were severely under-developed. For instance, Wyatt's friends appear to be a major part of the movie for the first 20 minutes, only to be unceremoniously dropped for the remainder of the film.
Furthermore, the movie inexplicably bills Christine Taylor as being a main character, yet she is only on screen a grand total of 20 minutes as well. I can only attribute these problems to poor editing, confirmed by the fact that the movie was originally supposed to be 30 minutes.
Finally, I get the feeling that pretty much every big name actor in the movie phoned it in to an extent. Paul Rudd spent the majority of the movie trying his hardest to be John Cusack on crack, which is annoying for the first half of the movie, infuriating for the latter half. This from a guy who has been a scene stealer in pretty much every other movie he's been in. Reese Witherspoon spends most of the movie with an "I need to fire my agent for getting me into this" look, and most of the other characters fail to bring laughs, although granted, they didn't have much to work with in the first place.
The bottom line is that "Overnight Delivery" is not a campy-yet-funny movie along the lines of "Heavyweights" (which has the same IMDb rating ), it's a poorly written piece of drivel which should be used as an example for How-Not-to-Make-a-Movie. If nothing else, I left the movie having a newfound respect for the high-profile names that survived this travesty and went on to bigger and better things.
Senseless, but a riot
SeeSolly-217 October 1998
This movie makes little sense--how Reese Witherspoon's character would fall for Paul Rudd's babyish character is a bit of a stretch. But the scenes on the road and the climax are hilarious. I'd never heard of this movie before I caught it on TV. I'm going to tape it. Great for any time you're looking for a nice brainless comedy. (Christine Armstrong is a great snotty prude too.)
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