Monday, December 10, 2007

Hugo Pool (1997) - Laura & Robert Downey

November 29, 1992

HUGO POOL

Screenplay by Laura and Robert Downey

Synopsis by Brian Aldrich

HUGO AMES, 28, runs a successful pool maintenance company for the wealthy in Beverly Hills. He is living with TWYLA FRAM who wants him to include her in his will. She even gives him an ultimatum to do so. Hugo gets a call from rich guy, LOUIS LAGATTA, who wants his new pool filled with water, even though there is drought and the fine could be $18,000 for Hugo. Louis threatens Hugo's life and offers him $9,999 to fill the pool. Hugo calls his deadbeat, drug-ridden father, HENRY, to hire a milk truck, drive it to the Colorado River, and fill it with water for Louis' pool. Then, Hugo goes on his daily rounds. He enters rich guy and used car salesman TOMMY THOMPSON's yard to find two DEAD GUYS. Tommy offers Hugo a deal on a used car if he helps him move the corpses. Hugo does. Then, Hugo goes to do the pool of LES LANE, 58, a comic who auditions his boring act for Hugo. Meanwhile, scummy lawyer, MURRAY POLOTNIK runs over a TREES SURGEON, causing two trees to block the driveway of a lazy YUPPIE in a BMW who can't drive away. Hugo drives by. The Yuppie orders Hugo to move the trees. Hugo declines and leaves. Meanwhile, Henry, en route to the river, picks up a hitchhiker, LARUE, with nice shoes. Then, while cleaning her pool, Hugo helps a handicapped, but beautiful woman, FRANCES, into her pool to do her exercises. They like one another. Then, Hugo is asked by his client, PHYLLIS, an environmentalist, to help kidnap some whales and return them to their native home. He refuses. At Polotnik's pool, Hugo learns that Polotnik is going to represent Twyla in her palimony suit against Hugo. Polotnik offers to represent Hugo as well, provided he gets a retainer. Hugo sees his mother, MINERVA, who is hopelessly addicted to gambling. He offers her money if she helps him work. So, she and her gambling friend, TOULOUSE LETRACK, accompany Hugo on his rounds. ANNETTE BRUNETTE, a buxom sixty year old, tries to seduce Hugo. At Lagatta's, Louis gives Hugo the money, but has changed his mind. He wants to fill his pool with champagne. Hugo pays Polotnik a retainer. Hugo phones his father and tells him to get champagne. Hugo returns to help Frances out of the pool and she comes along for the ride. At another house, Hugo tries to resuscitate a HUSBAND while his SHREWISH WIFE orders him to leave her husband alone. Eventually, Henry shows and fills Lagatta's pool with champagne. Polotnik shows up at Lagatta's party with Phyllis as his date. Hugo pays off his father and mother who go to the track and win. Hugo returns home to find out that Twyla is going off with another rich guy, NORMAN. Hugo returns to Frances.

Summary Criticism: There is no plot or structure to this fragmented, episodic compilation of scenes in the daily life of a pool man. The characters are cliché and the attempt at humor is banal at best.

Hugo Pool (1997) - imdb

Hugo Pool (1997) - wiki

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