MOVIE REVIEW : ‘Driving Me Crazy’ Bypasses the Laughs

Thomas Gottschalk, who plays a crackpot auto inventor in the PG-rated “Driving Me Crazy” (citywide), is a celebrity talk-show host and “personality” in Germany who, according to press notes, also appears in European ads for McDonald’s and dubbed the voice of the baby in the German version of “Look Who’s Talking” and its sequel.

With achievements such as these, are there any worlds left to conquer?

There’s always Hollywood. With Schwarzenegger, Hogan, Van Damme and Depardieu as his inspirations, Gottschalk has entered our moviescape, from whence no doubt he will vanish within the week. His mega-following in Germany would not appear to have anything to do with his performing skills; he’s a dull, dull fellow, looks a bit like Siegfried (or is it Roy?), and apparently equates mugging with comic acting.

In this he is not alone.

Billy Dee Williams and Dom DeLuise and Morton Downey Jr. also turn up, making faces and yelling. It’s the audience for this film that gets the real mugging.

‘Driving Me Crazy’

Thomas Gottschalk: Gunther

Billy Dee Williams: Max

Michelle Johnson: Ricki

Dom DeLuise: Mr. B

A Motion Picture Corp. of America release. Director Jon Turtletaub. Producers Brad Krevoy and Steve Stabler. Screenplay David Tausik, Turtletaub. Cinematographers Jeff Porter, Chris Faloona and Flavio Labiano. Editor Armen Minassian and Nancy Richardson. Costumes Michelle Kurpaska. Production design Wolfgang Heinz. Running time: 1 hour, 54 minutes.

MPAA-rated PG.