''Just the Ticket'' is a 1998 film directed by

Richard Wenk Richard Wenk (born 1956) is an American film screenwriter and director best known for his work on ''The Expendables 2'' (2012), ''The Equalizer (film), The Equalizer'' (2014), and ''The Magnificent Seven (2016 film), The Magnificent Seven'' (20 ...

. It stars

Andy García Andrés Arturo García Menéndez (born April 12, 1956), known professionally as Andy García, is a Cuban-born American actor, director and musician. He first rose to prominence acting in Brian De Palma's ''The Untouchables'' (1987) alongside ...

and

Andie MacDowell Rosalie Anderson MacDowell (born April 21, 1958) is an American actress and former fashion model. MacDowell's known for her starring film roles in romantic comedies and dramas. MacDowell has modeled for Calvin Klein and has been a spokeswoman ...

. Garcia was also the producer. The film was originally titled ''A Piece of Cake''.

Plot

Gary Starke (Garcia), desperate to get his girlfriend Linda (MacDowell) back, goes to confession to seek guidance but doesn't get the help he seeks. He is a

NYC New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Uni ...

ticket scalper Ticket resale (also known as ticket scalping or ticket touting) is the act of reselling tickets for admission to events. Tickets are bought from licensed sellers and then sold for a price determined by the individual or company in possession of ...

who "works the street". Linda won't take his calls, so Gary shows up at her sales job. He earns a dinner date with her by selling a 60 inch TV to someone who was only window-shopping. Gary plans to make one last big score, to win Linda back and straighten out his life. Believing his chance rests on an opportunity to scalp a large stack of tickets to see the

Pope The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...

Yankee Stadium Yankee Stadium is a baseball stadium located in the Bronx, New York City. It is the home field of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball, and New York City FC of Major League Soccer. Opened in April 2009, the stadium replaced the origi ...

. Gary comes against 'Casino', a FL scalper who undercuts him. Meanwhile, at Linda's culinary course a NYT food critic asks her to cater an upscale dinner party after trying her dish. So, instead of their date, Gary jumps in to help. She's way underpaid for the meal at the upperclass party, so they retaliate by ruining the dishes. That evening, they spend the night together. The next day Gary is off seeking Pope tickets. He and the other scalpers get thrown in jail. While there, he tells them his lookout Benny Moran, used to be in the corner for boxing champion Joe Frazier. When Gary is released, he hurries to Linda's, only to meet Alan, an exterminator and her new boyfriend. He listens to advice from pregnant, ex drug addict 'Cyclops', to try to get a social security number. Unfortunately he can't without a birth certificate. Gary finds Max offering 200 tickets for 5,000 if he can get it for Saturday. So he works hard scalping Broadway tickets. Caught by undercover cops, Casino helps out, warning that it's a one-time deal as it's his turf now and most everyone works for him. Sitting opposite Linda's building, she comes out to tell Gary she's leaving for culinary school in Paris in three weeks. After some finagling, he buys the tickets to scalp, although warned about Max. Linda's large family throws her a congratulatory party, a combined birthday and going away to culinary school celebration. Gary is warmly welcomed by everyone, and is quietly told she dumped the exterminator. They soon find out he has provided a film montage of loving moments between them. Linda walks out mid-projection, with Gary following with a non-going away present, their trophy for best couple at a picnic. He again tries talking about his plans for them. Admitting she has loved him completely for years, but his many fantasies have never come through, so she needs to focus on the future. In the city, Benny talks with Linda. He tells her that Gary has been intently working on something, and asks her to swear to do something for him. Then we see Gary in a realtor's cutting a deal on a two year lease. Afterwards, seeking out Benny who was with his dog, he has passed. At Benny's small funeral, Frazier comes to pay his respects, shocking the guys, as they hadn't believed he'd worked with him. Linda has also come, she tells Gary Benny had asked her to promise to say yes to anything Gary asks. So he requests she be at an address at 9 a.m. on Monday. Arriving home Gary finds Cyclops, who warns him that the tickets Max sold him were taken from a church, and the cops are looking for him. On the day of the Pope's address, dressed as a nun, Gary keeps the tickets and money in a hollowed out bible. Casino snitches on him, and although he transforms into a priest, he is caught. The evidence is lost in the scuffle. As the scalping money is gone, Gary's not at the 9 a.m. appointment at the premises. An insurance rep appears on his doorstep instead with a 56,000 payment from Benny's life insurance policy as well as his birth certificate. Gary sets up the lease, fully stocking it with dishes etc. Discovering Linda's at her mom's, he gets her to detour her airport taxi to the premises. Entering, she sees the signed lease and his social security card. Months later, we see the couple happily operating a thriving restaurant.

Cast

Andy Garcia Andy may refer to: People * Andy (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Horace Andy (born 1951), Jamaican roots reggae songwriter and singer born Horace Hinds * Katja Andy (1907–2013), German-American pianist and pi ...

as Gary Starke *

as Linda Palinski * Richard Bradford as Benny Moran *

Alice Drummond Alice Elizabeth Drummond (née Ruyter, May 21, 1928 – November 30, 2016) was an American actress. A veteran Off-Broadway performer, she was nominated in 1970 for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her performance as Mrs ...

as Lady with Cash *

Fred Asparagus Fred Asparagus (born Fred Reveles; June 10, 1947 – June 30, 1998) was an American comedian and film and television actor. He was perhaps best known for playing the "Bartender" in the 1986 film '' Three Amigos!''. Born in Los Angeles County, ...

as Zeus *

Louis Mustillo Louis Mustillo (born May 28, 1958) is an American actor who is best known as playing Vincent “Vince” Moranto on ''Mike & Molly'' from 2010 to 2016. Life and career Mustillo was born in Buffalo, New York. He attended American Academy of Dram ...

as Harry the Head * Anita Elliott as Refund Lady at the Met *

Patrick Breen Joseph Patrick Breen (born October 26, 1960) is an American actor, screenwriter, and director. Early life Breen was born in Brooklyn, New York, on October 26, 1960. Career He has acted primarily on TV but has also appeared in numerous films, ...

as San Diego Vinnie *

Laura Harris Laura Harris is a Canadian actress. Early life Harris is the daughter of schoolteachers. She began acting in radio dramas and animation series when she was five years old. As a child Harris was educated at Crofton House School and attended co ...

as Alice / 'Cyclops' *

Don Novello Donald Andrew Novello (born January 1, 1943) is an American actor, comedian, singer, writer, film director and producer. He is best known for his work on NBC's ''Saturday Night Live'' from 1978 to 1980, and again from 1985 to 1986, often as the ...

as Tony *

Ron Leibman Ron Leibman (; October 11, 1937 – December 6, 2019) was an American actor. He won both the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play in 1993 for his performance as Roy Cohn in ''Angels in Amer ...

as Barry the Book *

Michael Willis Michael Willis, (born October 4, 1949), is an American television and movie character actor. Willis' credits include movie roles in ''Pushing Tin'' and ''Men in Black'', and several episodes of '' Law & Order''. Willis was born in Lancaster, P ...

as TV Customer *

Jack Cafferty Jack Cafferty (born December 14, 1942) is a former CNN commentator and occasional host of specials. In the summer of 2005, Cafferty joined '' The Situation Room''. He left CNN after November 15, 2012. Career Cafferty started his career in Reno, ...

as Newscaster * Molly Wenk as Catholic Schoolgirl Fanny * Daniella Garcia-Lorido as Catholic Schoolgirl Lucy *

Abe Vigoda Abraham Charles Vigoda (February 24, 1921 – January 26, 2016) was an American actor known for his portrayals of Salvatore Tessio in ''The Godfather'' (1972) and Phil Fish in both ''Barney Miller'' (1975–1977, 1982) and ''Fish'' (1977–1978 ...

as Arty * Andre B. Blake as Casino *

Michael P. Moran Michael Patrick Moran (February 8, 1944 – February 4, 2004) was an American actor and playwright. Life and career Moran was born in Yuba City, California, but his family moved frequently because his father was a United States Army officer. Wh ...

as Fat Max *

Ronald Guttman Ronald Guttman (born 12 August 1952) is a Belgian actor, theatrical producer and film producer. Career Guttman was born in Uccle. He started appearing in French language productions in Europe in 1975, appearing in his first English-language film ...

as Culinary Director * Helen Carey as Mrs. Bennett, ''New York Times'' Food Critic *

Bobo Lewis Barbara "Bobo" Lewis (May 14, 1926 – November 6, 1998) was an American comedic actress of film, musical theatre, stage and television. Born in Miami, Florida, Lewis studied acting and won a Drama Desk Award in 1978 for portraying a teacher ...

as Mrs. Dolmatch * Paunita Nichols as Rhonda *

Irene Worth Irene Worth, CBE (June 23, 1916March 10, 2002) was an American stage and screen actress who became one of the leading stars of the British and American theatre. She pronounced her given name with three syllables: "I-REE-nee". Worth made her Bro ...

as Mrs. Haywood *

Lenny Venito Lenny Venito (born May 10, 1969) is an American actor, who has made appearances in movies such as '' Gigli'', '' Men in Black 3'', and '' War of the Worlds''. He also starred as Marty Weaver in the ABC comedy '' The Neighbors'' and James "Mur ...

as Stanley *

as Good Call Johnny D.J. * George Palermo as Undercover Cop *

Anthony DeSando Anthony DeSando (born December 4, 1965), also known as Anthony Joseph De Santis, is an American actor. DeSando often portrays a joker or dapper villain in mob films such as ''New Jack City''. Early life DeSando was born in Jersey City, New Jer ...

as Kenny Paliski *

Elizabeth Ashley Elizabeth Ann Cole, known professionally as Elizabeth Ashley (born August 30, 1939) is an American actress of theatre, film, and television. She has been nominated for three Tony Awards, winning once in 1962 for ''Take Her, She's Mine''. Ashley ...

as Mrs. Paliski *

Sully Boyar Sully may refer to: * Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger (born 1951), American pilot notable for landing his disabled airliner on the Hudson ** ''Sully'' (film), a 2016 film by Clint Eastwood about Sullenberger Places France * Sully, Calvados, commun ...

as Uncle Tony *

Joe Frazier Joseph William Frazier (January 12, 1944November 7, 2011), nicknamed "Smokin' Joe", was an American professional boxer who competed from 1965 to 1981. He was known for his strength, durability, formidable left hand, and relentless pressure fi ...

as Himself * Alfredo Álvarez Calderón as Yankee Stadium Security Chief * Eugene Greytak as The Pope (as Gene Greytak) *

Bill Irwin William Mills Irwin (born April 11, 1950) is an American actor, clown, and comedian. He began as a vaudeville-style stage performer and has been noted for his contribution to the renaissance of American circus during the 1970s. He has made a n ...

as Ray Charles

Reception

''Just the Ticket'' was poorly received by critics. It holds a rating of 23% on

Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wang ...

from 13 reviews.

References

External links

* * * {{Mojo title, justtheticket, Just the Ticket 1998 films 1998 romantic comedy films Films directed by Richard Wenk Films with screenplays by Richard Wenk American romantic comedy films United Artists films Films produced by Gary Lucchesi 1990s English-language films 1990s American films

Plot

Cast

Reception

See also

References

External links