Sunset Limousine

Plot

Alan O'Black (John Ritter) is an aspiring stand-up comic who takes on a job as limousine driver in order to prove to his girlfriend Julie (Susan Dey) after she has kicked him out of their shared home, that he can be a responsible adult. Her standing complaint about Alan as a boyfriend has been that he sees life as one long rehearsal. This is exacerbated by the fact that, even with a now-steady job and dealing with strange passenger/clients, Alan rehearses his comedy at every opportunity and deals with bizarre situations with good-natured aplomb. He and his buddy Jay (Paul Reiser) become involved the shady dealings of businessman Bradley Coleman (Martin Short), which results in a chase through Los Angeles with both sides of the law in pursuit.

Reception

People Magazine bemoaned John Ritter's comedy ability being "drowned out" within the "cruder context of Three's Company", and wrote that his ability "shines in this fanciful TV-movie." It was expanded that the film's story line is silly, but as Ritter's character "gamely rehearses his [comedy] act through it all", he shows himself as "delightful."

The Age wrote that Sunset Limousine stood out from most American television comedies because it actually was funny. In praising star John Ritter, it was offered that his timing and charm made a story that was otherwise rubbish into something entertaining. As the story progresses Ritter's character "handles the most impossible situations with politeness and good humor," becoming "increasingly endearing."

Ocala Star-Banner praised the film, writing the film's "magic ingredient is John Ritter," and that "Ritter's style is what makes Sunset Limousine a welcome bit of light entertainment."

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette panned the film, offering that CBS' reliance on names over substance could not keep the film from being silly, and that even appearances by Lannie Kazan and George Kirby could not save prevent the film from being mindless.