The Alarmist (1998)

David Arquette stars as a smiling doofus who has an unexpected knack for selling home security systems to ordinary folks. His shady boss (Stanley Tucci) develops a fatherly affection for him, which gets in the way after Arquette's character discovers that the older man stages phony break-ins to raise his customer base in the area. Also competing for Arquette's soul are an attractive, middle-aged single mom (Kate Capshaw) with whom he has a fling, and the attentions of an appealing (if crooked) coworker (Mary McCormack). Something's got to give in this unwieldy equation, and when it does, bad things happen to some while the hero's vengeance is visited on others. This film by Evan Dunsky is lumpy in inspiration, and some of the actors (particularly Tucci) have a hard time finding and sticking with a common tone. But there are pockets of choice material here, particularly Arquette and Capshaw's awkward (and comic) visit to his parents and a long, funny-scary climax in which the bond between Tucci and Arquette is severely tested. --Tom Keogh Amazon.com

 David Arquette is a study in facial expressions
The movie isn't much to shout about. The only thing which sustained my interest was David Arquette's acting and very expressive face. I think David can do more with his face than most actors can with their bodies. December 24, 2003

 An fun dark comedy.
A honest home-security system Salesman (David Arquette) has an affair with his first client (Kate Capshaw) and learns that his Rudeful boss (Stanley Tucci) and his business associate are Staging Residential Break-ins to boost thier company sales.

Directed by Even Dunsky, which he Wrote the Screenply to This black comedy has a lot of moments of this dark humor film. Arquette gives one of his best performances. A missed at the Art-House Theaters but on video, has been giving an Cult Following. Based on a Play by Keith Reddin (All the Rage). Grade:A-. January 17, 2002

 THE ALARMIST!
"The Alarmist" is a BLACK COMEDY starrting STANLEY TUCCI as Heinrich Grigoris, a corrupt security system salesman who BREAKS INTO HOMES to drum up new business! DAVID ARQUETTE is his naive new employee who falls for new customer KATE CAPSHAW! This movie is based on KEITH REDDIN's play "Life During Wartime"! This 1998 film is directed by Evan Dunsky! This is not a big comedy, but if you are fans of Tucci's acting, dollars to donuts you will get some measure of enjoyment out of watching this one! Plus, the TITLE is such a SUBTLE PUN! October 13, 2001

 A Pointless, Laughless Mess of a Stage Play� I mean Film.
"The Alarmist" is an Ordeal to sit through, a Talky Theatre production that has No Place in the film world. I can't even see it being good on Stage. One or two Laughs does Not a good comedy make, yet one or two laughs is the most you'll get from this film. (And both come from Ryan Reynolds)

David Arquette ("See Spot Run" and "Ready to Rumble") adds Another Nail to his Career Coffin as a Young Alarm Salesman under the Tutelage of his Unscrupulous Boss (Stanley Tucci) who uses "Shifty Tactics" to Raise Sales. At Least, that is the story that the Rental Cover and the Theatrical Trailer say it's about, when you actually See the film, it's not really about that at all, it's Much more Boring and Confused. "The Alarmist" has No idea what it wants to Be, where it wants to Go, or what Genre it's in. Is it a Drama, is it a Comedy... Beats me, It seems it's attempting to be a Cross-Genre Quirky Comedy in the vein of "Grosse Point Black", if that Was it's goal, it Failed Big time.

David spends the film looking Confused and Bewildered, Stanley spends the film Attempting to Rescue the film, but that is Too Much for one man to do. Ryan saves every scene he's in, but they are Few and Far Between. The Ladies in the cast don't help the proceedings much. Mary McCormack looks Embarrassed, to the point of Hiding her Face from the Camera, while Kate Capshaw is seems Inexplicable Pleased with her performance, while we the audience find it Cringe-worthy.

"The Alarmist" is a Weird little film that will appeal to different people in different ways, it's just one of those films that you Don't Know until you see it. For me, it was a Waste of my time. May 25, 2001

 What a pleasant surprise!
This movie is not what it looks like on the cover artwork. This is a very funny - yet very serious - movie. (Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster ride.) The writing is simply wonderful and while it is at times quite baudy, it is always wonderfully sweet. The performances are for the most part, stunning. Evan Dunsky is a director to watch... April 8, 1999

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