The Alarmist

The Alarmist, also known as Life During Wartime, is a 1997 dark comedy film written and directed by Evan Dunsky, and starring David Arquette, Stanley Tucci, Kate Capshaw and Ryan Reynolds. It is an adaptation of a 1990 play written by Keith Reddin.

Cast

 * David Arquette as Tommy Hudler
 * Stanley Tucci as Heinrich Grigoris
 * Kate Capshaw as Gale Ancona
 * Mary McCormack as Sally
 * Ryan Reynolds as Howard Ancona
 * Tricia Vessey as April Brody
 * Ruth Miller as Mrs. Fielding
 * Hoke Howell as Mr. Fielding
 * Michael Learned as Beth Hudler
 * Lewis Arquette as Bruce Hudler
 * Richmond Arquette as Andrew Hudler
 * Gabriel Dell Jr. as Skippy Hudler
 * Clea DuVall as Suzy (as Clea Duvall)
 * David Brisbin as Detective Flinkman
 * Matt Malloy as Morgue Technician
 * Alex Nepomniaschy as Installer

Reception
The Alarmist was reviewed by several mainstream critics. Most of them praised Stanley Tucci's performance, but criticized the film itself.

Stephen Holden from The New York Times called Tucci's performance "one of the subtlest, most delicious performances of his career". He found the first part of the film very entertaining, but considered that the movie deteriorates in its second part when it becomes more serious. "Shortly after the halfway point, "The Alarmist" takes a dramatic U-turn into a murder mystery in which Tommy suspects his boss of being the killer. At this point a movie that succeeded as a light, loopy satire of sex, salesmanship, shoddy ethics, gun nuts and geeky teen-agers finds itself seriously in over its head. Unable to decide where to go or what tone to adopt, it ends up treading water."

Edward Guthmann from San Francisco Chronicle also praised Tucci's performance, but criticized the film indecision. "As a showcase for Tucci's comic skills, "The Alarmist" succeeds. We start the film feeling buoyed by his roosterlike energy and audacity, and we end it feeling let down by a script that can't quite decide what it wants to say." Steve Davis from The Austin Chronicle called The Alarmist a "near-pointless movie" and wrote: "Perhaps the greatest sin of The Alarmist is its complete waste of Tucci in the role of Heinreich Grigoris, Hudler's paternal but unscrupulous mentor. Tucci never takes off; it's a stillborn performance. Maybe if Tucci had found something with which to work, the movie in turn might have found the center it so badly needs. As it is, The Alarmist is a movie that doesn't ring any bells."