Directed by: Ken Shapiro
Starring: Chevy Chase, Patti D'Arbanville, Brian Doyle-Murray, Mary Kay Place, Nell Carter, Dabney Coleman
Modern Problems would have played better if it had been about the supporting characters and not Chevy Chase's mopey, unlikable Max, an air traffic controller going through a breakup who encounters toxic waste which gives him telekinetic powers. Chase sleepwalks through Modern Problems as if he were forced to appear to repay a court fine. The other comedically skilled actors bring so much more energy compared to Chase that it seems he dropped in from filming a nearby drama about depression.
As Modern Problems opens, Max arrives home to find his long-suffering girlfriend Darcy (D'Arbanville) has broken up with him via the answering machine. It seems from her explanation that Max is a possessive, jealous creep who spies on her. He sounds like someone Darcy would be much better off without, but she still has feelings for him even though she's seeing someone else. Then comes the toxic waste leaking all over Max's car while driving behind a truck and a glowing Max discovers he can move objects with his thoughts. Max uses the powers to settle scores, including causing Darcy's new friend to endure a gushing nosebleed while at dinner.
Max's use of telekinesis provides zero laughs. The only funny moments in Modern Problems, while few and far between, are provided by characters like Max's wheelchair-bound friend Brian (Doyle-Murray) and Brian's arrogant self-help author friend Mark (Coleman), who wears his inappropriateness as a badge of honor. In the middle, however, is Chevy Chase sucking the fun from Modern Problems like a vampire. Chase is at his best when he joyously uses his wit. In Modern Problems, he barely exhibits enough enthusiasm to put two sentences together. The movie was made at a point in Chase's career when filmmakers figured his mere appearance would be enough to make it successful. Director Shapiro should have asked Chase for more than just showing up.
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