Depending on the day you're having or the way you look at films, "Mad Dog Time" can become a case of a watchable film or one of the most saddening things ever made. But it can't be great. The cast is amazing, perhaps the main reason most people are brought into this thing but they can't save this from being just an average experiment, almost embarrassing each minute goes by.
What was this about anyway? At my view it was a competition of who kills who and who stays longer alive in a game triggered after the release of a powerful mobster (Richard Dreyfuss). Release from where? Jail, mental institution? A little unclear to me. But who were those people? It's a star parade with Jeff Goldblum, Ellen Barkin, Gabriel Byrne, Diane Lane, Gregory Hines, Kyle MacLachlan, Billy Idol, Billy Drago, Burt Reynolds, Richard Pryor, Henry Silva, so and so, but who were they? Mobsters, hit men, rivals, partners? Nothing is well established in this half wreck, neither their functions except killing each other, neither their purpose behind such cruel intentions. The little character development created by writer/director/supporting actor Larry Bishop is preposterous, ludicrous and silly, and the mountains of dialogs lead to almost nowhere trying to be important with characters asking to each other what's their life's philosophy.
The good things about "Mad Dog Time": Gabriel Byrne saves the day becoming the funniest actor on scene; Goldblum is a great presence, we cheer for him whenever he's involved in a gun duel; Hines impress in the brief appearances he has; the rest of the cast is just fine to see them acting together and that's it. Perhaps that's the greatest accomplish in here, see them assembled in one piece of film. If only in a better one... 6/10
