Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five

Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five is a 1998 American film directed by Richard Schenkman and written by Schenkman and Jon Cryer. It premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival.[2]

Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five
Movie Poster
Directed byRichard Schenkman
Produced byJon Cryer
Written by
  • Jon Cryer
  • Richard Schenkman
Starring
Music byMidge Ure
CinematographyAdam Beckman
Edited byRichard LaBrie
Production
company
Evenmore Entertainment
Release date
  • April 18, 1998 (1998-04-18) (US)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$14,090 (US)[1]

Plot

Daniel (Jon Cryer) and Stan (Rick Stear) search for a childhood friend of theirs – Richie (Rafael Báez), who they believe may be homeless and mentally ill. The film intercuts with flashbacks from their youth to their 30s. Daniel works at a jewelry store that is basically a pawn shop. Stan, who limps as a result of a childhood medical procedure, is a borderline alcoholic and gambler who fights endlessly with his longtime girlfriend, Gabby (Ione Skye).

Principal cast
Actor Role
Jon CryerDaniel
Rick StearStan
Rafael BáezRichie
Ione SkyeGabby
Frank WhaleySkee-Ball Weasel
Aesha WaksCindy Goldclang
Dominic ChianeseMickey

Production

The title has its origin in a note that Cryer left for his girlfriend after going to look for a former classmate who he heard had become homeless and was living in Coney Island.[2]

Reception

Rotten Tomatoes reports that 43% of seven surveyed critics gave the film a positive review; the average rating is 5.4/10.[3] A.O. Scott of The New York Times gave it a mixed review and wrote,"Went to Coney Island never quite comes to dramatic or comic life."[4] Emanuel Levy of Variety wrote that Cryer, Baez, and Stear "give proficient performances that serve the material well, though they can't elevate it to the poignancy and depth intended by the director".[5] Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times called it a "deeply felt, engaging little film" that will stick with audiences after it ends.[6]

It won the audience award at the Austin Film Festival.[7]

References
  1. "Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God… (2000)". The Numbers. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  2. Beck, Marilyn; Smith, Stacy Jenel (March 31, 1998). "CRYER'S DETERMINATION MAKES FOR HAPPY 'CONEY ISLAND' ENDING.(L.A. LIFE)". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2016 – via HighBeam Research.
  3. "Went to Coney Island on a Mission From God...Be Back by Five (1998)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  4. Scott, A. O. (September 8, 2000). "Went to Coney Island on a Mission From God Be Back by Five (1998)". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  5. Levy, Emanuel (April 27, 1998). "Review: 'Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God ... Be Back by Five'". Variety. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  6. Thomas, Kevin (September 15, 2000). "'Went to Coney Island" Is a Touching Tale of Friends". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  7. "Jon Cryer: Actor, writer, producer, 'Duckie'". CNN. October 9, 1998. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
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