WHO IS CLETIS TOUT?
A clever crime comedy too rough for family viewing.
Should You Watch It?
WHO IS CLETIS TOUT? has real entertainment value. Its romantic crime-comedy setup creates sweet and funny moments, and the movie’s love of old films gives the dialogue extra energy. Tim Allen is especially entertaining as a hitman with a soft heart and a passion for movies, while Christian Slater, Portia De Rossi, Richard Dreyfuss, and the rest of the cast deliver strong performances.
But the movie’s pleasures come wrapped in serious problems. It contains much rough language, strong violence, sexual material connected to a murder plot, homosexual references, and a pagan worldview. Most troublingly, the story sides with the criminal’s efforts to escape with stolen diamonds and the original thief’s daughter.
Adults who can weigh those elements may find a clever, enjoyable comedy. Families and younger viewers should choose something else. The practical answer: adults only, and only with discernment about the content.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESTrevor Finch is an escaped career criminal who becomes entangled with a Mafia hitman after changing identities with a murdered journalist. While trying to retrieve stolen diamonds, Finch must stay ahead of mobsters who believe they have killed the wrong man.
His complicated scheme brings him into the orbit of the original jewel thief’s daughter, Tess. What begins as a dangerous escape story gradually becomes a romance amid prison breaks, buried treasure, and criminal complications.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is an entertaining, well-acted comedy with significant weaknesses. The movie’s references to old films come quickly as Finch pitches his story to the hitman, and the romantic leads have sweet, funny moments together.
The cast is a major strength. Tim Allen is a hoot, Christian Slater and Portia De Rossi work well as the romantic leads, and Richard Dreyfuss adds to the ensemble. Writer-director Chris Ver Wiel ties the story together with a clever finish that will leave many viewers smiling. The objectionable material, however, drags down those pleasures.
The Worldview
The film’s worldview is pagan and morally permissive in important ways. It sides with Finch’s effort to escape with stolen diamonds and with his pursuit of the original thief’s daughter. The story does include positive moral elements regarding the daughter’s family, and gangsters receive justice, but the central criminal does not fully face the moral consequences of his actions.
The movie also contains homosexual references, including crude references to a homosexual rape scene in Deliverance, and features cross-dresser RuPaul in a small role. These choices contribute to the film’s rough moral and cultural atmosphere.
The story’s positive elements include family affection, romance, and the idea that wrongdoing can bring consequences. Yet its sympathy remains with a criminal who gets away with stolen property. Scripture calls viewers to a higher standard: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Pagan worldview where criminal gets away with stolen diamonds and daughter of original thief who took the gems with some positive moral elements regarding the daughter’s family and some homosexual references; 28 obscenities, one GD and three mild profanities; strong crime violence includes mobster strangles prostitute, hitman shoots people dead, hitmen burn corpse, hitmen machine gun closed store and kill one person who doesn’t die right away, and hitman ties up victim; depicted prostitution scene sets stage for murder plot and some homosexual references; partial nudity during sex scene, upper female nudity in morgue and burnt corpse; alcohol use; smoking; and, robbery, stealing and escaped convict gets away with stolen diamonds, but gangsters get their just desserts.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film sides with a criminal who escapes with stolen property. What does Scripture say about stealing, and how should justice shape our sympathies?
Ephesians 4:28 · Micah 6:8The story includes family affection among its positive moral elements. What makes a family relationship genuinely loving and honorable?
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 · Colossians 3:12–14The movie gives criminals consequences but still treats some wrongdoing sympathetically. Why is remorse or punishment not the same as true repentance?
2 Corinthians 7:10 · Proverbs 28:13How should Christians respond when entertainment offers cleverness and humor alongside content that troubles the conscience?
Philippians 4:8 · Romans 14:23The Final Word
WHO IS CLETIS TOUT? is funny, romantic, and cleverly performed, but its strong language, violence, sexual material, and morally compromised criminal story make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, it may be worth seeing with clear eyes. WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For family viewing, choose from our family-friendly picks.
