Sadly Over-hyped

i know i wasted 90 mins of my life.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Unlike many 1980s Hollywood comedies, "Protocol" has all but been forgotten today. It doesn't take very long upon watching it to figure out why. The main problem is simple: the script. It's hard to believe at first that Buck Henry, who earlier wrote humorous movies such as "The Graduate" and "What's Up Doc?", wrote this movie. But it doesn't seem to have been his fault, since he was working with a story outline written by THREE writers. Those three writers came up with a story that has been done many times before and since, concerning a ditz who is pushed into a position of power but proves in the end to be smarter than everyone thought. Oh, it could have been made to be funny, but it isn't, partly due to the predicable nature of the movie, but that it's been directed with a woeful lack of energy and snap. There's also a curious fragmented narrative at times, as if some key linking scenes were never filmed or cut out in the editing room. The only good thing about the movie is Goldie Hawn, who gives her character a good amount of spunk and sympathy, but it isn't enough to save things.

I originally wanted to see this movie because of the clip of Goldie Hawn pulling a camel through the dessert saying, "I got a camel! I got a camel!" Apparently that scene was cut from the movie, which is too bad, but really doesn't cut down on the movie's enjoyability.Protocol focuses on Sunny Davis (Goldie Hawn), a young woman who is barely scraping by working as a cocktail waitress in Washington, DC. She drives an old clunker of a car that breaks down more than it runs, and rents a small room from a gay couple (Joel Brooks and Jerry Haines). One day fate intervenes when Sunny is part of a crowd watching the arrival of the Emir of Otar (Richard Romanus). Sunny notices a man pulling out a gun to shoot the Emir, and she immediately acts to stop him, ending up with a bullet in her rear end. Of course, she immediately makes the news, and comes to the notice of the US government, who immediately installs the now national heroine in a job at the state department. While there, she meets Michael Ransome (Chris Sarandon) a man who is impressed by her honesty and charmed by her naiveté, and sparks fly. Sunny also comes to the notice of the Emir himself, who decides he wants her to be part of his harem. The ambassador to Otar (Gail Strickland), who is also Sunny's boss, arranges for Sunny to go on a "diplomatic mission" to Otar (a fictitious country whose name is a combination Oman and Qatar, two very real countries on the Arabian Peninsula). While there, Sunny discovers what her intended fate is, which doesn't exactly thrill her, however, she has more pressing concerns when the Emir is overthrown in a coup. Upon returning to the states, Sunny is called upon to testify before congress about her role in the newly revealed scandal. She is advised on what to say to protect both herself and the state department, but Sunny has a few ideas of her own, and with Sunny, it's always best to expect the unexpected.It's a rather cute movie, and pretty believably put together. Sunny certainly lives up to her name, and her bubbly personality hides a pretty impressive brain - she actually memorizes the code of conduct for State Department Employees, and recites the paragraph that tells her what she should do when the Emir tries to give her a car. And Sunny's annoyance at being treated like a pawn (or worse a prostitute) in relations with the Emir is quite believable. But of course, the most fun in the film is all the mayhem Sunny gets herself and those around her into due to her lack of understanding how diplomatic protocol works. In the end, her naiveté is a refreshing change for almost all who deal with her.The acting was also quite good. Hawn easily carries the film, and is believable both as the bubbly airhead, and as the woman who finally grows up and learns to take accountability for her part in the scandal. Sarandon makes a nice romantic lead, and his chemistry with Hawn is excellent. Strickland also does a nice job as the cynical Washington operative who is continually foiled by a young woman who continually exceeds her expectations.It's definitely a product of its time, especially in its attitudes towards the Arab world, but in terms of giving us a story where a downtrodden person finally reaches their potential, it's a fun movie, and one well worth watching.

Sunny, a cocktail waitress in the D.C. area, is a bit dim, to put in mildly. She drives an old clunker and rents a tiny room from a gay male couple. However, she saves the life of a prominent Arab, by taking a bullet in the behind that was meant for the official. She charms the national press with her zany remarks and her sweet looks. Sniffing an opportunity, Presidential aides get her installed in the protocol department for the U.S. government. Even then, she messes things up at times, but she tries hard and learns a lot. She even grabs the romantic attention of a State department official. But, is there another sinister plot in the making, involving an Arab man who wishes to take another wife? A blonde one? LOL, LOL, LOL. This movie features Goldie as pretty as a picture and as dumb "as a fox", as they say. Sunny learns her way around the jungle of the U.S. government very, very well. She even has important things to say about honesty and the lack of it in her protocol surroundings. Perhaps, the Arab community would be less than thrilled with this work, but for those who like to laugh, rent this today.

What does the " Executive producer " do in a movie . If I remember correctly it's the person who raised the financial backing to make the movie . You might notice in a great number of movies starring Sean Connery that he is also the executive producer which meant Connery himself raised the money since he is a major player . Unfortunately it should also be pointed out that a great number of movies " starring Sean Connery were solely made because he managed to raise the money since he's a major Hollywood player , it's usually an indication that when the credits read that the executive producer and the star of the movie are one and the same the movie itself is nothing more than a star vehicle with the story/screenplay not being up to scratch PROTOCOL follows the saga of one Sunny Davis a kooky bimboesque cocktail waitress who saves a visiting dignitary and as a reward gets made a top diplomat . Likely ? As things progress Ms Davis ( Who has problems being able to string two sentences together ) finds herself in more outlandish and less likely situations . When I say that PROTOCOL stars Goldie Hawn who is also the film's executive producer do you understand what I'm saying about the story/screenplay not being up to scratch ? Exactly