Excess Baggage (1997)

Excess Baggage is the kind of mischievous ’90s crime-comedy that wins you over on sheer charm, built around a deliciously absurd premise and a pace that keeps the trouble coming. Alicia Silverstone leans into the spoiled-rebel energy with a wink, while Benicio Del Toro grounds the chaos with a surprisingly warm, witty presence—and when the two share the screen, the movie finds its sweet spot of flirtation, friction, and genuine chemistry. Throw in Christopher Walken doing what only Walken can do, and you’ve got a light, punchy ride that never takes itself too seriously. It’s not for viewers craving realism or big action spectacle, but if you want an easy, funny caper with personality, this one goes down smooth.

Excess Baggage is clearly aiming for a cheeky, mid-’90s crime-comedy where a spoiled heiress’s attention-seeking stunt spirals into a real mess, mixing slapstick danger with a hint of romance. The problem is it rarely finds a rhythm: the pacing drags, the tone wobbles between “silly caper” and “sort-of drama,” and the plot feels like it’s stalling for time rather than building momentum. Alicia Silverstone has energy and the premise has a fun hook, but the execution often comes off scattered and oddly pointless, which can make the whole thing feel more tiring than entertaining. If you like tight, clever capers or comedies with consistent laughs, this probably isn’t for you; if you’re nostalgic for late-’90s lightweight fluff and can tolerate a messy ride, you might get a few mild chuckles out of it.