a i watch the survivor and i couldn not help but wonder what be go through the mind of director michael ritchie when he be present with the script . outside of the enormous gap in plot and development and he have to see some humor in it somewhere to cast two direct opposite of the comedy spectrum to helm this project . there have to be a mission or a reason in ritchie mind when he decide that robin williams and a fast talk comedian that can sometimes be uncontrollable and and walter matthau and a slow methodical comedian that appeal to the every man and would be his key player . i wish i could have be a fly on the wall during this opening meeting because this little fly would have speak up and mention that this pairing would doom the script and and possibly put a black mark on both of these actor career . i wouldn not just stop there and i would tear this film to piece try to get others to explain to me the subsequent end and miss tone . the only element that i would be content with would be the casting of jerry reed and who honestly bring some humor and intelligence to this scar film . the survivor be not a film and but instead an attempt to allow two comedian the opportunity to express themselves couple with heavy firepower . nothing more and nothing less . could somebody and anybody and please help me out with the story surround the survivor . from the zigzag opening center around the parrot and robin williams job to the incident at matthau gas station ( a plot point never mention or conclude ) and ritchie spend no time develop anything . his choice of direction be simply to allow williams to be as zany a possible and see how matthau react to it . if it weren not for jerry reed this film would have be nearly an hour and a half of forced joke and gunshot and and awkward moment . the story be pointless . in most instance i can find bit and piece of a story which keep my attention allow me to be curious about how the end will resolve itself . for there to be this resolution and there have to be a conflict . ritchie attempt to create one with the entire survival of the fit byline and but even that idea be never fully announce . i felt like a ping pong ball in this film and constantly go back and forth between williams and matthau hoping that i would land on something that score a point and but ala and this be the game that would never end . ritchie even take u into the wilderness in attempt to bring more laugh and eventually draw an end and but again and nothing happens . nothing be explain and nothing be develop and nothing be linear . williams go into the wood to be train in survival and yet for the amount of time he be there it be a if he be unable to learn anything . also and where do he get the fund to buy the house out in the wood . then and without give anything away and there be that pathetic end . what happen . i use big word there because there be not one iota of a conclusion . enemy become friend and friend become enemy and and before word could be speak the end credit appear . i would like to announce this here and but i believe michael ritchie could not even handle the simple of task with this film . the direction be horrible because ritchie could not control his actor . it be obvious a you watch williams and matthau on screen that there be get no advice or pointer from the man behind the camera . ritchie do not stop williams during his rant ( which at time be never relevant to the film ) and do not help matthau react to the insanity that williams be bring to the table . what should have be the best part of this film be easily the most painful to watch . williams and matthau and in this critic eye and possibly could be rank a the bad comic pairing in cinema . matthau form of comedy be completely and if not 100 % and different to williams shenanigan . while in some film case this would work to a movie advantage and for the survivor and it do not . there be no character for these two comedian to enter into . i sit during the entire hour and a half watching robin williams be robin williams and the same for walter matthau . i could not see any semblance of a character between the two of them . both seem to jump from one trait to the next . neither seem to have a complete hold or knowledge of who they be attempt to portray . this be half due to the flimsy story and but mainly i place the blame on ritchie . with williams and matthau at the helm and this have the beginning of a hilarious possible gut busting and laugh out loud comedy that would be a staple in the film community and but ritchie and in my eye and could not handle it . he rely to heavily on his actor comic persona instead of actually build character for them . overall and this be a very sad excuse for a film . i have read some other review that speak highly of the comedy in this film while do speak similarly of the lack story and but for me everything be break . there be no character and there be no direction and there be obviously no story and and our two central actor do not work for their money and but just read through their line and give a measly 30 % to the final product . the only plus i give this film be the accomplishment of jerry reed . he be worth watching . the scene between his wife and i be nearly close to perfection . i think it be the only time that i find myself chuckle through this entire film . ritchie could not handle this film and in the end the survivor be probably a film that neither williams or matthau want to remember . grade represent out of .