''The Shrimp on the Barbie'', released in Australia as ''The Boyfriend from Hell'', is a 1990

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by Michael Gottlieb (under the pseudonym Alan Smithee) and starring Cheech Marin. The title is derived from a line in a 1980s series of popular ads starring

Paul Hogan Paul Hogan (born 8 October 1939) is an Australian actor and comedian. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his performance as ...

promoting tourism to Australia: "I'll slip an extra shrimp on the barbie for you".

Plot

Australian heiress Alexandra Hobart's (

Emma Samms Emma Elizabeth Wylie Samuelson MBE known professionally as Emma Samms, (born 28 August 1960) is an English actress and TV host, known for her role as Holly Sutton on the American daytime soap opera '' General Hospital'' and as the second actre ...

) father has disapproved of every boyfriend she has brought home to meet him, including her burly, life-of-the-party fiancé, Bruce (

Vernon Wells Vernon Michael Wells III (born December 8, 1978) is an American former professional baseball center fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the New York Yankees. Wells ...

). After a disastrous birthday party, Alexandra decides to challenge her father ( Terence Cooper) with the worst boyfriend she can find. She hires a down-on-his luck waiter from a Mexican restaurant in Sydney, Australia named Carlos ( Cheech Marin) to masquerade as her new boyfriend to persuade her father into allowing her to marry Bruce. Needing the money to save the failing restaurant, Carlos agrees to the ruse; acting loud, belligerent and obnoxious, shocking everyone in the Hobart household and their high-society friends at a party with his crude behavior, warranting unwanted attention from Alex's eccentric cousin, Maggie (

Jeanette Cronin Jeanette, Jeannette or Jeanetta may refer to: * Jeanette (given name), a given name (including a list of people and fictional characters with the name) Places * Jeannette, Ontario, Canada * Jeannette Island, Russia * Jeannette, Pennsylvania, U.S ...

) in the process. After a while however Alex discovers that in spite of his rather crass and unrefined ways Carlos is actually a very caring and sensitive person and she even finds herself falling for him and starts to see Bruce for the narcissistic

fortune hunter Fortune may refer to: General * Fortuna or Fortune, the Roman goddess of luck * Luck * Wealth * Fortune, a prediction made in fortune-telling * Fortune, in a fortune cookie Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''The Fortune'' (1931 film) ...

he really is. Alex's father, however, doesn't buy the act, and hires a detective to photograph Bruce and Alex's best friend, Dominique (

Carole Davis Carole Raphaelle Davis (born 17 February 1958) is an English actress, model, singer-songwriter, and writer. Career Acting In 1978, Davis posed for ''Playboy''. In 1980, she posed for '' Penthouse'' magazine under the name Tamara Kapitas, beco ...

) in a compromising position. Carlos gets wind of the infidelity and, attempting to save Alexandra from being hurt, ends up assaulted by Bruce. Alex outs Bruce and Dominique at a party before racing to the airport to mend fences with Carlos. Hoping she's not too late, Alex has the plane called back to the airport by her father. Realizing how noble Carlos is, Mr Hobart invests in Carlos' restaurant thereby saving it from closing.

Principal Cast

* Cheech Marin ... Carlos Múñoz *

... Alexandra "Alex" Hobart *

... Bruce Woodley, Alex's boyfriend and fiancé *

Bruce Spence Bruce Spence (born 17 September 1945) is a New Zealand–Australian actor. Spence has amassed over 100 film and television credits and has also acted in theatre. Biography Spence won an AFI Award for Best Actor for his role in the 1971 comedy ...

... Wayne, owner of the Mañana Restaurant *

... Dominique, Alex's best friend * Terence Cooper ... Sir Ian Hobart, Alex's father *

... Maggie Ridley, Alex's cousin *

Gary McCormick Gary McCormick is a New Zealand poet, radio and television personality, debater and raconteur. McCormick began writing poetry in 1968. His published volumes are Gypsies (with Jon Benson, 1974), Naked and Nameless (1976), Poems for the Red Engi ...

... Gary Williams, restaurant critic *

Frank Whitten Frank Edgar Richard Whitten (15 November 1942 – 12 February 2011) was a New Zealand television actor. He was more recently known for playing Ted "Grandpa" West in the New Zealand television show '' Outrageous Fortune''.Megahey, LeslieEsteeme ...

... Blue * June Bishop ... Lady Irene Hobart, Alex's mother *

David Argue David J. Argue (born 1959) is an Australian actor. He is best known for his role as Snowy in '' Gallipoli'' as well as the lead role in the 1993 film ''Hercules Returns'' and Dicko in the 1983 film ''Razorback''. Filmography Films Televisio ...

... Kevin, Carlos' house mate *

Bruce Allpress Bruce Robert Allpress (25 August 1930 – 23 April 2020) was a New Zealand actor. Biography Allpress grew up in Dunedin, the second son of William and Gladys Allpress. He began performing in the 1960s in a vaudeville minstrel show called the Che ...

... Mr. Ridley, Maggie's father * Val Lamond ... Mrs. Ridley * Richard Hanna ... Nigel, Alex's tennis partner * Noel Appleby ... Slim, Mañana chef * Eric Liddy ... Edison, the Hobart's butler * Kim Buchanan ... Eve Tracey *

Joel Tobeck Joel Tobeck (born 2 June 1971 in Auckland, New Zealand) is an actor known for his roles in the television series ''Tangle'', ''The Doctor Blake Mysteries'', ''Xena Warrior Princess'', ''Hercules: The Legendary Journeys'', and '' Young Hercules'' ...

... Lance, bar patron *

Jonathan Coleman (presenter) Jonathan "Jono" Harry Coleman (29 February 1956 – 9 July 2021), was an English-born television presenter, radio announcer, writer, comedian, and advertorial spokesperson. He was known for his career in his native country and Australia. Earl ...

... Postman

References

External links

* * * 1990 films 1990 comedy films New Zealand comedy films Films credited to Alan Smithee Films directed by Michael Gottlieb American comedy films 1990s English-language films 1990s American films {{1990s-comedy-film-stub