"Don't Drink the Water"

This was a 1994 movie that, according to the Internet Movie Database, was made for TV. I did not realize that fact when I borrowed it from the library. It has an all star cast, including Dom DeLuise, Michael J. Fox, Woody Allen, Mayim Bialik, Edward Herrmann and Julie Kavner.

Here's the story. An American family (father, mother and 21 year-old daughter) is on vacation in the 1960's somewhere behind the iron curtain. The dad (Woody Allen) takes a picture innocently, but it is interpreted as an act of espionage. The family takes refuge in the nearby American embassy. The embassy is currently being run by the loser son (Michael J. Fox) of the Ambassador, who's in Washington schmoozing for a cabinet appointment. Also in the embassy are an asylum seeking priest (Dom DeLuise) who's been there for six years and who's hobby is magic tricks, and an eccentric chef.

The majority of the movie revolves around the chaos this family causes and trying to get them back to the US. The daughter (Mayim Bialik) and the Ambassador's son end up falling for each other, with the daughter breaking up with her fiance in the US over the phone. The son ends up being able to break free from his past failures and does something right in the end.

The movie is supposed to be a comedy. It does have a few humorous moments, but overall it falls short. The story is weak and moves along slowly and predictably. The reason that the photo taking is considered an act of espionage is not clearly articulated in the movie, but the box says that it was taken of a sunset over a sensitive area.

The Bottom Line
You can pass the time watching it (or sleeping through part of it as my wife did) but I would recommend you give it a pass.