About Speaking of the Devil
Bull Webster is a taxi driver with some work problems on his hands: the Spider Corporation, a giant financial holding company, has decided to buy out his taxi co-operative in order to make it go bankrupt and purchase its land at a low cost.
The cinematic landscape of the early nineties often favored stories of the little guy pitted against the faceless machinations of corporate greed, a trope that Speaking of the Devil leans into with a distinct comedic edge. At the center of this narrative is Bull Webster, a cab driver whose daily grind behind the wheel is suddenly upended by the predatory maneuvers of the Spider Corporation. This financial giant has set its sights on the taxi cooperative where Webster works, intending to force a collapse that would allow them to seize valuable real estate for a pittance. Unlike the gritty urban dramas that often define this genre, the film chooses to mine the absurdity of such a corporate takeover for laughs, portraying the struggle not as a somber battle for survival but as a chaotic clash of personalities.
For viewers who appreciate the underdog spirit found in regional Indian cinema, such as the classic tales of commoners fighting corrupt land developers often seen in Telugu or Hindi social comedies, Speaking of the Devil offers a familiar yet distinctly Western flavor. The film functions as a lighthearted exploration of labor rights and the human cost of unchecked expansion, themes that remain incredibly relevant today. While the cast features names like Fred Ornstein and Parris Buckner, the focus remains squarely on the collective resilience of the drivers. It is a movie tailored for those who enjoy character-driven situational humor where the stakes are high, but the delivery is intentionally irreverent.
The charm of this 1991 production lies in its ability to take a predatory business environment and turn it into a playground for comedic friction. By positioning the taxi drivers as a scrappy, unified front against the cold, calculated efficiency of the Spider Corporation, the film taps into a universal desire to see the small-time operator get the upper hand through wit and persistence. It stands as a curious artifact of its era, capturing a moment when the tension between industrial conglomerates and local businesses became a staple of popular entertainment. Whether you are a fan of classic international comedies or simply looking for an engaging look at how cinema has historically dramatized the fight against corporate overreach, this feature provides a surprisingly entertaining perspective on the power dynamics of the working class.
Cast(28)
