The 1986 comedy A Fine Mess, starring Ted Danson and Howie Mandel, was, fittingly, a train wreck, with the director actively discouraging people from seeing it, due to horrible reviews and poor box office. One thing it arguably had going for it was its soundtrack, which included The Temptations performing the theme song, “A Fine Mess”. Originally intended to be a remake of the Laurel & Hardy classic The Music Box, the movie was victim to studio interference and extensive re-editing, completely eliminating the original concept director Blake Edwards had envisioned. Motown released the soundtrack, which included The Mary Jane Girls, Christine McVie, Smokey Robinson, and The Temptations. “A Fine Mess” was released as a single in April 1986, months before the full soundtrack and film debuted in August. It reached #23 on the Adult Contemporary charts. The music video parodied the movie tie-in music videos that were airing at the time, while also doing all the normal things you’d expect, such as showing clips from the movie. Danson, Mandel, Maria Conchita Alonso, Richard Mulligan, Jennifer Edwards, and Stuart Margolin all appeared in the video. Check it out below.
