This surprisingly solid Chevy Chase adventure comedy ranks as one of the most innovative invisible man films ever. Chase becomes transparent as a result of a freak accident, and from then on, some creative dialogue and top notch special effects explore the idea relentlessly, with intriguing results. (Ever thought about how hard it would be to sleep if you could see through your eyelids?)

The definitive invisible man film, of course, is the great 1933 film, The Invisible Man, starring Claude Rains. But Memoirs of an Invisible Man takes a different route, which voids extensive comparison. Chase doesn't go mad; he's a real person trying to cope with an unreal predicament. The film's conclusions are insightful, and consequently the film itself is satisfying.

Of course there is a government conspiracy plot where Sam Neill tries to capture Chase and use him as an intelligence agent, too, to spice things up. Although this is weak in itself, it's an ample mechanism to keep the rest of the film moving.