2hotFeature one of my absolute favorites!

Matrixiole Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

Sabah Hensley This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Lee Eisenberg The year that John Candy left this life, he starred in one of the most atrocious movies that I've ever seen ("Wagons East"), but also directed - and appeared in - this light, interesting TV movie. George Wendt plays a suburban everyman completely fed up with his life. So, he pretends that he's been taken hostage in his house, leading to a media frenzy and the police surrounding everything. Only then, some real thugs take him hostage (Candy plays one of them)."Hostage for a Day" makes neat use of Wendt's mannerisms, and is a fairly perceptive look at apparent satisfaction in the suburbs masking deeper frustration (along with media hype). Then again, maybe I'm the only person who interpreted it as such. For all that I know, it might have just been intended as a silly comedy. But I still assert that it's worth seeing. Also starring John Vernon.

dbauer321 I remember seeing this movie on one Saturday afternoon like 5 years ago. I cant believe that I remember it but I actually do but I couldn't remember the name of it until I stumbled on it here. This wasn't a bad movie. I found it silly, light hearted, cheesy and kinda cute. George Wednt character isn't that funny but there are a few good gags in this movie, and he plays the role in a way where you can root for him. It left me satisfied for a Saturday afternoon movie. So what I'm saying is if you ever run into this movie on TV one (most likely) weekend afternoon, you'll probably enjoy it if you take it for what it is and not really take it seriously.

René Riva The first time I saw this movie, around 1996, I was very disappointed. After nine years I gave this movie a second try. This time I enjoyed the movie. John Candy's small cameo as Yuri Petrovich is funny, although I wonder how it would have been if John had played George Wendt's part. Don't get me wrong, George Wendt is a great actor but he hasn't got much chance to be funny, because you feel sorry for his character all the time. Christopher Templeton is really terrific as Wendt's childhood sweetheart Diane St. Clair. I think the big problem is that the movie's sensitivity doesn't match with the silliness and vice versa. Sadly, when this movie premiered on television John Candy had already passed away.

youmomemo George Wendt is so convincing in his role as hostage. He makes it so believable! You end up getting caught up in the movie, and it seems like hours are actually minutes. Role after role, his movies get better an better. They turn such a simple plot into so much more. John Candy and George wendt should have always done movies together. This dynamic duel seems Unstoppable! I am very suprised to find that it wasn't an instant success. If not watch it for its hillarious plot, than rent it for Wendt's brilliant preformance. As scary as it is intelligent, as funny as it is touching, Hostage For a Day is a prime example of the way cinema should be: excellent telling of complete stories.