Hanky Panky is one of those films that feels like it was built almost entirely around the personality of its star. Released in 1982 and directed by Sidney Poitier, it pairs Gene Wilder with Gilda Radner in a comic thriller that mixes mistaken identity, espionage, and romantic comedy. It is not usually listed among Wilder’s greatest achievements, yet it has a curious charm that makes it worth revisiting, especially for anyone interested in his screen persona during the early eighties. The story centers on Michael Jordon, played by Wilder, an architect in New York who lives a tidy and unremarkable life. His routine is upended when a mysterious woman asks him to deliver a package and then disappears under violent circumstances. Before he can process what has happened, he is mistaken for someone else and pulled into a conspiracy involving stolen government documents. Wilder’s character is perpetually confused, exasperated, and frightened, which of course is where much of the comedy comes f...