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Showtime (2002) Warner Bros. 1 hr. 32 mins. Starring: Robert De Niro, Eddie Murphy and Rene Russo. Directed by: Tom Dey Showtime Rating:  
E-MAIL GIANCARLO DE LISI Expectations can be quite misleading. Take for instance some of the best films you have ever seen. Were they even more memorable because of their unexpected result? This is a situation that can be encountered upon the film ‘Showtime’. Robert De Niro and Eddie Murphy collaborate in a surprisingly fun action comedy that will no doubt surpass expectations. Upon viewing the promos for this film, I was somewhat shocked that my favourite thespian was reducing himself to on-screen comic junk with Eddie Murphy. And as the end credits rolled, I easily came to forgive Robert De Niro for his role in ‘The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle’. Tom Dey directs this awfully funny buddy-cop film that contains some surprisingly heavy action sequences. Now before everyone thinks that I am praising the film out of personal bias because of Robert De Niro, they are mistaken. I desecrated ‘The Bullwinkle’ film and was prepared to do the same for this film. Yet ‘Showtime’ entertains in a matinee-like fashion that we have not seen for a while. True, it is not fresh for our main characters to portray police officers on film. They both have had their fair share of cop roles. De Niro has ‘Flawless’, ’15 Minutes’ and ‘Copland’ while Murphy has ‘Metro’, ’48 Hours’ and ‘Beverly Hills Cop’, and while these actors retain the same elements that compose their typical characters, Director Tom Dey somehow manages to extract a vivid and fresh take on the tired concept of the buddy-cop formula. This film has its’ flaws, there is no doubt about it. There are some heavy plot holes as well as a formulaic concept. Yet, for what it is worth, these inconsistencies do not mean much when as a viewer, you are laughing and simply enjoying the film for what it wants to be – mindless fun. Robert De Niro plays Mitch Preston, an ultra-serious Detective who is extremely camera shy. Rene Russo plays a television producer who wants to create a reality based cop show and has Preston in mind for the lead. In order to make the series more appealing, she casts Preston’s exact opposite. Here enters Murphy who steals this film (as much as I hate to say it) as he acts in all his other films. He plays Trey Sellers, a cop who has aspirations of becoming a professional actor. As they are brought together for the series, they no doubt but heads. But have you forgotten? It is a formulaic script, therefore while our two antagonists pursue the conventional foreign villain with the thick English accent, they bond, come to care for one another and even save each other’s lives when given the chance. All this while escaping colossal gunfire and wreaking havoc in their fair city. Director Tom Dey (Shangai Noon) directs his second film and surprises many with this quirky and easy comedy. He establishes his characters quickly and inserts much predictable tension between our two characters. Furthermore, the action scenes while not at all the most intense and carefully choreographed are still quite effective and capture the needed tenacity to demonstrate the evilness of the under-developed villain. In a nutshell, this film is not about good vs. evil, it centers itself around upon the character clash between these two characters and their repeated attempts at getting on each other’s nerves. And while they are on the chase for this barely noticeable villain, one remembers the formulaic format that somehow seems to work in this film. The discerning viewer can see the low bridges, the double-crosses and the romantic relationships that are just up ahead. The film’s highlights will no doubt be the scenes of mindless banter between De Niro and Murphy and their interplay. The most noticeable trait within the film; in my opinion, is the manner in which Director Dey lets these two screen legends perform. As aforementioned, De Niro and Murphy’s roles are by no means a stretch. And in this film it works because De Niro is typical De Niro. The hands crossed, frown gesturing, subtle, menacing character he always is. Meanwhile, Murphy is always the loud mouth, hyper-filled character he always is. And the script calls for scenes between these two characters that just play off each other. It seems as if Dey simply mounts the camera and lets the noticeable improvisation begin. And somehow it all works. Now that one knows how the film works, this reviewer will not dissect the film to its bitter cinematic variables. Nor will I go at length at discussing the strengths and needed improvements within the film. What I will do is wait for the DVD to be released so I can purchase it and laugh myself whenever I deem necessary. Click here to comment on this review or post your own thoughts. Giancarlo De Lisi © TheWorldJournal.com |
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