The battle of the sexes is perhaps at its greatest in the movie theater. Most guys want action thrillers, and most girls insist on sappy dramas; B-level comedies become ground for compromise. Once in a while, though, a movie manages to integrate these genres, a la Ocean's Eleven, into a film that appeals to males and females alike. Such is the case with Warner Bros.' latest release, Showtime, in which comedy, action, semi-attractive guys and parody intermingle with moderate success.
Directed by Tom Dey, Showtime is, in part, a cop action flick, with plenty of high speed car chases and heavy weapon shoot-outs as the good guys battle against a villain packing more than the average heat. These cops, however, are being filmed for a reality-based television show, adding tons of laughs and timely social commentary in the Survivor era.
Mitch Preston, played by Robert De Niro (The Score, Meet the Parents), is a seasoned LAPD detective, an average guy trying to do his job, who unwinds on the weekends by watching TV or making bad pottery. Unfortunately, a botched drug bust leaves Mitch in a bad mood; he directs his anger at a pushy news cameraman, shooting his camera.
Chase Renzi (Rene Russo), an ambitious producer, capitalizes on this assault via extortion - either Preston stars in her new reality-based cop show or her station sues the precinct for his actions. Thus the begrudging cop-turned-actor is forced to accommodate the invasion of the video cameras as his "real" life on the job, and eventually at home, unfolds for the public in neatly-packaged installments.
Of course, any great hero requires a sidekick, and so Chase recruits failed actor-turned-patrolman Trey Sellars (Eddie Murphy) to partner with Mitch. Unfortunately, the charismatic screen personality becomes a further frustration for the beleaguered star, as Trey's constant bumbling compromises his effectiveness on the job. Predictably, their relationship improves as they work together to capture the bad guy, Cesar Vargas (Pedro Damian).
The acting is pretty good, especially given what they have to work with. De Niro showed in Analyze This that he could play the tough guy but still crack a smile. This role is more tough guy than smiles, but his demeanor nicely complements the jocular Eddie Murphy. Despite their supposed lack of chemistry on their television show, the two actors have good screen chemistry in the movie.
Murphy (Shrek, Dr. Dolittle, Dr. Dolittle 2) also delivers a solid performance, though perhaps overacting at times. My friend thinks that Murphy is in his prime when he's an animated character, as he was in Shrek and Mulan, and I'm inclined to agree. Trey is no donkey, but he is certainly an improvement over Dolittle and The Klumps. Russo similarly shows improvement from previous works, like Tin Cup.
Showtime is a no-brainer - completely predictable and frequently clich. There are moments when the movie seems to wink at itself, hinting at satire but never playing it up enough so that the audience can be certain that the effect was intended. While poking fun at the "reality" behind reality-based television, Showtime's own cops ignore warrants, beat up the bad guys without legal cause and solicit information via an undercover meeting with a prisoner without counsel - certainly no more realistic than their high speed car chases or the dashing, well-dressed, ambiguously-foreign villain. Also, product placement is blatant throughout the movie.
To be fair, there are some genuinely funny scenes. The cameo appearances steal the show - Johnnie Cochran plays - what else? - a fast-talking attorney defending one of Cesar's minions, and William Shatner parodies his performances in similar cop action flicks as he gives advice to his two protgs. The confessional scenes are also hilarious.
The bottom line? Showtime is an entertaining comedy that has something for everyone, but I'd recommend cuddling with your date in front of the television after it comes out on video.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The News-Letter.