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Viewed at Pacific Place Theaters
Rated PG-13; approximate running time of 96 minutes
Genre: Action/Comedy
Written by: Jorge Saralegui (story) Keith Sharon and Alfred Gough & Miles Millar (screenplay)
Directed by: Tom Dey
Cast: Robert De Niro, Eddie Murphy, Rene Russo, Drena De Niro, Pedro Damian, Frankie Faison, William Shatner, and TJ Cross.
WARNING - SPOILERS BELOW.
The Digest
Detective Mitch Preston (Robert De Niro) is a no nonsense and by the book police officer with 28 years experience on the force. Meanwhile Officer Trey Sellars (Eddie Murphy) wants to be an actor and the only reason he is a police officer is because he hated being a waiter. Their paths cross when Trey notices Mitch looking suspicious as if he is about to attempt a robbery. What Trey obviously doesn't know is that Mitch is undercover and trying to make a drug bust. The situation takes a turn for the worse when the local news stations pick up Trey calls for back up and send news vans and copters to the site. In the chaos, Mitch's partner is shot with an armor-piercing gun that no one has ever seen before. An overzealous camera man won't move out of the way so Mitch can call an ambulance and in desperation, Mitch shoots the camera. Which is of course caught on film.
Chase Renzi (Rene Russo) is a producer for the station that employs the camera man and has decided that Mitch would be great for a reality show. She convinces the police chief that the station will sue for 10 million dollars if Mitch doesn't participate in this show for six weeks. She also decides that he needs a new partner - "A funny minority type." Enter Trey Sellars.
Of course Trey and Mitch don't get along. Trey thinks Mitch is too serious and Mitch thinks Trey is not serious enough. The bottom line is that they have to overcome these petty differences so they can track down this gun and get it off the streets - while having a camera trained on almost their every move.
The Dish
Axel Foley...I mean Reggie Hammond...I mean Trey Sellars had me cracking up, but as you can see Murphy didn't bring anything new to the table. It was just like watching Beverly Hills Cop or 48 Hours . This is not necessarily a complaint. There are only so many different ways one can play a cop/cop wannabe. I appreciated the fact that he just let De Niro do his thing. There is no point in trying to compete.
De Niro in yet another comedic role? Who would have thunk it? I have been thoroughly enjoying this lighter side he has shown us in recent years. He is not overtly funny and that's what makes him hilarious. He deadpans his way through these roles as if he is making fun of himself. Personally, I love it. Side note: Look for De Niro's adopted daughter, Drena, as Chase's assistant, Annie.
Rene Russo is second banana and kinda sorta love interest. A role that she has perfected, but I refuse to complain about it. She is almost 50 and I'd rather have her cast as a smart and sexy woman, rather than someone's grandmother. It has taken Hollywood long enough to realize that life for women does not end at 50. A quick mention of William Shatner who played a parody of himself and provided De Niro with some of his best lines.
Even though I really liked this movie, I will admit that some of the jokes fell flat and seemed forced. The story line itself was pretty lame and required suspension of disbelief. It also felt recycled. I kept thinking that I had seen the story somewhere before.
The Directive
Despite script and character regurgitation, Showtime was worth watching.
"Showtime" was right on time. I needed the laugh.
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Copyright Kamal "The Diva" Larsuel-Ulbricht, 2002
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