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All-Reviews.com Movie/Video Review
Bowfinger
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 out of 4
Review by Suzdal
3 stars out of 4
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The teaming of Martin and Murphy should be much much
funnier than it is, both are great comics who too often
fall short of their potential. But still, this is a gently
funny and entertaining comedy about the film industry and
the people who love it. Murphy plays a small-time director who dreams
of making it big. He's short on talent but that doesn't stop him from
begging, borrowing and stealing who and what he needs to
make his dreams come true. Murphy has a dual role as a big-shot
Hollywood action star named Kit Ramsey, whom Murphy gets to star in his project
without Kit's knowledge and as his simple minded brother who is conned into
helping Murphy and his cohorts. Hijinks ensue, of course, and although
here and there the fabric of the story wears little thin overall it moves
along nicely as long as you take it very lightly. Also amusing is the
backplot of a cult-like organization which Ramsey belongs to called
MindHead (no points for guessing what that's a dig at).
Murphy is excellent in both his roles, but especially
as the ultra-paranoid Kit Ramsey. Martin is good but basically
plays one of his standard roles. Costarring are Heather Graham and
Terence Stamp as the leader of MindHead.
There have been many, many movies about making movies.
Not all of them good but I'll recommend a couple of recent
small direct-to video flicks worth the rental at least:
Tinseltown with Ron Perlman which is a comedy/thriller
and Just Write with Jeremy Piven and Sherilyn Fenn, a nice
little romantic comedy. For another take on the city of angels try L.A. Story
also by Steve Martin. For a similar gentle look at a real-life small-time
movie maker try Tim Burton's Ed Wood. Not only is it an
excellent movie but comparing the two you can't help but marvel
that truth really is stranger than fiction. For some far harsher but excellent
looks at the movie industry I'd recommend The Player and
Swimming With Sharks-but both are far far less gentle in
their approach.
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