A Review by Phil Calabro
2005, New Line Cinema, Dir. Les Mayfield - Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Eugene Levy, Luke Goss, Horatio Sanz, Susie Essman, Anthony Mackie, Miguel Ferrer, Randy Butcher, Michael Cameron, Joe Sacco, Beatriz Yuste, Gigi Rice, Kevin Rushton, Lindsay Ames
Yeah, I'll admit it, buddy cops expired after 'Lethal Weapon 4' - but even I enjoy the occasional break every now and then. Here we have two versatile actors from two totally different genres, plastered together in a group of limp awkward situations, but with an electric sort of chemistry. But here's the problem - Eugene Levy and Samuel Jackson are hilarious together, a mish-mash of the serious and sparky, but they have nothing to run on. A weak plot and little action isn't enough to keep the comedy running, especially when you know they could be doing a lot better than fart jokes and other various toilet gags. 'The Man' is enjoyable, but limits its potential. Les Mayfield side-steps from the city-race action that made 'Die Hard 3' so much fun, and has such little comedy to accentuate the humor that wants to be released.
Here's a story of two opposites pasted together by chance: we are introduced to Derrick Vann (Jackson), a rock-solid and no-nonsense ATF agent in Detroit, who's going undercover to stop arms dealer Kane (Goss) who he believes played a part in the death of his former partner. Then there's Andy Fiddler (Levy), a chatty yet happily-married dentist supplies manager who's in Detroit to give a presentation at the annual convention - and he's all set to give the speech of a lifetime. Vann sets up a mock meeting to meet Kane at a local diner, but when Andy accidentally takes his seat, he is caught up in the crime. Vann takes Andy and drags him around town as his prop, because he's the only person Kane recognizes. Vann and Andy run across town just to set up Kane, but as it always does, somethings go horribly wrong.
Samuel L. Jackson's novelty of his 'bad mofo' image from 'Pulp Fiction' is nearing its death - there's only so much that the stock character can put up with. Tough-as-nails and baring a fierce facial scar, Jackson looks the role and plays the role as much as he can - but I think after 'Star Wars Episode 3' he really needs a long sabbatical. Even Joe Pesci learned that. Eugene Levy is hysterical and still maintains the same comic genius he has in all his movies, which somehow could be eternal if he wanted it to be. Not necessarily goofy as he is gabby, this Second-City alum always adds some sort of relaxed humor to the situation. Of recent film pairings, this is one of the more recent memorables, but it just wears out after awhile.
I'm surprised I really wrote an entire paragraph on the plot, seriously. The plot is as weak as the typical wooden bridge across a canyon - it's broken apart, shaky, but somehow you eventually get through it without ever realizing how lame it was. Fart jokes, although they happen to be rather funny this time around, still remain a bad sign of a screenwriter, and in this case, a Mr. Jim Piddock. Les Mayfield, who directed the only good Martin Lawrence film 'Blue Streak' and my own guilty pleasure 'Flubber', really lets the action slide. The finale is quick and unsatisfying - it seems like they tried to tie too many loose ends in such little time. Of course, it's Jackson and Levy who get the last few laughs available.
'The Man' isn't good, but it's definitely bearable. I found myself laughing not at the situations that Jackson and Levy are in, but how they react to it. Lousy dialogue, some unnecessary characters and no action remain the blame of this movie.
