Steve Martin is a very perceptive person, especially in regards to the nature of Hollywood and the town that surrounds it. He proved adept at this with the decent L.A. STORY in 1991, but here he takes it to a rampant, more delirious level. It is reminiscent of his early humor from the 70's. Having written BOWFINGER, he also could not have come up with a better idea to cast Eddie Murphy as a head-case movie star. Murphy is a comedic weapon in this picture which has a laugh in almost every scene either because of Murphy's antics or because of what Martin and company are doing to him. A movie is being made starring Murphy's character "Kit Ramsey", but he has no idea what the hell is going on.
Martin paints the town once again with some familiar gags and rips, especially at the religious mind-set of many stars in Hollywood. "MindHead" is probably a stab at scientology, which so many of the actors and producers take part in out there. "Kit Ramsey" reminded me of Martin Laurence in real life, sort of a manic personality. Murphy no doubt takes liberty with the material and creates his first genuinely funny character since Axel Foley. It is good to see him pairing up with the likes of Martin and seeing the true comic genius that has always existed within Murphy. BOWFINGER is a huge departure from his recent star vehicles, most of which disappoint.
Steve Martin turns in an equally sensational slapstick performance as low-budget director "Bowfinger" with a hint of do or do not, there is no try. You will be reminded of ED WOOD during many scenes because of this mad cracker of a director, who will stop at nothing to get his flimsy film made (even if it includes carrying a very unusable "cell" phone and shooting footage of security screens capturing the story he is trying to make). Director Frank Oz keeps the pace relentless and the chuckles plentiful as a new revelation halfway through extends Murphy's ability to make us laugh.
It turns out there is a "Kit Ramsey" look-alike out there and Martin and the gang audition him to be an errand boy and to showcase his butt as a stand-in for "Ramsey". This character is even funnier than the original and the film's best scene has this awe-struck, goofy loser (also played by Murphy) running across a busy L.A. highway risking life and limb and braces. Heather Graham is an effective caricature of the "dumb" blondes who supposedly get off a bus every day in California and ask "Where do I become a star?". There is more to her than meets the eye and she seems to have a good idea of how to get what she wants.
BOWFINGER is not exactly original. We have seen this before in GET SHORTY and the aforementioned ED WOOD. This film may be superior because the characters are so hilarious and the story spares us nothing that you cannot help but laugh. It is an uproarious comedy with a sometimes tender side that brings Eddie Murphy back into cinema form and has the viewer stomping and spitting popcorn with BIG laughs. Check it out.
RATING ***
Martin paints the town once again with some familiar gags and rips, especially at the religious mind-set of many stars in Hollywood. "MindHead" is probably a stab at scientology, which so many of the actors and producers take part in out there. "Kit Ramsey" reminded me of Martin Laurence in real life, sort of a manic personality. Murphy no doubt takes liberty with the material and creates his first genuinely funny character since Axel Foley. It is good to see him pairing up with the likes of Martin and seeing the true comic genius that has always existed within Murphy. BOWFINGER is a huge departure from his recent star vehicles, most of which disappoint.
Steve Martin turns in an equally sensational slapstick performance as low-budget director "Bowfinger" with a hint of do or do not, there is no try. You will be reminded of ED WOOD during many scenes because of this mad cracker of a director, who will stop at nothing to get his flimsy film made (even if it includes carrying a very unusable "cell" phone and shooting footage of security screens capturing the story he is trying to make). Director Frank Oz keeps the pace relentless and the chuckles plentiful as a new revelation halfway through extends Murphy's ability to make us laugh.
It turns out there is a "Kit Ramsey" look-alike out there and Martin and the gang audition him to be an errand boy and to showcase his butt as a stand-in for "Ramsey". This character is even funnier than the original and the film's best scene has this awe-struck, goofy loser (also played by Murphy) running across a busy L.A. highway risking life and limb and braces. Heather Graham is an effective caricature of the "dumb" blondes who supposedly get off a bus every day in California and ask "Where do I become a star?". There is more to her than meets the eye and she seems to have a good idea of how to get what she wants.
BOWFINGER is not exactly original. We have seen this before in GET SHORTY and the aforementioned ED WOOD. This film may be superior because the characters are so hilarious and the story spares us nothing that you cannot help but laugh. It is an uproarious comedy with a sometimes tender side that brings Eddie Murphy back into cinema form and has the viewer stomping and spitting popcorn with BIG laughs. Check it out.
RATING ***