Bowfinger

Rating:
Summary: Utter waste of talent
Review:

BOWFINGER
Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, 1999

Synopsis
A broke movie maker (Martin) tries on last shot at success by making a movie that included one of the most famous actors (Murphy) but without the actor knowing about it.

My Review
What a disappointment. C'mon guys, you two paired up together should have produced a wicked flick, not the crap that this was.

Rating:
Summary: More like 3 1/2, but I'd rather give it 4 than 3 stars.
Review: This is a fairly good comedy, a satire on the sense of desperation in Hollywood sometimes, written by Steve Martin himself. What this movie lacks in character development and lack of memorable plot, it makes up for with quite a few quite cleverly witty scenes, all which wouldn't have been as funny without the help fo Eddie Murphey's great acting and Steve Martin's hilarious personality. You'd probably want to rent this one before buying it, but it's definately worth a rental.....especially if you're a fan of either Steve Martin or Eddie Murphey.

Rating:
Summary: Bowfinger Rocks!
Review: How does Bobby Bowfinger (Steve Martin), Hollywood's least successful director, get Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy), Hollywood's biggest star, in his ultra low-budget film? Any way he can. With an ingenious scheme and the help of Kit's eager and nerdy brother Jiff, an ambitious and sexy wannabe (Heather Graham) and an over-the-hill diva (Christine Baranski), Bowfinger sets out to trick Kit Ramsey into the performance of a lifetime. Enjoy the fun with Eddie Murphy and Steve Martin - together for the first time in the hit comedy Bowfinger.

Rating:
Summary: Good rental
Review: This movie was a good rental, however I think I would have been disapointed if I had shelled out the "big bucks" to see it at the theater. The idea of Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy together in one film together sounds like a comedic masterpiece in the making. The movie did not, in my opinion, use the comedy genius of either of these two actors to their fullest potential. Perhaps I was expecting too much, but when I saw the names Martin and Murphy in the same film I thought I would be on the floor laughing clutching my side from the pain. I only laughed out loud a couple of times and I think even one of those was forced.

Like I said this was a good movie rental but nothing I would purchase or wish to watch a second time.

Rating:
Summary: High fives all around!
Review: Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy score a winner in this comedy hit about Bobby Bowfinger, Tinseltown's directorial dud, who must obtain the appearance of uber-neurotic action star Kit Ramsey in his super duper low budget film "Chubby Rain," (a story about aliens coming down to earth in raindrops) in order for the movie to be shown. Trouble is, Ramsey wants nothing to do with Bowfinger or his film!

However, Bobby Bowfinger is not deterred by this refusal one iota and ultimately he embarks on an outrageous and farcical attempt to deceive Kit Ramsey into unwittingly delivering the performance of his career!

Aided and abetted by a unknowing but hilarious supporting cast including an Iranian accountant-turned-scriptwriter, an over the hill prima donna, a bedhopping starlet, and a crew of illegal immigrants, Kit Ramsey is confronted and confounded by a confusing ensemble of characters who scream at him about alien love, terrorise him in a dark parking lot, and pursue him through the streets of Hollywood! So while Bowfinger is gaining the footage he needs, poor Kit Ramsey becomes convinced that he is losing his mind!

A marvellous satrical parody of an industry that takes itself far too seriously, "Bowfinger" is one film that will receive two thums up from audiences worldwide!

Rating:
Summary: Martin and Murphy better than Martin and Lewis
Review: Right up there with my other personal favorite, Get Shorty. This movie parodies Hollywood and does a masterful job.

Martin is a genious whose screenwriting and novels deserve higher acclaim. While he works in the industry it's obvious he doesn't take himself too seriously. And really, who could, if they had played "The Jerk" in their career.

Martin plays a down on his luck producer/director whose only real connection to Hollywood is he lives in the same city. He has a small project he can't get made. Since he's embarrassed to tell his crew, Martin tells them instead that the biggest star in Hollywood has agreed to be in the movie but wants to act without talking to anyone, another parody of quirks which actors ask for and receive. The "big" star is played brillantly by Eddie Murphy. Eddie Murphy has been portrayed in the press as aloof and cocky. If so, I can't see why he would agree to make such a movie spoofing himself. Irrespective, he plays cocky like the Eddie Murphy we know and as a "lookalike" gofer, he plays "Goofy" through the roof. I'm really surprised there wasn't more press about this acting job.

Needless to say all the cliches are there, a parody of the pretty new actress who will sleep with anyone, Eddie Murphy's "star" lifestyle, and his one hidden weakness which certainly plays close to Murphy's real life legal problem.

This is a very funny movie, particularly if you like Hollywood. I repeatedly watch this and am never disappointed. I look forward to Steve Martin's next screenplay.

Rating:
Summary: Funniest movie I've seen in the last 5 years
Review: I don't often review movies, but I need to make an exception here: Bowfinger is the funniest movie of at least the last five years. Steve Martin wrote it, and it has the true mark of genius in it. Eddie Murphy deserved an Academy Award nomination (no lie!) for his outstanding portrayals of Kit and Jiff Ramsey. Without the use of any laytex (a la 'The Klumps'), he becomes two totally different people just through the use of different posture (a swagger vs. a slouch) or facial expression (a menacing glare vs. wide-eyed glee).

I've watched Bowfinger four times now, and each time I pick up something new to laugh at. For example, I learned that Steve Martin at one time dated Anne Heche, which will cause you to look at Heather Graham's Daisy character in a new light.

I think what I liked best about the movie was Bobby Bowfinger's (Martin) fervent desrire to make his film. The premise behind Murphy's involvement in Bowfinger's "Chubby Rain" (great title, or what?) is so ludicrous it defies description here, but what makes it work is that Bowfinger is trying so damn hard to make it work and you really feel like with his manic energy that he can pull it off.

Don't expect Farrelly-style humor. I'm a fan of them as well, but it'll take a little more patience and intellect to connect with this one. You'll be happy you did.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I SHOULD have like this movie. I WANTED to like this movie.

But i didnt.

Something was missing. Im not entirely sure what, but I found myself bored.

Sure, there are some funny moments. But the dialog falls short, the characters are weak, and it just FEELS like a vehicle for Martin and Murphy rather than a quality film that happens to include them.

Nevermind. Better luck next time.

Rating:
Summary: I laughed, I cried....because I was laughing so hard
Review: I hardly know where to begin. This movie is completely nuts. It's insane. It is so absolutely wacky that you have one of two choices: laugh hysterically or try too hard to be rational and end up annoyed.

Bowfinger was written by Steve Martin. He also stars as the title character, Bobby Bowfinger, a down-and-out movie producer in present day Hollywood. If you don't know who Steve Martin is, chances are you don't get out much. If you do know who he is and are familiar with his work, this is the typical Steve Martin comedy stuffed to the gills with wacky, deranged zaniness.

The premise is simple enough, if you allow yourself to roll with the punches. Bobby Bowfinger has a script for an action movie written by his accountant. The movie, preposterously named, Chubby Rain, is about alien invaders and packed full of the alien action movie cliches we've all come to know and love. Bowfinger has his band of loyal followers: the has-been diva (Christine Baranski), the young hunk, and a fresh-off-the-bus import from Ohio, named Daisy (Heather Graham), who has given herself one week to become a Hollywood star. He also has a lackey named Dave who has a legitimate job on a studio lot and will steal, ahem, BORROW anything from the lot to get Bowfinger's movie made. The only thing missing from a blockbuster production of Chubby Rain is a big name star. He tries to get action god Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy) to be a part of this movie the honest way (sorta) but finally decides to make the movie, with Kit Ramsey in it, without him knowing he's in it. Trouble is, Bobby Bowfinger's devotees think Kit knows he's in the movie, but that he is such an artist, he doesn't want to see the camera, and he will only do a scene in one take, so they'd better get it right.

As you can imagine, with so many misguided and basically confused individuals, the jokes are limitless. But the really clever aspect of the movie is that it is one collosial joke on Hollywood and all its plastic mayhem. Steve Martin has written every stereotype Hollywood persona, and every Hollywood cliche into the script of Bowfinger.

While Bowfinger doesn't implement the good twin/evil twin formula, Kit Ramsey's dorky but endearing twin brother Jiff (also Eddie Murphy) is employed by Bobby Bowfinger to be a body double for the "not really in the movie" star. Murphy has created a loveable buffon in the Jiff character, one the audience might find themselves rooting for and laughing at simultaneously. While auditioning for the role as Kit's body double, Jiff is equally thrilled with the fact that Bowfinger will allow him to run errands during the production as well. Bobby Bowfinger also gives this glorified gopher the inspiration to run across a busy LA freeway, telling him its like an errand, and that all the drivers are professional stunt drivers. The panicked look on Murphy's face while crossing the freeway...I can hardly type, it is too funny.

Just when you thought things couldn't get any whackier, all the scenes being shot around Kit Ramsey's everyday life, only serve to feed an already present paranoia Ramsey has about strange people and alien possesion. He has some other problems, which I don't want to spoil if you get the movie.

But our hero has a constant support system in MindHead, a Church of Scientology rip-off organization, where there are pyramid shaped hats members wear and one reaches enlightenment through a series of Happy Premises. MindHead feeds on the insecurities of Hollywood stars and strokes their egos, allowing stays in the Celebrity Relaxing Quarters on the premises when necessary.

Wacky script and cliches aside, the acting is a hoot. This clan is a bunch of stereotyped, far-out characters who've managed to find a family. In their own, twisted ways, they really just want to work hard, and fit in. They will do anything they can to be movie stars. Bobby Bowfinger pretends to have an important phone call in the presence of a big time Hollywood agent, neglecting to hide the cord on his supposed cell phone. Daisy decides early on that she'll sleep her way to the top. All Kit Ramsey really wants is a really cool catch-phrase, like Arnold and Clint have, convinced only white action heroes get the good lines.

As if you haven't figured it out already, I think the movie is a scream. Steve Martin has written a gem of a comedy, without the gross-out, body-part, "can this really be happening" humor that seems to be the standard of late. Eddie Murphy is equally funny as both Ramsey twins, finding new and fresh ways to play paranoid and nerdish. Comedy doesn't get the respect it deserves, but Bowfinger gets a healthy dose from me.

Rating:
Summary: An classic comedy from the late ninties, a real treat.
Review: After the box office hit of In & Out, Director Frank Oz come up with something different from a great farce comedy with a terrific script by actor-Steve Martin. The Plot: Is about a man, named Bobby Bowfinger(Martin) wishing someday, he could directed a picture of his own. One day, he came up with a very unusual ideal, an ingenious scheme. Bowfinger has his crew and cast memebers to filmed thier movie with the help of wanna-be and nerdy actor Jiff Ramsey(Played by Eddie Murphy, he gives a performance of a life time in this film). Also is a lookalive to Kit Ramsey(Also by Murphy), who`s really a big hollywood action star. Bowfinger has do deal with a lot of things to make this possible with the help of an ambitious and sexy wannabe(Played by Heather Graham) and an over the diva(Christine Baranski). The real trick, if Bowfinger can pull off, if he sets out to trick Kit Ramsey, doesn`t know he`s is in his picture. This is the first movie, we see Martin and Murphy together, since the NBC T.V. Late show-Saturday Night Live. 4½ Stars/5 Stars.

DVD:Special Features are excellent, include an running commentary track by the director:Frank Oz, Behind the scenes featurette, Deleted Scenes/Outtakes, Tralier, Production notes, Bios on the cast and filmmakers. The best yet is the Dolby Digital and DTS audio tracks. DVD worth buying to own in your DVD collection. Grade:A.