Rating: 
Summary: One of the Best Movies You've Never Seen
Review: I had never heard of this movie until I saw it on the new release shelf. And since it starred Eddie Murphy with Robert DeNiro of all people, I just had to see what it was about. It's a good buddy cop comedy that was a lot funnier than I thought it would be. Eddie and Roberts characters are perfect foils for each other. I think this is one of Eddie Murphy's best movies, along with 'Coming to America', 'A Vampire in Brooklyn', the 'Beverly Hills Cop' series and 'The Golden Child'. Do yourself a favor and give it a try.
Rating: 
Summary: Time well spent
Review: Showtime is a parody on one of the more beaten down genres in Movie Land, and Showtime represents ever cliché perfectly. I don't know if it was on purpose or not, but the movie was extremely predictable. But, I was able to look past that because of Murphy and De Niro's performances.Eddie Murphy is always top notch in any movie he is in and so is De Niro. Both are very funny, but not exactly pee your pants funny. There were some very ingenious scenes, ones that I will remember for a while, especially the Hummer scene. However, the movie seemed that it took 30 minute breaks from comedy. It was funny, and then it got serious, and then it got funny again. That really turned me off because it creates a lack of pace. Showtime was a good movie, don't get me wrong. It kept me interested through out and the whole big brother is watching scenario was very intriguing. I can definitely see some sort of show like this on television in the near future. I'd watch. If you're looking for a good movie with some laughs and you're not in the mood to think much, then you got yourself a winner here. 3 Stars
Rating:
Summary: Luke warm
Review: Such a promising concept (as unoriginal as it may be) like this cannot be fully exercised in a 95 minute long movie. Had this movie been made a few years ago then it may have been a bit more original and 'in time' to be a part of the whole 'reality TV' boom. As it stands 'Showtime' is neither ironic nor exciting and you will forget it completely 5 minutes after watching it. If the movie were extended to a little over 2 hours, with tighter editing and a better script it may have worked. Nothing is fully explored or exploited in this film and the villain is so weak and pointless his role could easily have been played by a ghost. 'Showtime' really ought to have been a mini-series. This would have offered a greater sense of self-referential, ironic humor and given more time to devote to plot, character, action and intelligence. But in this hour and a half movie, director Tom Dey cannot make anything work. Murphy isn't funny, DeNiro is sleepwalking and Russo is wasted. The only person contributing anything of worth is Shatner. And the references to his TJ Hooker show are ironic by accident in regards to Hooker being better than 'Showtime' and 'Showtime' within the movie. This movie is only an example of money thrown away and the totally wrong approach given to a promising concept. I would rent it. But make sure it is the widescreen version as the fullscreen (actually pan and scan, or 'CROPPED') has about %50 of the picture missing. The commentary is uninteresting and I must seriously point out that the advertised 'Uproarious additional scenes, including hilarious improvised Eddie Murphy' are anything but. Even if I had watched my own autopsy they probably still would be the most uncomfortable and unfunny things I have ever witnessed in my life. The HBO documentary is light promotional fluff hosted by William Shatner and the extended scenes offer nothing new. Note The Amazon details are incorrect-There is no DTS sound with this DVD.
Rating:
Summary: makes fun of typical cop movies and the media
Review: This movie is funny and entertaining and doesn't take itself too seriously since it makes fun of other old tired cop movies out there, and surely pokes fun at itself. Murphy is a cop who wants to be an actor. Deniro is a detective who punches out a camera man and is forced to become part of a "cops" like TV show. Murphy auditions and gets the part as his partner and the two couldn't be more different. They rub each other the wrong way and while Murphy is trying to look good on the show to land a big acting job, Deniro is trying to be a typical cop. Its humorous to watch the interaction between the overacting murphy, who represents the typical police drama, and the serious Deniro who represents real cops. In one scene shatner is showing deniro and Murphy how to do some "hood jumping", Murphy pulls it off like a pro and deniro remarks that hood jumping never happens in real life, but later on we find him hanging on to the hood of a car in a high speed chase. I really like deniro and murphy together, and though murphy isn't the best actor, it doesn't really come out in the movie, because he's playing the part of a poor actor trying to act like a "TV" cop the whole time. The only problem I have with the movie is the ending with the camera since its not very believable. The acting is ok, the plot is interesting, but the humor and satirical irony are what kept me interested, and even if you don't "get it" and like simple movies, you'll enjoy and laugh at this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible! Simply Horrible!
Review: What can I say to this pathetic movie? This is a typical Eddie Murphy noisy movie, so noisy that I have to turn off the volume and watched it in mute. Why Murphy is so similar almost in every of his movies? He's so noisy and annoying and just couldn't keep his big mouth shut a minute. This guy is not a good actor in the least, because he could only perform or act with his thick lips. De Niro also seemed to fail putting his heart in this movie, maybe just because he also wished that he'd be deaf to avoid the nuisance of Murphy's loud mouth. This is a terrible movie and it only makes me finally decide not to watch any new movie with Murphy in it, no matter what.
Rating:
Summary: SHOWTIMEEE!!!
Review: Detective Mitch Preston (Robert De Niro) is a hard working detective for the LAPD who cares about the job and the responsibility that comes with it. When a drug bust goes bad Mitch is ordered to work with a TV station that wants to make a reality cop show in order to prevent a $10 million law suit. The incompetent Trey Sellers (Eddie Murphy), who only cares about his acting career, is going to be his sidekick. These two characters face a new threat on the streets, which can be extremely fatal to the police force. Showtime is an humorous action comedy with contrasting characters which add to the entertainment.
Rating:
Summary: Just Passable Action-Comedy...But With These Stars??!!
Review: Buddy-buddy movie comes with star-star concept. That's what I thought about "Showtime" when I watched its trailer. And the fact is, it was. As director Tom Dey united Jackie Chan with Owen Wilson in "Shanghai Noon," he again makes a combination of Eddie Murphy with Robert Deniro. As "Shanghai Noon" is passable entertainment (but not definitely the best of Jackie), so "Showtime" is again passable entertainment with not-so-good Eddie and not-so-good DeNiro. Plus, in the fashion of "Lethal Weapon" series, they added Rene Russo. But it's no wonder; for the two of the screenplay writers, Alfred Gough and Miles Miller are responsible for "Lethal Weapon 4." Too classic. Anyway, "Showtime" shows how these two stars Murphy and DeNiro crack the case of secretly-made deadly weapons, which can easily tear down a house. Along the investigation, you see ambitious TV producer Rene Russo take advantage of Deniro's blundered case, and use the most unlikely pair as the feature of her new reality TV show named, why not, "Showtime." Basically "Showtime" -- I mean this film itself -- should not be taken too seriously. Though the film has something to say about the media, it knows it is also part of the media, so it doesn't pose any serious questions before us. It rather is intent on making use of the pair, which, however, works very sporadically. Humor is there, good-natured feeling is also there, but these feelings just fail to be felt by us. In short, the film lacks chemistry. Usually delightful Rene Russo ends up with being clithed and banal, and bad guys are just bad guys without any menace or dark humor. Willaim Shatner appears as a guest, almost as himself when he did his own police drama 20 years ago, but hey, how many people remember that? For some reason, they decided to include a cameo of one famous lawyer JC, but what we need is some other things or people, something that would enliven the whole show. Actions are staged decently, with explosions and cars and a big dish, but the fact that these actions are impressive means these two stars are really wasted, having lost their opportunity to impress us. You have no irresistible chemistry between Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy in "48hrs," which made the latter an instant star, or comical feelings generated between Charles Groding and Robert DeNiro in "Midnight Run." "Showtime" is just an OK film; it is enjoyable to some extent, but fails to offer anything refreshing or inspired.
Rating: 
Summary: Quite A Good Show(time)
Review: Y'gotta watch this movie. Very cool and funny. Hardly any bad language. Murphy & De Niro rock!
Rating:
Summary: Showtime's no showstopper. If anything you'll stop the tape.
Review: After cop Mitch Preston (Robert De Niro) becomes a local celebrity, he catches the eye of TV producer Chase Renzi (Rene Russo) who wants him to star in a new COPS style reality show. De Niro is unimpressed but fellow cop and aspiring actor Trey Sellars (Eddie Murphy) sees this as his big chance at fame. The first half of the movie is a chore to get through, but thankfully it improves a little. It doesn't help that SHOWTIME has a pedestrian, badly paced script with few thrills or laughs. The three leads try to give it a boost, but its almost all for naught. The movie almost drowns in its mediocrity. There are more thrills in a half hour episode of COPs than SHOWTIME and De Niro isn't given the opportunity to display the comic flair he showed in ANALYZE THIS and MEET THE PARENTS. Murphy on the other hand doesn't evoke fond memories of Axel Foley (Bev Hills Cop#1), and Russo would be better off in another LETHAL WEAPON (not that she had much to do in #4). Oh well, at least there's no threat of a sequel.... I hope.
Rating:
Summary: Patience is the Virtue
Review: Patience is the virtue through the first half hour of this movie. If you can hang tight until the ball starts rolling, you will too. Robert DeNiro plays a serious and straight forward detective (Mitch), while Eddie Murphy portrays a small time cop (Trey) who has more interest in an acting career. When Murphy becomes involved in DeNiro's undercover operation, DeNiro gets hot under the collar and breaks a news camera. DeNiro and Murphy are then forced to team up in a TV police series in order to avoid a law suit from the television station. Renee Russo (Grace) plays the station's producer who tries to change DeNiro's decor and lifestyle to coincide with public opinion for rating purposes, and DeNiro and Murphy become the rage of the viewing population. The satire of William Shattner's 1980's TV show "T.J. Hooker" also shows up in a small part of the movie which consists of a little slapstick humor. As usual, Eddie Murphy steals the show with his off the wall comedy act, but DeNiro is equally funny playing his straight faced and dry humored character. Renee Russo and William Shattner are just plain silly. Although this movie does start out slow, when it picks up it will leave you laughing.
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