3.0 out of 5 stars
Great 'Gun,' ordinary 'Rhapsody', April 7, 2009
This review is from: Gun Shy/Miami Rhapsody (DVD)
This twin DVD set features two adult comedies-- one very good and one only so-so.
Besides her small co-starring role in GUN SHY, Sandra Bullock is also the film's producer, and she chose all recordings heard on the soundtrack.
Here, Liam Neeson is undercover DEA agent 'Charlie' Mayeaux (may-OH). A drug bust he and his partner were working on is compromised by an informant within the DEA, and Charlie almost dies as bullets fly at a coke party. This traumatic experience leaves him unable to function. Charlie talks to himself, has bad gas and dreams only of "the ocean view."
Fulvio Nesstra (Platt) is a mob leg-breaker who hates being a Mafia cliché. Like Charlie, he longs for a better life. His fantasy of growing tomatoes in Sicily causes wife Gloria (the Don's daughter) to label Fulvio a total loser. As Charlie works what he vows will be his last undercover job, he and Fulvio meet and bond.
Charlie also becomes close friends with Judy Tipp (Bullock), after an encounter at a gastroenterologist's office, where Judy works. She jokingly calls herself "the Enema Queen."
The remainder of the story concerns Charlie's therapy group (several professional men), a weasel-like investment counselor and a Colombian drug lord and his boyfriend. Fidel and lisping Estuvio want to design clothing. It's like EVERYONE (including Charlie's therapy buddies) wishes their lives were different.
That's why this movie can be so satisfying if one is open to its overall message, which is: the ocean view. Additionally, these characters are likeable, the film holds your attention throughout, and there's an excellent ending. (NOTE: please watch at least the first 30 seconds of the closing credits.)
In MIAMI RHAPSODY, a fine cast is unfortunately wasted on a watered down clone of a Woody Allen script.
When boyfriend Matt (Bellows) casually asks Gwyn (Parker) to marry him, she's hardly enthusiastic. Her career is a major concern. Plus, based on the behavior of Gywn's parents and two siblings (who are ALL having affairs!) she has understandably little faith in the institution of marriage.
Like a typical Allen story, there's plenty of neurotics here, also a fine soundtrack and even Mia Farrow parodying her "Woody" roles. Naomi Campbell comes across as hostile and unfunny, Antonio Banderas nicely lampoons his "Latin lover" image, and Sarah Jessica is rather mediocre as stand-in for Mr. Allen.
Parenthetical numbers preceding titles are 1 to 10 viewer poll ratings found at a film resource website.
(5.3) Gun Shy (2000) - Liam Neeson/Oliver Platt/Sandra Bullock/José Zúñiga/Michael DeLorenzo/Andrew Lauer/Richard Schiff/Paul Ben-Victor/Mary McCormack/Mitch Pileggi/Frank Vincent
(5.2) Miami Rhapsody (1995) - Sarah Jessica Parker/Gil Bellows/Antonio Banderas/Mia Farrow/Paul Mazursky/Kevin Pollak/Barbara Garrick/Naomi Campbell/Ben Stein/Donal Logue
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