2002-06-24 - 8:16 p.m.
By the time I got to the Fascist Valley googolplex yesterday the 1:45 showing of Minority Report was already sold out, so I saw Undercover Brother instead. I must say, it�s worth the matinee price just to watch James Brown and Doogie Howser interact onscreen, even if Doogie�s over-30 wrinkles can�t be hidden under makeup anymore.
As for the rest of the movie: Ennh. I give it two-and-a-quarter stars, tops. It�s hilarious in some places, it�s mildly amusing in others, and it certainly had the potential to be as gut-bustingly funny as Austin Powers, but as a whole it just doesn�t hang together. Partly it�s the lack of comic timing--a lot of the actors seem to be reading their lines off a teleprompter. Partly it�s the lack of Ironic Casting; every postmodern comedic filmmaker should know by now that a project simply won�t fly unless it includes a certain number of B- and C-list movie and TV actors who haven�t worked in decades and are cast simply for their ironic and/or camp value. Sure, Billy Dee Williams was a nice touch, but where the hell is Pam Grier? Garrett Morris? Sherman Hemsley? That guy who played Huggy Bear? See, the director could have even worked in some commentary on the poor name recognition of African-American actors by listing them thusly in the credits: "Special guest appearance by the Guy Who Played Isaac on The Love Boat."
Then there�s Chris Kattan. Somebody kill him soon, please. Or at least tell him firmly and convincingly that he�s not funny. Otherwise he�s likely to take over as 1-800-COLLECT spokesdork when Carrot Top retires, and nobody wants that.
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