  |
||||||
|
|
'Meet Dave', the new Eddie Murphy FilmComic Support: Gabrielle Union, Pat Kilbane, Scott Caan & Ed Helms
Dave meets earthlings Gina and Josh, wonderfully played by Elizabeth Banks and Austyn Myers. Myers puts in a highly intuitive performance for a child actor.
What a shame that Eddie Murphy is not getting the crowds these days, as Meet Dave is an inspired film. It seems more fashionable to jump on the bandwagon and go ra-ra about Batman and other blockbusters - special effects movies that often lack the warm happy feeling or a great idea. Meet Dave has both, and even sets a challenge for Eddie Murphy, to ditch his Norbit and The Nutty Professor image, to become...very serious. A refreshing change for comedy fans and those who adore Eddie Murphy back from Trading Places days. The Story – Philosophical ComedyEddie Murphy plays Dave, a man-shaped spaceship controlled by a crew of aliens, led by The Captain, who is also played by Eddie Murphy. In a bid to save the aliens’ planet from its energy decline, Dave is sent to Earth to find the missing orb that was supposed to have drained Earth of its water supply. This idea may sound cheesy, even unworkable, until you see the movie. Without being soppy and over-the-top, Meet Dave thrives by delivering unpredictable gag after gag. What you think would come of a storyline like this does not materialize. Meet Dave works brilliantly because it throws the audience off what they expect and still delivers the laughs. In fact it even makes the audience think. The fact that aliens decide that chaos and anarchy on Earth actually feels more interesting than order and command is an interesting concept. Aliens are usually portrayed as cold and frightening creatures but Meet Dave is so much the opposite. Earthlings Josh & Gina MorrisonAustyn Myers almost steals the limelight from Eddie Murphy with his highly intuitive performance. He plays Josh Morrison, son of Gina (played by an attractive Elizabeth Banks), who discovers the orb. When the Morrisons have dinner with Dave at a sexy Cuban restaurant (great choice of location), Josh Morrison is sad that Dave is leaving them. Though Austyn Myers is a child, he already shows depth and sensitivity in performance, unlike most children his age. He is a talent that will go far. Mom Gina is played by Elizabeth Banks, a very good-looking actress whose fumbling antics work well in this role. Hilarious Supporting CastSome of the supporting cast can give Eddie Murphy a run for his money. Pat Kilbane and Scott Caan really come into their own in Meet Dave. Pat Kilbane plays Officer No. 4 on the ship, and is a Tom Selleck lookalike stern officer who suddenly discovers his camp side. Scott Caan and Mike O’Malley lead the policemen subplot. Set up as distinctly opposite characters, they deliver their funny lines spot-on: “You have that X-files glint in your eye.” This is great scriptwriting, thanks to Rob Greenberg and Bill Corbett. Gabrielle Union plays the Captain’s love interest, the shy but diligent Officer No. 3 in command of spaceship Dave. Audiences may remember her from Cradle 2 the Grave and Running with Scissors. Gabrielle Union is a beautiful actress who does not need to starve to prove it. Curvy and sophisticated, her character cringes whenever Dave shows signs of attraction to earthling Gina. When No. 3 and The Captain watch It’s A Wonderful Life on the spaceship, tears really do flow. Split Your Side GagsEddie Murphy’s talent lies in choosing the shocking over the predictable. This plot may sound predictable: aliens fall in love with Earth and try to save the day, but Murphy ensures this is not a foregone conclusion. One fantastic example is when Gina asks for Dave’s name. Officer No. 3 does her computer research and gives The Captain the most commonly used name on earth. No, it is not John Smith. Watch the film to find out – the scene is hysterical. Other mistakes aliens may make if they visit earth include words like ‘meatloaf’, ‘put your foot in the mouth’ and ‘cat’. ‘Meet Dave’ updates the whole genre of alien meets earthling comedy, with new gags. It is not unlikely that Meet Dave becomes a cult classic, as it is a movie anybody can enjoy. Meet Dave - Eddie Murphy’s Alter EgoOne of the best things about Meet Dave is this: that this is not an easy movie for Eddie Murphy to pull off. It is not easy for Eddie Murphy to abandon his The Nutty Professor/Norbit character, full of farts and toilet humour, to become the ultra-serious Dave. Murphy’s display of his excellent control of facial muscles and body movements earns him points in his performance here. Meet Dave is certainly an underrated film that deserves more attention.
The copyright of the article 'Meet Dave', the new Eddie Murphy Film in Romantic Films/Comedies is owned by Lynette S.K. Webster. Permission to republish 'Meet Dave', the new Eddie Murphy Film in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
|
|||||
|
|
||||||
