Plot
A professional athlete has to help a U.S. government agent recover a missing jet.
Release Year: 2002
Rating: 5.2/10 (23,752 voted)
Critic's Score: 35/100
Director:
Betty Thomas
Stars: Eddie Murphy, Owen Wilson, Famke Janssen
Storyline When the Switchblade, the most sophisticated prototype stealth fighter created yet, is stolen from the U.S. government, one of the United States' top spies, Alex Scott, is called to action. What he doesn't expect is to get teamed up with a cocky civilian, World Class Boxing Champion Kelly Robinson, on a dangerous top secret espionage mission. Their assignment: using equal parts skill and humor, catch Arnold Gundars, one of the world's most successful illegal arms dealers, and foil his treacherous plans for the plane.
Writers: Morton S. Fine, David Friedkin
Cast: Eddie Murphy
-
Kelly
Owen Wilson
-
Alex
Famke Janssen
-
Rachel
Malcolm McDowell
-
Gundars
Gary Cole
-
Carlos
Phill Lewis
-
Jerry
Viv Leacock
-
T.J.
Keith Dallas
-
Lunchbox
Tate Taylor
-
Lieutenant Percy
Lynda Boyd
-
Edna
Bill Mondy
-
McIntyre
Larry Merchant
-
Vegas Commentator
Sugar Ray Leonard
-
Vegas Commentator
Jimmy Lennon Jr.
-
Vegas Ring Announcer
Joe Cortez
-
Vegas Referee
Filming Locations: Buda Castle, Várkerület, Budapest, Hungary
Box Office Details
Budget: $70,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $12,752,803
(USA)
(3 November 2002)
(3182 Screens)
Gross: $33,105,600
(USA)
(8 December 2002)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
BNS stood for the Bureau of National Security.
Goofs:
Continuity:
When Alex and Kelly are in the sewer they are wearing their bow ties. While they are opening up to each other their ties are off, but when they emerge from the sewer the ties are back on. Taking them off makes sense, but why put them back on again and smarten themselves up *before* climbing out?
Quotes: Alexander Scott:
This man is Arnold Gundars, premiere arms dealer. We believe he has the switchblade.
User Review
A Decent Laugh
Rating: 5/10
I always liked Owen Wilson and Eddie Murphy, so I thought, in case the
movie is worth nothing, I'd still get to see some friendly faces. For
better or worse, I can say it was about what I expected.
I put this movie in two categories, and I think I placed it right: it's
a decent comedy, with parts attempting to live up to an action movie.
At its heart though it tries to be comedic and funny, so that's upon
what it should be judged. Thankfully, you will get the chance to laugh
out loud, but unfortunately not as much as you'd like to laugh out loud
at a comedy. I won't even mention rolling on the floor.
The story isn't something really new, but it has quite a few humorous
plot twists. The so-called funny character is Kelly, who really
inflicts a fair amount of pain on his adversaries, but he is just such
a nicely drawn, egocentric guy, that it actually works on a comedic
level. It's always just about him, and him and then some more.
The actors have their charm but I won't really dwell on this as they
are as high profile as it gets, Hollywood style, so you know what you
get. Perhaps Wilson could have spiced up his game with a bit of the
unexpected, but all in all he does what he does best.
I did feel a bit let down by the special effects, with some flimsy
looking explosions placed here and there. However, the host city of
Budapest looked really gorgeous throughout, making it well worth it's
money shots.
To draw the line, the film isn't great, but it's fine enough. No
brilliant ideas, or anything like that, just the usual comic stuff.
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