I have to admit something about this movie. Honestly, when I saw the preview, I was kind of torn on whether I wanted to see it or not. I mean, granted, it had Steve Martin, and Eddie Murphy, two comic superstars, teamed together for the first time. I wondered, and thought back to other superstar pairings in the past. Would it succeed, as Pacino and DeNiro did in Heat (Imdb link) or would it fail miserably, such as Eastwood and Reynolds in City Heat, or Hoffman and Beatty in Ishtar. Then I looked at the story. On the surface, and even through the best of its couple of previews, it looked like a one-note story at best. I mean really, how many times can actors walk up to someone who is unknowing, say their lines, have that person react with a lost or confused look, funny, haha, it works once, after that, it would become overkill, right? The reverse of a fish out of water of sorts. This time, the people are going into the water, teasing the fish, then running back out, leaving the fish wondering what in the world was happening. How can that be entertaining, how can that be original. Well, I ventured to the theater, for lack of anything better to do on a Sunday afternoon, armed with those thoughts, and walked out, enlightened into the world of independent film making, Hollywood cliché’s effectively brought to life, and ultimately, a movie that starts well, cruises smartly, then succumbs to the very trends which it so playfully mocks.

The most appealing and surprising thing about Bowfinger, is the original and smart approach that it takes, in order to keep this tired idea fresh. By using the ideal of movie star paranoia, due to the rigors of fame, the idea is kept from becoming tired. Also, by showing the lengths that smaller filmmakers goto in order to get their craft out there, screenwriter Martin, takes an interesting perspective into that section of the film industry that has been getting greater exposure lately. The success of Blair Witch, and the recent uprising of independent films, the industry was ripe for a parody. While this is not a complete, or intended skewering, it does take an interesting perspective on things. The stereotypical girl (Graham) who comes to Hollywood to be a star, and will do anything to be a star, which works for awhile, but becomes overkilled eventually. There is the filmmaker himself Martin, who will goto any lengths to get his man, and get his film. He borrows expensive cars, fakes cell phone calls, and lives in that dreamland that those with visions of that white sign, fantasize about. Martin plays him with a frantic, yet emotional charm, his ultimate goal seemingly, a visit from the FedEx driver. He will do anything to get his film made, and his dream realized, even it includes bribery, theft, and even creative use of shrubbery.

Finally there’s Murphy, in a dual role, as the put-upon, unstable superstar with paranoid delusions, and the nerdy, but somehow innocently charming young man, who’s claim to the entertainment industry is contributions to a local video store. In these dual roles, Murphy displays both aspects of the charm that has made him the box-office draw that he is today. On one side, he shows the on-the-edge, powder keg style, which.   While on the other, showing the cute lovable, innocent charm, best displayed in The Nutty Professor, together, they are a masterful performance, and show that while he may not receive the critical acclaim of other stars, maybe it’s time he should