Common Sense Note
Parents should be aware that the movie features crude humor and ridiculous violence, involving vehicle crashes and physical abuses (trash can lids and phone books slammed into heads, and various other brutalities staged as comedy). The film premises much of its humor on the imbalance between the timid Midwestern salesman and the tough Detroit cop, including repeated discussions of who is whose "bitch" (a term also heard in a hip-hop song on the soundtrack), and other definitions of masculine prowess. The villains -- including an arrogant, young British boss -- are excessively violent as well, shooting a noncompliant client on the toilet. One black character threatens to beat another "like a runaway slave." The film includes brief gross images of bad teeth (during a presentation at a dental appliance convention), dead bodies, bad language (especially combinations of "ass," "shit," and the f-word), and fart/flatulence jokes. Characters smoke and drink, sell drugs.
Families might consider the film's use of rude jokes to get to a seemingly "family-friendly" point. Andy convinces Vann that he needs to pay attention to his young daughter (now living with her mother and stepfather). How does the movie maneuver between cop-buddy themes and PG-13 comedy themes? How do Andy's morality and idealism affect Vann's amorality and cynicism? How does the movie compare criminals and cops, so both look aggressive, self-absorbed, and small-minded?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Cynthia Fuchs
The time limit on the interracial buddy-cop formula has surely expired. And yet, THE MAN rehashes all the old jokes and inanities, bringing precious little that's entertaining or new. The mismatched couple this time consists of dental appliances salesman Andy (Eugene Levy), who comes to Detroit from Wisconsin for a convention (his wife warns him to be careful of the big city as he departs).
Within hours, he's met the primary reason for caution, ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) Agent Vann (Samuel L. Jackson), working on a case involving gunrunners and smarmy villains in open-necked designer shirts, headed by Joey Trent (Luke Goss). An initial mistaken identity allows for cop and hapless citizen to meet, and then they engage in the usual arguing over morals, ideals, and family structures: Vann believes you can't trust anyone and that his divorce stems from this premise; Andy sees the loving light in everyone, etc.
While Vann displays some especially egregious meanness, in particular, his abuses of his snitch/crook, Booty (Anthony Mackie, previously seen in She Hate Me and Brother to Brother, and definitely deserving a less offensive role), whom he kicks, smacks with a phone book and trashcan lid, hits with his car, and threatens to beat like a "runaway slave." At the same time, Vann feels pressure from Internal Affairs Agent Peters (Miguel Ferrer), investigating Vann's dead, corrupt partner's affiliations with the gunrunners, and Lt. Carbone (Susie Essman), reduced to stamping her foot and looking perturbed at Vann's antics.
Eventually, of course, Vann and Andy they come to appreciate one another's insights and form a team to combat the bad guys. Booty, alas, is left to his own meager devices.
Families who like this movie might also watch other buddy cop movies, most all more innovative than this one, including Lethal Weapon, Rush Hour, Eddie Murphy in Metro and of course, 48 Hours, which essentially set up the formula.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentA couple of cleavage shots, Andy in his boxers, references to homosexual anxieties, and fears of rape in prison. |
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ViolenceFrequent physical abuses, shooting, car crashing; Andy bites an opponent. |
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LanguageRepeated uses of "bitch," "ass," and "s--" one f-word, then running joke that alludes to it. |
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Social BehaviorCops and criminals are equally obnoxious and violent; film resorts to fart and pee jokes. |
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CommercialismCar named (Coupe de Ville). |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoCharacters drink and sell drugs. |
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