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The Man
By Cynthia Fuchs,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Sad excuse for a movie, not for younger teens.

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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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What's the Story?
Dental appliances salesman Andy Fiddler (Eugene Levy) comes to Detroit from Wisconsin for a convention. ATF Agent Derrick Vann (Samuel L. Jackson), whose partner was just killed, is working on a case involving gunrunners, headed by Joey Trent (Luke Goss). When Vann arranges an undercover buy, Fiddler is mistaken for the buyer, and Vann then needs his help on the case.
Is It Any Good?
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.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about 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?
Movie Details
- In theaters: September 9, 2005
- On DVD or streaming: January 17, 2006
- Cast: Eugene Levy , Luke Goss , Samuel L. Jackson
- Director: Les Mayfield
- Inclusion Information: Black actors
- Studio: New Line
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 104 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: language, rude dialogue and some violence.
- Last updated: April 5, 2023
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