‘Bowfinger’ Disappointing, Lacking In Laughs

Mon., Aug. 30, 1999

Kaylin Greene East Valley

After seeing the commercials for “Bowfinger,” the actual movie disappoints. If a movie is supposed to be hilarious, it had better be. And not just witty; one joke right after another funny.

But “Bowfinger” isn’t.

Don’t get me wrong. “Bowfinger” has some laughs, just not enough. At the beginning you think you’re in for a great movie. Don’t be naive.

The plot itself isn’t too bad, but it’s been done before. An unknown director (Steve Martin) needs a hit and tries to get a well-known actor (Eddie Murphy) be in his next movie. The actor isn’t interested, so the director lies to the cast, gets a nerd to be a stand in (also played by Murphy), and tries to do the movie anyway. Sounds like it could be extremely funny, right?

Nope. Hate to say it, but Martin really drags the movie down. (You’re supposed to be funny, Steve!) Fortunately, Murphy is better than Martin. Other lead actors include Heather Grahm who does OK, considering that every movie she’s in seems to call for someone who is “easy.” The funniest jokes in Bowfinger are about her “getting around.”

A friend of mine said that the end of the movie was the best. When I asked her why she thought that, she replied, “Because it was over.”

Grade: C

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