Well, here's a counterpoint to Moriarty's take on the film. Personally I'm pulling for the film, as I like both Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy, though they both have made really bad (as well as great) movies in the past. Well.... we'll see....
Harry, the name is Lerner. I am writing my first review to you about Bowfinger after reading Moriarty's brown-nosing review of a truly awful movie. First let me give you an idea of my taste. A couple of favorite movies of the cuff would be Resevoir Dogs, True Romance, Whats Eating Gilbert Grape, Seven, Heat, Clerks, and Fearless. I enjoy Adam Sandler and the Kevin Smith movies in the comedy department. Now let me give you my feelings on the Bowfinger catastrophe. I had the opportunity to see the flick a couple weeks back in New Jersey, and had seen a couple of the postings on your site. After reading the Moriarty review, however, I had to take action. We all know the premise of the movie by now, with Steve Martin's producer/director attempting to put the superstar Eddie Murphy into his movie without Eddie knowing it. He is assisted by the dude from Scream and his cast includes Heather Graham and a couple of nameless actors. The movie attempts to satirize Scientology and Hollywood, and is unsuccessful in both. The humor is completely juvenile and sophmoric, without the bite you would really like to see. The two stars continue to pander to the banal without truly letting go and being as sharp as they can be. We know they CAN be funny, it is just too bad that they AREN'T. Steve Martin is hilarious in stand up, yet his movies SUCK. Who can remember The Out of Towners, Father of the Bride, or much else from his lackluster career. He has constantly underperformed in a majority of his movies. Eddie Murphy is lucky to be alive after Vampire in Brooklyn, Metro, Dr. Doolittle, and even The Nutty Professor (highly overrated). Oh, did I forget Holy Man, sorry, that one lasted about as long as it takes to read this review. He too is funnier in stand up, and in his SNL days. His early work in Trading Places, and the original Beverly Hills Cop was GREAT; now he is resorting to talking animals. This could have been a biting satirical look at the ass-kissing, ridiculous world that is Hollywood. Instead the crowd must endure silly faces made by Murphy and poor hamming it up from Martin. The overacting is silly, it just does not work. Simple as that. Universal moved the movie because it will and should get crushed. It would be better if they put it in a can and threw it off a cliff. I implore you all to go see The Astronauts Wife with REAL actors and talent, or Stigmata with marginal talent, that weekend, rather than sit through this drivel. I know the tone is harsh but this kind of unintelligent crap really puts me off. I hope you will post this Harry. Take care and please heed my warning. Bowfinger BITES.
