Un-Arresting Comedy
by Flick Chick Vique
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Reno 911!: Miami strong-arms 2 Red Vines for breaking house arrest. |
It’s a problem of pacing. From the very beginning, it’s off. I think that’s the main reason why I was disappointed with Reno 911!: Miami.
To say that I am a huge fan of the Comedy Central series would be an understatement. I’ve turned many a friend on to the TV series that skewers the reality show COPS. I’ve even bought seasons on DVD as Christmas gifts. Needless to say I couldn’t wait to see one of my favorite comedies on the big screen. After immersing myself in the endless pain and death filled Oscar entries, no one was up for a good laugh more than me!
Well, I got my laughs but I must confess, all affection aside, most of the laughs were weak.
Now you don’t need to be a fan or know a single thing about the series to jump right in without missing a thing. The script nicely introduces our intrepid cast of Reno’s finest doing what they do best or worst which is to uphold the law as they respond to various 911 calls. They are the ultimate screw-ups, making each situation they encounter worse than it was before they arrived. This is the basic premise of the series as well.
For the movie, the group takes a field trip to Miami for a big cop convention. But when their names don’t come up as being registered, they are denied entrance to the event or rooms at the hotel staging it. Deciding to make the best of their trip, they decide to ‘do’ Miami and get rooms at the only seedy hotel in town with rooms available. Things take a dramatic turn when all the officers at the convention are exposed to a toxic agent and must be quarantined. Now our guys and gals from Reno are the only police in town and must take care of Miami, Reno 911 style.
All the cast regulars are here and they don’t miss a beat. The lack of laughs is not due to any slacking on their part. They are all as great as they are on the series. And keep a lookout for cameo appearances from the likes of Danny DeVito, Paul Reubens and The Rock.
No, the fault lies in the writing and the pacing; both of which lie squarely on the shoulders of Ben Garant (Junior Travis) and Thomas Lennon (Jim Dangle). The team co-wrote the movie as they do the series and Garant even directed. While the movie is short (only 84 minutes), I think the length was still out of their league. And I’m not quite sure why that is, as the guys also wrote Night at the Museum with wonderful results. Here they seem to struggle and while the TV show is raunchy, they stoop even lower with not nearly the comic results.
Then again there’s that ugly issue of pacing. The movie seems slow! Right from the very beginning bits go on too long. Even the opening music was dreadfully slow. The TV series has very fast paced, almost frantic music and it really helps set the mood for the show. It’s also used as transitions between the individual segments — the different 911 calls. This movie really needed that musical element.
If you’re a fan, you’ll still enjoy the movie. But I doubt this version will do much to enhance the fan base.
Reno 911!: Miami is rated R for lots of sexual content and crude language, although it could have gotten that rating for Niecy Nash’s police thong alone! Yikes! What this gal won’t do for a laugh!
Did you see it?
Tell us what you thought of it!
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