A MARTIN LAWRENCE WORKOUT.Byline: Bob Strauss Film Critic A basically bulletproof Refers to extremely stable hardware and/or software that cannot be brought down no matter what unusual conditions arise. See industrial strength. bulletproof - Used of an algorithm or implementation considered extremely robust; lossage-resistant; capable of correctly idea - an ex-con masquerades as a cop, then proves a better detective than any veteran on the force - gets efficient but uninspired rendering in ``Blue Streak blue streak n. Informal 1. Something moving very fast. 2. A rapid and seemingly interminable stream of words: curse a blue streak. .'' It's a knockoff knock·off n. Informal An unauthorized copy or imitation, as of designer clothing: "the place to go for quality knockoffs" Women's Wear Daily. Noun 1. of ``48 HRS.'' knockoffs, and you've got to like Martin Lawrence Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence[1] (born April 16, 1965) is an American actor, comedian, director and producer. He came to fame during the 1990s, establishing a Hollywood career as a leading actor. to get anything out of it. But if you can accept those conditions, you're in for a breezy good time that requires absolutely no work to enjoy. Lawrence plays Miles Logan, a high-tech jewel thief with an unusually winning personality for someone in his line of work. When the heist of a big diamond from a downtown L.A. vault goes awry, he hides it in a construction site before the cops close in. Upon his parole, Miles heads back to the finished building - which, to his horror, is now a fully staffed police precinct headquarters. With daring born of desperation, Miles gets fake papers and walks into the cop shop as a transfer detective from far out east. All he wants is to get into the ventilation shaft where his treasure waits and get out, but circumstances keep calling him to active duty. Where, to his own and everyone else's surprise, he shines; hip to the criminal mind-set, Miles can sniff out everything from insurance fraud to a hinky Hinky is law enforcement jargon used by U.S. police officers to denote a situation in which circumstances, people, activities, or objects justify investigation, but the specific reason for the action is not yet clear. drug deal in record time. Further complications are sent his way in the form of former colleagues Tulley (Dave Chappelle), a loose-lipped loose cannon of the Chris Tucker school whom Miles has to bust, and the ruthless Deacon (Peter Greene), who tried to hijack the original diamond heist and is still capable of anything. Luke Wilson does Judge Reinhold duty as Miles' green, admiring but somewhat alarmed detective partner. Obviously, this is by-the-book action comedy of a rigidly formulaic sort. But Lawrence rightly viewed it as a showcase for his over-the-top talents. He wears funny disguises, does wacky impromptu dances, gets in brutally slapstick slapstick Comedy characterized by broad humour, absurd situations, and vigorous, often violent action. It took its name from a paddlelike device, probably introduced by 16th-century commedia dell'arte troupes, that produced a resounding whack when one comic actor used it to fights and has to play even the sedate se·date v. To administer a sedative to; calm or relieve by means of a sedative drug. scenes at several simultaneous levels of reality. His big strength has always been his raucous comic energy, and this film gives him more opportunity to capitalize on it than any he's made before. But even though it has a lot of big moments, it's not a uniformly broad performance. Lawrence has some good, quiet bonding exchanges with Wilson and an impressive way of still being funny while Chappelle's doing really crazy stuff. The director is Les Mayfield, whose dire but improving feature filmography film·og·ra·phy n. pl. film·og·ra·phies A comprehensive list of movies in a particular category, as of those by a given director or in a specific genre. runs from ``Encino Man'' through the ``Miracle on 34th Street'' remake to the screechy screech n. 1. A high-pitched, strident cry. 2. A sound suggestive of this cry: the screech of train brakes. v. screeched, screech·ing, screech·es v. but inventive ``Flubber.'' ``Blue Streak'' is far and away his slickest work; it zips along at an effortless trot while sustaining an easy-to-take attitude. It's utterly forgettable for·get·ta·ble adj. Fit or apt to be forgotten: a movie with very forgettable characters. Adj. 1. forgettable - easily forgotten unforgettable - impossible to forget fun. But unlike many movies with similarly modest aspirations, at least it's fun. The Facts The film: ``Blue Streak'' (PG-13; violence, language). The stars: Martin Lawrence, Luke Wilson, Dave Chappelle, Peter Greene. Behind the scenes: Directed by Les Mayfield. Written by Michael Berry, John Blumenthal and Steve Carpenter. Produced by Toby Jaffe and Neal H. Moritz. Released by Columbia Pictures. Running time: One hour, 33 minutes. Playing: Citywide. Our rating: Three stars. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Martin Lawrence is a thief-turned-cop in ``Blue Streak.' |
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