Turn that crap off
The downward spiral of Robert De Niro
REVIEW
SHOWTIME
Starring Robert De Niro and Eddie Murphy
Directed by Tom Dey
Now showing
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There was a time when heading down to the multiplex to catch "the new De Niro" picture meant a guaranteed cinematic experience. Since his unexpected transformation into a slack-jawed comedy star with Analyze This, De Niro's quality control has gone straight out the window in the name of lame jokes and self-parody. In addition to Showtime, which finally pairs De Niro with, um, Eddie Murphy, a quick glance at Bobby's upcoming film schedule shows no change in direction for at least the next 12 months. (And you thought The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle was just a phase he was going through.) Personally, I can't imagine anyone who's anxiously awaiting either Analyze That or Meet The Fockers.
But really, there must be some reasonable explanation for De Niro's about-face from serious actor to spaghetti-soft hack:
(a) He’s finally decided to live up to his last name. (Get it? De Niro? Ha ha! Ka-ching!)
(b) He’s grown tired of his tough guy image, and wants to reveal the "softer side of De Niro." Laugh or he’ll sick Pesci on you.
(c) He’s always wanted to work with Eddie Murphy.
Perhaps the sudden shift from champagne to dog crap in what was once one of the finest film resumés of the past 30 years serves as a deeper comment on the current state of American cinema. Or perhaps the real talent always rested with De Niro’s directors, little gnomes like Martin Scorsese who pulled the strings behind the golden curtain.
Whatever the case, Showtime is a two-hour void – a supposed satire of the buddy-cop form in which all of the tired rules of the genre are followed to mind-numbing perfection.
You ain’t nobody, De Niro. But you coulda been a contender. |
