EDDIE Murphy's reign of terror continues with Meet Dave, a lazy – even by his standards – high-concept family film that once again allows him to play multiple roles to no discernible comedic advantage.
Here he is cast as both a miniature alien on
a mission to save his home planet from extinction and the human-shaped spacecraft he pilots to Earth in search of an orb thingy that the film can't be bothered to explain properly.
The idea is that highly evolved mini Eddie guides life-sized mechanical Eddie through Manhattan where he gradually learns about matters of the heart from the various encounters he has. The film cost a reputed $100 million to make, though where that money has gone is anyone's guess – certainly not on the effects, which are so cheap-looking they make those on 1989's Honey, I Shrunk the Kids look cutting-edge; and not on the script either, which doesn't even bother with things such as introducing supporting characters before giving them key scenes to perform.
The film apparently tanked at the US box office last weekend, which might be the wake-up call that Murphy – who used to be really, really funny – needs. Then again, it might just encourage him to play it safe and make Norbit 2.
The full article contains 232 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
