June 2002 Bad Company

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Reviewed by Wilson Morales Bad Company Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer & Mike Stenson Director: Joel Schumacher Screenplay: Jason Richman & Michael Browning Cast: Chris Rock, Anthony Hopkins, Gabriel Macht, Peter Stomare, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, Kerry Washington, Matthew Marsh and Brooke Smith It seems that Hollywood believes that a film can be made into a hit if there were enough elements to bring in different types of crowds. As one of the biggest producers in the industry, Jerry Bruckheimer has had hit after hit by inserting in his films a highly testosterone cast, or making the film suspenseful filled with action-packed scenes. It’s always a fun ride. This time he may strike out by pairing two gifted actors who have no chemistry to make this film as funny as it should. Buddy films tend to do well such as Mel Gibson & Danny Glover, Will Smith & Tommy Lee Jones. But with Chris Rock and Anthony Hopkins, the connection is missing even though the story action is tailor made for their personas. Gaylord Oakes (Hopkins) is a CIA agent on assignment in Prague trying to recover a nuclear bomb put on the black market. His trusted ally, Kevin Pope (Rock) is on the verge of completing the mission when he’s killed in the line of duty by a rival terrorist group. With days before the bomb is to be retrieve, Oakes sets out to convince the one man who pull the job off, Jake Hayes (Rock). Hayes happens to the twin brother Kevin was separated at birth from. Street-savvy, obnoxious, and bungling, Hayes believes this is his chance to make some money and stop his girlfriend (Washington) from leaving town. Little does he know that posing as his dead brother would pose a threat on his life and his family. Eager to survive, protect his family and serve his duty, Hayes wises up and joins Oakes to stop the terrorists from having the upper hand. Bad Company is a fun-watching movie that doesn’t work because the chemistry between the two leads is so distant. Hopkins is bland in his role as the mentor/leader of his group. His expressions seem too real as if he knows he’s walking through this role. Rock, for all the acclaim he has received in the last few years, displays little funny bones. His comedic scenes seem forced and trite. Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon and Kerry Washington are wasted in their roles, merely serving as female props. Brooke Smith gets more mileage in her light unspoken scenes. Initially shown to be bright on the streets with some common sense, Rock’s Jake suddenly becomes dumber as he joins the CIA. Go figure? Unlike “The Sum of All Fears”, where the threat of a nuclear bomb seems possible, this film is so fictional in light of recent events regarding 9/11. As in most Bruckheimer films, there is plenty of action filled scenes to overcome the lame script. Schumacher’s directing is not off because he’s working with a tailor made script. Problem is someone forgot to tell the leads to bring their “A” game with them.