Murphy’s follow-up to last year’s universally panned "Norbit", is the family sci-fi comedy "Meet Dave". And while it’s content is far less offensive than that of its predecessor, the quality of the movie is equally atrocious.
FOCUS ON FAMILY FILMS
One has to respect Murphy for his decision to focus his attention on more "family" affairs. The star originally made a name for himself in the 80’s through a series of raunchy stand-up films like "Raw" and "Delirious", whilst simultaneously dominating the box office with memorable turns in "Beverly Hills Cop", "48 Hours" and "Coming to America". In the late 90’s, however, the comedian began focusing on family films such as "Mulan", "Doctor Dolittle" and "Daddy Day Care". His intention was to appear in movies that he felt comfortable bringing his children to see. The idea was not only admirable, but profitable, culminating with his pitch-perfect potrayl of "Donkey" in the astoundingly popular "Shrek" series.
While "Meet Dave" has very little offensive content, the movie itself is an assault on the senses. It’s a muddled, uninspired, and exhausting "comedy" about an elite group of aliens who travel to Earth to retrieve a mystical orb. Because the extra-terrestrials (who speak in English and have the same mannerisms as humans) are minuscule in size, they must travel in a vessel that will blend in with the Earthlings around them. The pod, in turn, is molded into the likeness of the ship’s captain, and the team must work together to make the mechanical "human" function properly. Murphy plays the captain, as well as his ship, which is quickly given the name, "Dave".
As it turns out, the intergalactic orb his been picked up by a lonely boy named Josh (Austin Lynd Myers). In a woefully convenient set of circumstances, Josh’s fluttery mother Gina (Elizabeth Banks) runs Dave over with her SUV. In an effort to evade vehicular manslaughter charges, Gina befriends the bizarre man, and invites him into their home. Despite his inexplicably odd behavior, mother and son befriend the fish-out-of-water, and soon the majority of the crew grows smitten with their Earthly guides.
A COMEDY DEVOID OF LAUGHS
The biggest problem facing "Meet Dave" is the fact that it’s one-joke premise delivers the same
punchline that Murphy has been pushing on audiences for the better part of a decade. Whereas the "multiply-roles-are-funny" schtick worked for a while, it’s grown increasingly tired and unoriginal. One can only see the same body-humor jokes so many times before they stop being funny, and for Murphy, that ship sailed long ago.
As a fusion of "Innerspace" and "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids", "Meet Dave" could have worked. The market for family friendly fare has never been higher, and had Murphy done more, this could have been a slam-dunk. Sadly, the laughs simply aren’t there. Elizabeth Banks, as Gina Morrison, is the only reason to tune into this lowly slop. While the film is falling apart around her, she possess an electric energy that forces her to become the focal point of the feature, and allows the viewer to disassociate themselves from the drivel that surrounds her. Unfortunately, not even her radiant presence can save this atomic bomb.
GRADE- F
