From watching trailers and commercials for Blue Streak, it's quickly evident that the Martin Lawrence starring vehicle is not a movie out to try to garner Oscar nominations or critics awards. But it may receive one notable accolade despite itself: the title of worst movie of the year.
For two hours the audience is treated to highly contrived scenes where Logan is constantly in the wrong place at the wrong time and, disregarding all ramifications of his actions, dispenses his own brand of vigilante justice. He chases robbers across the Mexican border despite the fact they are out of his jurisdiction; he searches trucks without a warrant; he beats suspects into confessing crimes.
For his actions Logan should have been fired hundreds of time over. But since this is a movie, and because Lawrence is the star, he instead earns the respect of the entire dim-witted police force, including Carlson (Luke Wilson), his rookie partner who acts like he just transferred from Mayberry.
Despite Logan's incredibly suspicious behavior (he's caught about half a dozen times scouring the air vents for starters), his colleagues fail to put two and two together. When they do ask questions, Logan is able to fend them off with ludicrous stories that only the most brain dead of human beings would believe. He is treated as a savior of a department which has been on the hot seat of late due to its perceived incompetence. Since these detectives are unable to uncover Logan's true identity considering his paper-thin alibis, it's safe to say the criticism was justified.
There's no disguising Blue Streak, however, for what it is: a poorly written, acted and directed debacle only brought to the big screen due to Columbia Pictures' evident desire for the almighty dollar.
At the root of the problem is the pathetic effort put forward by scribes John Blumenthal and Michael Berry. The pair, whose only other writing credits are for the 1990 film Short Time starring Dabney Coleman, seem to have written only a vague outline of staged formulatic scenes and left the cast and crew to figure out the rest. Director Les Mayfield, previously responsible for the dismal failures Flubber and Encino Man, makes it 0-for-three. Not one scene evolves with any kind of purpose other than to accent Lawrence's comic stylings.
Lawrence really can't be blamed for anything other than signing on to what he should have been able to tell was destined to be a bad film. Throughout the film he gives his best efforts to generate laughs, even dressing as a pizza delivery guy that bears a striking resemblance to Ol' Dirty Bastard. Unfortunately he lacks the charisma and comic timing to carry a film as he is asked to do. It's seriously doubtful whether, placed in more capable hands, the picture could have been a success. But with Lawrence trying vainly to salvage the film all by himself, Blue Streak proves to be a failure in every way imaginable.
For two hours the audience is treated to highly contrived scenes where Logan is constantly in the wrong place at the wrong time and, disregarding all ramifications of his actions, dispenses his own brand of vigilante justice. He chases robbers across the Mexican border despite the fact they are out of his jurisdiction; he searches trucks without a warrant; he beats suspects into confessing crimes.
For his actions Logan should have been fired hundreds of time over. But since this is a movie, and because Lawrence is the star, he instead earns the respect of the entire dim-witted police force, including Carlson (Luke Wilson), his rookie partner who acts like he just transferred from Mayberry.
Despite Logan's incredibly suspicious behavior (he's caught about half a dozen times scouring the air vents for starters), his colleagues fail to put two and two together. When they do ask questions, Logan is able to fend them off with ludicrous stories that only the most brain dead of human beings would believe. He is treated as a savior of a department which has been on the hot seat of late due to its perceived incompetence. Since these detectives are unable to uncover Logan's true identity considering his paper-thin alibis, it's safe to say the criticism was justified.
There's no disguising Blue Streak, however, for what it is: a poorly written, acted and directed debacle only brought to the big screen due to Columbia Pictures' evident desire for the almighty dollar.
At the root of the problem is the pathetic effort put forward by scribes John Blumenthal and Michael Berry. The pair, whose only other writing credits are for the 1990 film Short Time starring Dabney Coleman, seem to have written only a vague outline of staged formulatic scenes and left the cast and crew to figure out the rest. Director Les Mayfield, previously responsible for the dismal failures Flubber and Encino Man, makes it 0-for-three. Not one scene evolves with any kind of purpose other than to accent Lawrence's comic stylings.
Lawrence really can't be blamed for anything other than signing on to what he should have been able to tell was destined to be a bad film. Throughout the film he gives his best efforts to generate laughs, even dressing as a pizza delivery guy that bears a striking resemblance to Ol' Dirty Bastard. Unfortunately he lacks the charisma and comic timing to carry a film as he is asked to do. It's seriously doubtful whether, placed in more capable hands, the picture could have been a success. But with Lawrence trying vainly to salvage the film all by himself, Blue Streak proves to be a failure in every way imaginable.
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