Murphy muddles through `Meet Dave'
Essentially phoning in the broad, family friendly shtick that
has become his trademark over the past decade, Murphy stars as both
a human-sized spaceship that has landed on Earth and its itty-bitty
captain, who is at the controls from inside the ship's head.
It's a high-concept premise from screenwriters Rob Greenberg
("Frasier") and Bill Corbett ("Mystery Science Theater 3000"),
but the execution is mostly lowbrow. Director Brian Robbins, whose
"Norbit" with Murphy last year looks like a bold slice of comic
genius by comparison, runs through a variety of bland
fish-out-of-water scenarios in workmanlike fashion. (And let's not
forget that for all eternity, we can refer to it as the Academy
Award-nominated "Norbit," since it was recognized for its complex
makeup.)
Dave, as the spaceship awkwardly names himself once he figures
out how to speak, must navigate the streets of New York as part of
his plan to drain Earth of all its water and bring the salt back to
his own planet. This requires him to hail cabs, go clothes shopping
(in what amounts to a shameless ad for Old Navy) and eventually
enter a hot-dog eating contest - which leads to the obligatory
bathroom gag afterward. Murphy's keen mimicry skills come in handy
when the character meets new people and copies their behavior in
hopes of blending in; it's good for a couple of laughs.
("Meet Dave," by the way, originally was known as "Starship
Dave," which made a whole lot more sense. But the sci-fi nature of
the name might have reminded people of Murphy's most infamous flop,
"The Adventures of Pluto Nash," and so perhaps that's why we have
this utterly forgettable title instead.)
At first, the captain and the other tiny beings who keep Dave
running (played by Ed Helms, Gabrielle Union and Kevin Hart, among
others) think this place is crude and confusing, which allows the
film to take some obvious stabs at the absurdity of pop culture
(Britney Spears, the Bee Gees, "Fantasy Island"). But, gosh,
wouldn't you know it? In time, they'll realize humanity isn't such
a cesspool after all, which manifests itself in the consumption of
mojitos, some MySpace browsing and an unfortunately over-the-top
gay stereotype.
The infinitely likable Elizabeth Banks ("The 40-Year-Old
Virgin," "Invincible") goes completely to waste as Gina, the
human who befriends him after accidentally hitting him with her
car. (Next up, she plays Laura Bush in Oliver Stone's "W.," which
will give her a better opportunity to show what she can do.)
But while everyone thinks Dave is kind of a weirdo for the
stiff, halting way he moves and talks, Gina's young son, Josh
(Austyn Lynd Myers), sees the potential for good in him from the
start. Likewise, kids in the audience will probably enjoy watching
Murphy walk in herky-jerky style down the street and giggle at the
physicality of his many misadventures.
Sure, they'll have fun. But they deserve better.
"Meet Dave," a 20th Century Fox release, is rated PG for bawdy
and suggestive humor, action and some language. Running time: 90
minutes. One and a half stars out of four.