The Adventures of Pluto Nash
Directed by Ron Underwood
Written by Neil Cuthbert
Starring Eddie Murphy, Rosario Dawson, Dennis Quaid, John Cleese, Peter Boyle, Jay Mohr
Release Date August 16th, 2002
There have been a lot of bad things said about The Adventures Of Pluto Nash, a lot of those things stemming from the film's mega-budget and two-year shelf life. A lot of bad things continue to be said, but not by me. While Pluto Nash isn't a great film it's not nearly as bad as many people say it is. Indeed, there are times when even the most talented critics have their knives out preemptively, overly preparing to write a negative review of a movie that arrives with a bit of baggage.
Eddie Murphy is Pluto Nash, the most popular nightclub owner on the moon. Things couldn't be better, especially after he hires a gorgeous new waitress named Dina (Rosario Dawson). Things change quickly however after Pluto refuses to sell his club to a mobster named Crater. After the club is blown up, Pluto, Dina and Pluto's robot bodyguard Bruno (Dennis Quaid) go on the run and eventually go after Crater. They are helped along the way by a great supporting cast including Pam Grier, Peter Boyle, Jay Mohr, and Luis Guzman.
It's good to see the old cocky, confident Eddie Murphy back even if he isn't at the top of his game. As Pluto Nash, Murphy is back as the conman always two steps ahead of everyone else. Here he’s far more appealing than his recent buffoonish turn in Showtime. Eddie Murphy needs to stop market testing his humor and let loose and in The Adventures of Pluto Nash, he’s almost back to his best. If only he’d stop listening to the people who push him toward PG-13 trash over his more comfortable R-rated space.
Pluto Nash is a unique combination of 40's gangster movies with cheesy 50's sci-fi and it's those touches of classic genre that provide the film its comic atmosphere. The more modern humor, such as having Hillary Clinton's face on the hundred-dollar bill, isn't funny, admittedly but every comedy has a clunker or two.. Many people, without even seeing this film, said it would suck. I was one of them, if I am being honest. The evidence for the film stinking out loud was overwhelming. So, perhaps, the best review I could give The Adventures Of Pluto Nash is to say that it doesn't completely suck.
