SHOWTIME (2002) *1/2 Robert De Niro and Eddie Murphy is percipient casting, but after the fact you have to wonder if it wasn't 20 years too late. Back then, of course, they would have no doubt delivered a creatively imbalanced and delightful paen to hedonists or other revolutionaries of the moment, by the time they get together here all they can think of is how reality cop shows are kind of funny. Still, on all cylinders these guys could deliver a masterwork on the inner workings of the Showtime cable channel janitorial staff...don't forget that Eddie cut his teeth, so to speak, with skits on topics as devoid of meaning as sticking telephones up his butt and the historic "thoughts that got stuck in my neck" lacerative deconstruction of Herschel Walker contract negotiations. So it didn't have to be like this unless you've read the formula, I mean script, and accept that actors are supposed to stick to it. De Niro is likeable (as always, or against type?) but he looks bored, and he's not the only one. Best performance is put in by Rene Russo as the television producer desperately getting in everyone's way by trying to be helpful, thinking only of herself as she spends all of her time manipulating others through the dark art of Hollywood gifting.
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