Director George Gallo penned MIDNIGHT RUN, one of the very best action / buddy-buddy pictures ever to have graced our screens. More than ten years on, and this feels like an ill-advised and incredibly anaemic imitation. The lead characters here are marginally appealing, but as the script races on at breakneck speed and virtually collapses under the number of twists, they are given precious room to develop and engage our sympathies. It all feels so very daft and inconsequential in the final analysis. A time-filler at best, but in the context of MIDNIGHT RUN, also a considerable letdown.
55 Reviews
Better than I expected
MovieAddict20162 March 2006
I caught this during a weekend afternoon on Comedy Central and was pleasantly surprised. I expected an insulting and stupid buddy movie, but found myself somewhat entertained. I guess that's the point, anyway - it's not high art; just an amusing, OK film that has a few good jokes and amiable enough performances.
Orlando Jones plays a Harvard-educated lawyer who becomes involved in a murder conspiracy. He decides to make a run for Mexico to meet the only person who believes him at a rendezvous point - but along the way runs into authorities and, in an effort to ditch them, switches identities with an apparently homeless druggie (played by Eddie Griffin).
The two men essentially play each other for the duration of the film - Griffin pretending to be a high-class black man and the educated black male stereotype pretending to be a loud-mouth black stereotype.
Is this movie racist? I wouldn't say that. But it does rely on many stereotypes. Nevertheless, it comes across as passable due to the amusing performances and pace of the movie.
It's nothing great, but it helped me pass the time on a dreary afternoon.
Orlando Jones plays a Harvard-educated lawyer who becomes involved in a murder conspiracy. He decides to make a run for Mexico to meet the only person who believes him at a rendezvous point - but along the way runs into authorities and, in an effort to ditch them, switches identities with an apparently homeless druggie (played by Eddie Griffin).
The two men essentially play each other for the duration of the film - Griffin pretending to be a high-class black man and the educated black male stereotype pretending to be a loud-mouth black stereotype.
Is this movie racist? I wouldn't say that. But it does rely on many stereotypes. Nevertheless, it comes across as passable due to the amusing performances and pace of the movie.
It's nothing great, but it helped me pass the time on a dreary afternoon.
As what I thought it would be
Quinoa198413 January 2001
Double Take turned out how I thought it would've been from the trailer and TV spots- fair. It didn't become better than I thought, however it didn't lower my expectations either and I have to give it that. The problem is is that the film usually doesn't work and changes it's tune (ie plot) more frequently that Elvis Costello on SNL. At times the plot gets so confused you wonder how the people who thought this was just going to be a buddy movie with Orlando Jones and Eddie Griffin felt. The film does have it's moments and even has some laughs in it (my favorite gag is the running gag with the guy with the glass eye), but not enough to get it up. Griffin does good though. C+
Review
MissCoco6911 February 2001
What it is jive turkey?!
I don't think I've ever seen a movie that could include so many different film genres in a little less than 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has humor, action, a little drama, and with all those emus.horror (not to mention the freaky guy with the marble for an eye). Personally, even though the movie got confusing at times, I liked this movie (with the exception of the fact I went with a friend who laughed through just about the whole thing and made me miss ¼ of the dialogue). I guess being a younger person I caught a lot of the stuff that some adults just didn't get. In the end the whole movie made sense to me, to a lot of other people it didn't, it was just funny. Any ways, since this is a review it looks like I better summarize what the whole thing is about for you:
The movie's main characters are two guys that are like night and day and pretty much seem to dislike each other through most of the movie. First there's Daryl Chase, played by Orlando Jones (yes, that's the guy in the 7-Up commercials, OMG, who will be playing a drag queen named Miss Coco in an upcoming movie!), the sophisticated `good-looking' (as you can see, that's not my personal opinion, I just picked it up from another review) Harvard graduate who is a New York investment banker. Second you have Freddy Tiffany, played by Eddie Griffin (he stars is Master P's `Foolish', yeah, you can call me a fool but you can't fool me. You know that song.maybe.), who is a fast-talking street hustler with a mess of hair and a gold chain and oh.how can we forget his dog Delores (played by Willow Stars). Like I said before, they have basically nothing in common. Well blah de blah (I can't tell you the whole thing) they meet each other under weird circumstances then Daryl finds himself is big trouble because he is framed for something and soon he and Freddy switch places and head off to the wonderful place called Mexico. Needless to say many weird and strange things happen on their way to Mexico and even when they get there. We even get to see a smelly emu ranch called `El Emu Ranch' which has a 20-foot emu structure. After all this happens you may be confused or this all might make total sense to you, it depends on you.
Out of a 10 I give this movie a 9. It was confusing and will be confusing to many people which is why I took a point off because I personally found it VERY amusing. It's not every day you see a sophisticated, well educated guy using some type of ghetto voice shouting about how there's `no Schiltz malt 'licka', right? Or we can't forget the adorable and funny dog Delores who's right up there with the adorable dog from `As Good As It Gets' but I forgot that dog's name. Then there's all those funny lines which I won't share, you can find out for yourself, because most of them aren't in any of the previews. ANY WAYS, this pretty much concludes my review of `Double Take', I will end it with a somewhat simple question to you.WTF is a jive turkey?!
I don't think I've ever seen a movie that could include so many different film genres in a little less than 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has humor, action, a little drama, and with all those emus.horror (not to mention the freaky guy with the marble for an eye). Personally, even though the movie got confusing at times, I liked this movie (with the exception of the fact I went with a friend who laughed through just about the whole thing and made me miss ¼ of the dialogue). I guess being a younger person I caught a lot of the stuff that some adults just didn't get. In the end the whole movie made sense to me, to a lot of other people it didn't, it was just funny. Any ways, since this is a review it looks like I better summarize what the whole thing is about for you:
The movie's main characters are two guys that are like night and day and pretty much seem to dislike each other through most of the movie. First there's Daryl Chase, played by Orlando Jones (yes, that's the guy in the 7-Up commercials, OMG, who will be playing a drag queen named Miss Coco in an upcoming movie!), the sophisticated `good-looking' (as you can see, that's not my personal opinion, I just picked it up from another review) Harvard graduate who is a New York investment banker. Second you have Freddy Tiffany, played by Eddie Griffin (he stars is Master P's `Foolish', yeah, you can call me a fool but you can't fool me. You know that song.maybe.), who is a fast-talking street hustler with a mess of hair and a gold chain and oh.how can we forget his dog Delores (played by Willow Stars). Like I said before, they have basically nothing in common. Well blah de blah (I can't tell you the whole thing) they meet each other under weird circumstances then Daryl finds himself is big trouble because he is framed for something and soon he and Freddy switch places and head off to the wonderful place called Mexico. Needless to say many weird and strange things happen on their way to Mexico and even when they get there. We even get to see a smelly emu ranch called `El Emu Ranch' which has a 20-foot emu structure. After all this happens you may be confused or this all might make total sense to you, it depends on you.
Out of a 10 I give this movie a 9. It was confusing and will be confusing to many people which is why I took a point off because I personally found it VERY amusing. It's not every day you see a sophisticated, well educated guy using some type of ghetto voice shouting about how there's `no Schiltz malt 'licka', right? Or we can't forget the adorable and funny dog Delores who's right up there with the adorable dog from `As Good As It Gets' but I forgot that dog's name. Then there's all those funny lines which I won't share, you can find out for yourself, because most of them aren't in any of the previews. ANY WAYS, this pretty much concludes my review of `Double Take', I will end it with a somewhat simple question to you.WTF is a jive turkey?!
What, no "Seven Up Liquor"? -->This movie isn't representin', it ain't kepn it Real....
ryangilmer0079 February 2001
Double Take is a film that makes you wonder how a pretty good premise like "Across the Bridge" (1957) can be turned into such a convoluted piece of... (anyway a very bad movie).
There really is no way to descibe or spoil the movie because the plot is such a mess. For example here is a plot summary--> there is a good guy (Orlando Jones) and a bad guy (Eddie Griffin) who has a dog that hates the good guy, but then the good guy is framed (by apparently the bad guys using what is called a "Double Take", but was he really framed by the good guys imitating the bad guys? So, then the bad guy (Griffin) changes places with the good guy (Jones). Only to have (Jones become a bad guy in another country where the now good-bad-guy (Griffin) killed a really bad guy and stole his dog for evidence (only no wait, he didn't really kill him either (probably another double take, i dont remember who really killed him, I think it was a bad guy).
So then wait, Jones apparently had a child with someone so that they could pull a " double take" on the real bad guys, only Griffin is still bad and the U.S. cops are bad, but the undercover cops are good, but the undercover mofia as undercover cops are bad, and eventually the head moffia boss guy is also good, but only until he is bad again.
And then.....
Well, if you made it this far and really want to know, watch the movie.
It has a few nice points (mainly around a beginning that references The Godfather (look for oranges, which signify death). The bit about "Slitz malt liquor is good too).
But that is about it, a few good quotes does not a good movie make and Double Take gives you the fealing of, "Heah, maybe I can throw a good idea (or a zillion) at you". One of them has got to stick.
The problem is that with so many ideas and concepts and bads and goods, and mechanical pen gismos used to call in the national guard, Double Take ain't kepn it Real. It sure isn't representing the original 1957 movie idea.
Viewed in theatres (35mm) Rated:1
There really is no way to descibe or spoil the movie because the plot is such a mess. For example here is a plot summary--> there is a good guy (Orlando Jones) and a bad guy (Eddie Griffin) who has a dog that hates the good guy, but then the good guy is framed (by apparently the bad guys using what is called a "Double Take", but was he really framed by the good guys imitating the bad guys? So, then the bad guy (Griffin) changes places with the good guy (Jones). Only to have (Jones become a bad guy in another country where the now good-bad-guy (Griffin) killed a really bad guy and stole his dog for evidence (only no wait, he didn't really kill him either (probably another double take, i dont remember who really killed him, I think it was a bad guy).
So then wait, Jones apparently had a child with someone so that they could pull a " double take" on the real bad guys, only Griffin is still bad and the U.S. cops are bad, but the undercover cops are good, but the undercover mofia as undercover cops are bad, and eventually the head moffia boss guy is also good, but only until he is bad again.
And then.....
Well, if you made it this far and really want to know, watch the movie.
It has a few nice points (mainly around a beginning that references The Godfather (look for oranges, which signify death). The bit about "Slitz malt liquor is good too).
But that is about it, a few good quotes does not a good movie make and Double Take gives you the fealing of, "Heah, maybe I can throw a good idea (or a zillion) at you". One of them has got to stick.
The problem is that with so many ideas and concepts and bads and goods, and mechanical pen gismos used to call in the national guard, Double Take ain't kepn it Real. It sure isn't representing the original 1957 movie idea.
Viewed in theatres (35mm) Rated:1
Decent comedy
debbiedowner66116 July 2001
I wasn't expecting a whole lot from this movie. The trailers that I'd remembered seeing were pretty funny, but I'd assumed that those were the best parts of Double Take. Anyway, I watched it nonetheless and didn't think it was half bad. There were several parts not included in the trailer that were laugh-out-loud funny. Some might be offended by the fact that Griffen's character is (in the filmic sense) a "coon." Although nowhere near as good a comedy as Blazing Saddles, it is comparable in certain aspects. Double Take could be considered racist, but like Blazing Saddles, it uses racial stereotypes to emphasize the stupidity of their existence. Here, instead of black vs. white, we see upper-class African-Americans ashamed of the Sambo stereotype, and thus not associating with other African-Americans with lower social status. I'm not sure if this message was intentional in Double Take, but it was there nonetheless. Orlando Jones had a pretty good performance and Griffen was a convincing character (some might say he was over-the-top, but again I'd say this was essential). One problem was that the movie quite suddenly switched gears from a comedy to a somewhat serious action/suspense flick. I felt the heavy emphasis upon the latter took away from its comic moral message and made the movie shallower. So, it had potential. They could have recruited a few more writers to add in funnier jokes. All in all, a 6 out of 10.
The second worst movie of 2001
DunnDeeDaGreat21 October 2001
This was the second worst movie I saw in 2001. Orlando Jones & Eddie Griffin are wasted in a movie that was made for it seems like safe black humor. If the film had more action and had been rated R maybe it would have been okay but it was just horrible. George Gailo who had input on Midnigth Run should be ashamed of himself for this stinker.
Pretty good! Who knew?
ElJay-W12 January 2001
Considering that Double Take is marketed like a spinoff of the old TV show "In Living Color", I was very surprised when I found a real action/adventure joint along the lines of Bad Boys here. It actually has a very well written plot to it.
A little whodunit with some action and some comedy to keep it fun. They even had an Old School dance sequence thrown in (believe it or not)that had me going, "Oh snap! I haven't seen THAT since middle school!"
Both Eddie Griffin and (the 7UP dude) prove that they can both actually act. That was the LAST thing I was expecting - and that's a GOOD thing!
Go see it.
A little whodunit with some action and some comedy to keep it fun. They even had an Old School dance sequence thrown in (believe it or not)that had me going, "Oh snap! I haven't seen THAT since middle school!"
Both Eddie Griffin and (the 7UP dude) prove that they can both actually act. That was the LAST thing I was expecting - and that's a GOOD thing!
Go see it.
I've expected more...
stuffed20 July 2001
When i rented the DVD, the story and pictures on the cover seemed fun, but when i got to the middle of the movie i almost fell asleep. The movie confuses it's watcher so much that it brings him to a point that he cannot understand who are the good guys and who are the bad. The hero doesn't knows who to trust, too much talking and hardly no action.. The movie has a few humoristic moments, some action here and there but no more..
You can surely skip it...
You can surely skip it...
4.8!?
andre_rd0228 March 2009
I am aware that this is NOT an exceptional film. There are flaws, there are clichés and there is an extremely happy ending.
The plot is not mind-bending either, it is, at the most, an alright plot.
However, it is not the storyline that makes this movie special. It is deemed for being unique, different, and incredibly entertaining. Eddie Griffin (aka Freddy Tiffany) is pure comedy, along with Dolores which becomes a signature symbol of the movie.
All in all, not a perfect a movie. It is, however, a great film for a lazy Sunday afternoon. 7/10
The plot is not mind-bending either, it is, at the most, an alright plot.
However, it is not the storyline that makes this movie special. It is deemed for being unique, different, and incredibly entertaining. Eddie Griffin (aka Freddy Tiffany) is pure comedy, along with Dolores which becomes a signature symbol of the movie.
All in all, not a perfect a movie. It is, however, a great film for a lazy Sunday afternoon. 7/10
NO!
skiremy15 September 2001
Do not be fooled. This movie is terrible. It looks like a humorous situational comedy involving two men who need to change places to evade the police. It is not. The movie stumbles between a horrible crime who done it and cheep slapstick comedy. The movie's main fault lies in that no scene lasts for more than twenty seconds, and as a result does not allow for any jokes. This is a comedy with out jokes. If you take jokes away from a comedy your left with nothing, no plot, no characters, no entertainment. Nothing. Do not watch this movie under any circumstances. If someone tries tells you this is a good movie hit them with a pointed stick and say, NO! If you watch this understand what you're getting into and don't say I didn't warn you.
Best One Liners in a Long Time
MatrixofLeadership3 August 2001
All right, I'll admit the movie itself lacked in certain places (such as extensive lag time in key areas), but I was on the floor crying with the great quips each lead character used. There is no doubt Griffin and Jones are wonderful comedic actors...Jones' performance in Replacements is proof positive of his talent. The problem most people have, though, is they can't see his ability clearly because of career moves he has taken. In Double Take, though, both Jones and Griffin shine in two different comedic styles, both jaw dropping funny and incredibly illustrated. I rented this movie solely to see Jones, and now I have a newfound respect for Griffin's ability, as well.
Decent action flick
reddwarf-49 January 2001
The trailers are better...
rizob27 January 2001
It's not too often that I really want to see a particular movie. But this was one of those exceptions. The trailers were pretty funny, and I figured if they were just a small segment of what the rest of the movie is like... it should be hilarious. Well, I think they used the funniest parts of the movie to put in those trailers. It seems like the movie is focused just as much on action and plot as it is humor (which I didn't really expect since the trailer portrayed it as mostly comedy). The only problem with that is the movie is so complicated and twisted that I lost interest in its story early on. The movie could have been redeemed if it had great action sequences. But it doesn't. The movie could have been redeemed if it were fall-on-the-floor funny. But it isn't.
The story is the number one problem. There are too many twists and turns. In some movies that can add some suspense and mystery. But in this movie, it just fails. And I think it's because the movie tries to be too much. It tries too hard to be a great action film, a comedy, and a twisted mystery-esque flick (I'm not sure what you could call it). Had it placed all its energy in one or even two of those... I think it could have been much better.
And to top it off... I don't think there is much comedic chemistry between Jones and Griffin. The trailers look promising in that area too, but again, the movie falls short.
The story is the number one problem. There are too many twists and turns. In some movies that can add some suspense and mystery. But in this movie, it just fails. And I think it's because the movie tries to be too much. It tries too hard to be a great action film, a comedy, and a twisted mystery-esque flick (I'm not sure what you could call it). Had it placed all its energy in one or even two of those... I think it could have been much better.
And to top it off... I don't think there is much comedic chemistry between Jones and Griffin. The trailers look promising in that area too, but again, the movie falls short.
Hilarious Surprise
jbeatty-125 July 2001
I watch virtually every movie released to video and I love it when I dont expect a movie to be as good as this one was. If you like the humor of the classic 1987 movie "Real Men" movie with Ritter and Belushi and if you liked the comic attitude found in "Blue Streak" then this is definitely a movie you will like. With the two actors Orlando and Eddie not being known as an infamous comic duo I certainly would have thought after seeing this movie that they have done this together before. I found many possibly subtle parodic similarities to movies like The Silver Streak and Stir Crazy which although you might think im out of the ballpark on this one, I couldnt help but to laugh my butt off! The directing was professionally witty and the writing was smarter than most any movie that is currently available for rent. I can only say that there is a bright future not only for these actors in comedy roles and that I am astonished that this movie has been created out of a 1957 screenplay. It definitely has been perfectly formulated to work in the current setting in which it was portrayed. Bottom line is that I highly recommend this movie to anyone who loves a sleeper comedy mixed with some well thought up schemes. Maybe those of you who are fans of violent humor in the the british-heist movies such as Snatch and Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels will relate to the mixture of violence and comedy as well here. And I want to know if anyone else caught the clear irony between the pen scene in this movie and the pen scene in the movie Real Men. Tell me that wasnt inspired by a great movie! Watch this movie! If you pay attention.. you will laugh!
Probably the worst film I haven't seen
youwine25 May 2004
Hey, this film was awful. I mean, there are bad films that are so terrible they are fun to watch. But this one just goes waaay beyond imagination. There was no way I could bear till the credits rolled and I had to give up around 55 mins into the story at the junkyard scene.
The plot is like it was written in a kindergarten for the mentally disadvantaged. Plot holes of the size even an ocean liner would sink in them.
Mr Griffin is the unfunniest, most annoying wannabe ever giving a try on comedy.
Be warned and avoid at any cost. I would like to ask the guys who scored this garbage 10 what were they able to like in this - er, okay, I just would not want to call this a movie - so in this complete waste of efforts ?
Though the cutting could have saved the film, but then the musters should have been cut lengthwise.
The plot is like it was written in a kindergarten for the mentally disadvantaged. Plot holes of the size even an ocean liner would sink in them.
Mr Griffin is the unfunniest, most annoying wannabe ever giving a try on comedy.
Be warned and avoid at any cost. I would like to ask the guys who scored this garbage 10 what were they able to like in this - er, okay, I just would not want to call this a movie - so in this complete waste of efforts ?
Though the cutting could have saved the film, but then the musters should have been cut lengthwise.
Fun Watch
Craven8025 July 2001
This was actually a fun movie to watch, it had a pretty clever story which I wasn't expecting and was pretty funny. The two main characters also have a Popping/ticking/waving (dance) battle which was a highlight for me.
This movie was not the best of it's kind but pretty damn good. What was similar but better was, 'Nothing to lose' with Martin Lawrence and Tim Robbins.
This movie was not the best of it's kind but pretty damn good. What was similar but better was, 'Nothing to lose' with Martin Lawrence and Tim Robbins.
My rating: 4/10
movieguy102120 March 2002
Though billed as a Rush Hour action-comedy, it is not funny at all, except for one scene at the end. Even though the actors were good, this movie is not recommended from me. It could have had funnier moments. My rating: 4/10
A pretty likable film
jeremy315 July 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I really like Orlando Jones and Eddie Griffin. Orlando Jones was hilarious in MAD TV, and Eddie Griffin has such character. The movie was at times a little wandering, but basically the two comic actors held it together. There was a lot of social commentary beneath the plot. First of all, there was both race and class. The movie showed through the differences in class between the two main characters, that they are treated very differently. One is a banker (Jones). While the other character (Griffin) appears to be a street hustler. The movie showed that the two could learn to get along with each other, despite their different personalities, and to find out the truth. The movie was pretty funny, but at the same time showed how racial/class politics really work with a pretty good degree of accuracy.
Unfunny comedy thriller.
poolandrews5 July 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Double Take starts in New York where big shot financial analyst Daryl Chase (Orlando Jones) discovers that a client of his firms called Mexican Cola have just deposited 106million dollars into their account, Daryl senses something is wrong with such a huge sum of money for such a small company & takes his suspicions to his boss Charles Allsworth (Edward Herrmann) who says he will look into it. Then Daryl & his wife Chloe (Garcelle Beauvais) are attacked & saved from being killed by CIA agent Timothy McReady (Gary Grubbs) who says he will protect them, then the next day Daryl finds his assistant dead & in a shoot-out with the killers two NYPD cops are shot & killed for which Daryl is blamed. Daryl has to get out of New York & get to Mexico where McReady & his men are so Daryl swaps identity with a loud mouthed street hustler named Freddy Tiffany (Eddie Griffin) who now must work together to stay alive...
Written & directed by George Gallo & based on the novel Across the Bridge by Graham Greene which had already been adapted into a feature film back in 1957 this buddy buddy comedy mismatched partner thriller didn't do anything for me but if you find the idea of two black dudes with opposing personalities arguing a lot funny then maybe Double Take is the film for you. What it boils down to is that I just found Double Take very unfunny, I could see what the script was trying to do & I can see where it was trying to be funny but I thought it pretty much sucked. For a start the Freddy Tiffany character is so annoying it's irritating, his loud mouthed outbursts, bizarre observations, silly clothes & the fact he turns out to be a top FBI agent is just ridiculous. Daryl Chase is more mild mannered & the whole mismatched partners who have to work together against some bad guy's has been done countless times before much more effectively than here, there's little to no believability to any of the character's & the silly slapstick comedy is not funny neither are cute little poodles that bite people. The thriller elements suck too, it's extremely predictable & the amount of pointless twist's it takes during the final twenty minutes is just unnecessary. At just over 80 odd minutes at least it's short & at least it moves along at a fair pace but I found it all very routine & very unfunny with little in the way of action or genuine laughs.
As I just said the action is pathetic, there are a couple of dull shoot-outs, a predictable stand-off & a car is blown up but little else. With a PG rating there's no real profanity or violence so it's pretty tame stuff as well. Reasonably well shot Double Take looks alright but there's not much energy here. The script tries to have a stab at racism & elitism, from being treated differently because your black & because you wear an expensive suit Double Take plays on it for both laughs & as social commentary but pretty much fails to make much of an impact with it's messages.
With a supposed budget of about $24,000,000 this was filmed in Los Angeles & New York, the one thing that could have saved this was a funny performance by the lead actor's but Orlando Jones seems bored while Eddie Griffin just seems like some buffoon who just happens to be a top FBI agent.
Double Take is an unfunny mismatched partner crime comedy thriller that is strictly routine in every sense, a conveyor belt of clichés & ideas thrown together with little in the way of style or originality or humour.
Written & directed by George Gallo & based on the novel Across the Bridge by Graham Greene which had already been adapted into a feature film back in 1957 this buddy buddy comedy mismatched partner thriller didn't do anything for me but if you find the idea of two black dudes with opposing personalities arguing a lot funny then maybe Double Take is the film for you. What it boils down to is that I just found Double Take very unfunny, I could see what the script was trying to do & I can see where it was trying to be funny but I thought it pretty much sucked. For a start the Freddy Tiffany character is so annoying it's irritating, his loud mouthed outbursts, bizarre observations, silly clothes & the fact he turns out to be a top FBI agent is just ridiculous. Daryl Chase is more mild mannered & the whole mismatched partners who have to work together against some bad guy's has been done countless times before much more effectively than here, there's little to no believability to any of the character's & the silly slapstick comedy is not funny neither are cute little poodles that bite people. The thriller elements suck too, it's extremely predictable & the amount of pointless twist's it takes during the final twenty minutes is just unnecessary. At just over 80 odd minutes at least it's short & at least it moves along at a fair pace but I found it all very routine & very unfunny with little in the way of action or genuine laughs.
As I just said the action is pathetic, there are a couple of dull shoot-outs, a predictable stand-off & a car is blown up but little else. With a PG rating there's no real profanity or violence so it's pretty tame stuff as well. Reasonably well shot Double Take looks alright but there's not much energy here. The script tries to have a stab at racism & elitism, from being treated differently because your black & because you wear an expensive suit Double Take plays on it for both laughs & as social commentary but pretty much fails to make much of an impact with it's messages.
With a supposed budget of about $24,000,000 this was filmed in Los Angeles & New York, the one thing that could have saved this was a funny performance by the lead actor's but Orlando Jones seems bored while Eddie Griffin just seems like some buffoon who just happens to be a top FBI agent.
Double Take is an unfunny mismatched partner crime comedy thriller that is strictly routine in every sense, a conveyor belt of clichés & ideas thrown together with little in the way of style or originality or humour.
The Craft's Creativity !
elshikh422 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers
(George Gallo) loves the buddy movie's formula, so am I. Whatever the genre of the movie he writes; crime, action, comedy--in most cases, he masters making it through 2 guys, who annoy each other with their differences, producing a running irony that proves the fact of the opposite attracts, or - most importantly - that 2 incomplete persons mean complete one together.
The examples from (Gallo)'s career are many: (Wise Guys - 1986), (Midnight Run - 1988), (Trapped in Paradise - 1994) with a "buddy" divided into 2, (Bad Boys - 1995) which he wrote only its story, and (Double Take - 2001). Accordingly, it's clear that he loves the formula, and he's good at it too.
Although this round it sounds like a mix of (Midnight Run) with the nutty talkative cop of (Bad Boys), let alone that there are many known-by-heart tricks; like framing the good guy, chasing him, kidnapping the girl, dirty cops and the happy end--but eventually it managed to score high as fine action comedy.
The ironic differences between the 2 leads enjoyed me very much; as one urbane sophisticated rich, and one vulgar wild street-hustler. The character of (Eddie Griffin) was fresh; it remained unpredictable in a lovely way. Switching characters was creative, and the dog touch was cute. The events were unpredictable too; especially the whole second act in the desert, and the couple of twists near the end. I liked many moments; for instance, the last scene with the Bond's devise used wrongly.
The action sequences were done perfectly. The image was hot exactly like the pace. And it's wonderful to know that it's directed by the scriptwriter (Gallo) himself. It seems that he can be notable action director.
I'm not fond of (Griffin), he's always loud with heavy profanity, and hence he made the matter of being "undercover brother" totally unconvincing, so how about turning into James Bond at the end as well! However, I must admit, he was relatively funny, and with vague, always surprising, character there was even more fun. I have always believed that (Orlando Jones) is underrated actor. He can play comedy, stealing the show from everybody; as he did in (Evolution - 2001). And he can play the serious part, with mimicking its opposite cleverly, as in here. So why he isn't a star yet, cashing millions as (Tom Cruse) for low instance?!
It's your typical delicious sandwich, however from another restaurant. And the result is nearly the same ingredients, a bit different taste, with the same treat. Here's the professor of the course teaches us how to remake the same movie with new plot and different characters, and be fresh and entertaining; well, that's the craft's creativity. It just kills me that his next script, for the same formula, would be (The Whole Ten Yards - 2004), where he lost being entertaining, rather bearable!
The examples from (Gallo)'s career are many: (Wise Guys - 1986), (Midnight Run - 1988), (Trapped in Paradise - 1994) with a "buddy" divided into 2, (Bad Boys - 1995) which he wrote only its story, and (Double Take - 2001). Accordingly, it's clear that he loves the formula, and he's good at it too.
Although this round it sounds like a mix of (Midnight Run) with the nutty talkative cop of (Bad Boys), let alone that there are many known-by-heart tricks; like framing the good guy, chasing him, kidnapping the girl, dirty cops and the happy end--but eventually it managed to score high as fine action comedy.
The ironic differences between the 2 leads enjoyed me very much; as one urbane sophisticated rich, and one vulgar wild street-hustler. The character of (Eddie Griffin) was fresh; it remained unpredictable in a lovely way. Switching characters was creative, and the dog touch was cute. The events were unpredictable too; especially the whole second act in the desert, and the couple of twists near the end. I liked many moments; for instance, the last scene with the Bond's devise used wrongly.
The action sequences were done perfectly. The image was hot exactly like the pace. And it's wonderful to know that it's directed by the scriptwriter (Gallo) himself. It seems that he can be notable action director.
I'm not fond of (Griffin), he's always loud with heavy profanity, and hence he made the matter of being "undercover brother" totally unconvincing, so how about turning into James Bond at the end as well! However, I must admit, he was relatively funny, and with vague, always surprising, character there was even more fun. I have always believed that (Orlando Jones) is underrated actor. He can play comedy, stealing the show from everybody; as he did in (Evolution - 2001). And he can play the serious part, with mimicking its opposite cleverly, as in here. So why he isn't a star yet, cashing millions as (Tom Cruse) for low instance?!
It's your typical delicious sandwich, however from another restaurant. And the result is nearly the same ingredients, a bit different taste, with the same treat. Here's the professor of the course teaches us how to remake the same movie with new plot and different characters, and be fresh and entertaining; well, that's the craft's creativity. It just kills me that his next script, for the same formula, would be (The Whole Ten Yards - 2004), where he lost being entertaining, rather bearable!
A miserable movie
mburatti7627 June 2002
This is very easily in contention for the worst movie ever. Painful to watch. I was tempted to get up and leave the theater as I endured the pain. The only thing that kept me in the theater was I was there with three friends. Later when we got out of the theater we all commented that the movie was completely bad and that we should have walked out on it.
The poor man's 'Rush Hour'... and it's (almost) just as good!
p.muscat19 January 2001
Me and my wife went to see this movie after seeing the hilarious previews for about a month before it came out... and we were not disappointed! It turned out to be a bit of 'Rush Hour', 'Bad Boys' and yeah maybe even 'Blue Streak' and any other buddy/buddy movie you may care to mention all rolled into one. True, it wasn't better than any of those three, but man Griffin and Orlando are certainly a double act to look out for in the future. Hilarious situations complemented by high profile action and a neat (if sometimes confusing) plot help to buoy the movie along at a frantic pace. But it's the performances which are the real jewel in the crown and Griffin (last seen, if I remember correctly, in 'Deuce Bigelow') and Jones (wasn't he in Armageddon?) are REAL good together, so much so that I kept telling my wife Misty that they MUST have acted together before on TV or something because they really act well off each other. The funny scenes are numerous, with the stand out ones being the malt liquor scene on the train and the running gag about that guy's cross eyes. Mark my words, though... Griffin and Jones are most certainly two names to look out for. Go see and judge for yourselves!
a slightly above average film with enough comedy to keep it moving
awlauter4 February 2001
Eddie Griffin and Orlando Jones team up in this action film. Eddie Griffin is pretty funny throuhgout the film as an undercover FBI agent trying to protect Jones. My problem with this film was that after the first 30 minutes it was difficult to distinguish the good guys from the bad guys. I know that is not necessarily bad but it made things confusing in this case.I did not find the film boring in the least and that is always a plus. Overall, I think you can wait until it comes out on video.
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