Reviewed by Marshall McClean (May 2007) Director: Ben Garant
Starring: Carlos Alazraqui, Mary Birdsong, Kerri Kenney, Thomas Lennon, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Niecy Nash, Cedric Yarbrough
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Production Budget: $10 million Water Cooler Buzz: Fans familiar with the Comedy Central show "Reno 911!: Miami" will appreciate the contribution of cameos from the likes of Danny DeVito, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, Ian Roberts and Paul Reubens. While some may tune in to catch their crazy crime stoppers cavorting outside of Nevada, others may just be curious to see if the team can keep their chaos walking a straight line for a full 84 minutes. Description: When Reno's Finest are invited to Miami to participate in a law enforcement convention, they out for a new adventure in the sun and sand. What better place to display the talents (and bodies) of the ensemble normally confined to cable-comedy? Of course, there's a fly in the suntan lotion, and this motley crew of cops is thrust into the unfamiliar position of having to save lives and maintain order (i.e., act like real police) in an un-Reno city. Not much can be done with this genre that the Police Academy series hasn't already achieved in its six installments, but there's something intriguing about Lt. Dangle and company and their relationships that piques our voyeuristic interests. Perhaps it's their small screen history, perhaps it's the team's close-knit chemistry, perhaps it's the maturation of the jokes in this well-worn formula. Whatever the why, the end result is somehow better than we hoped and worse than we dreamed. Like a TV dinner plucked from the freezer, expectations are low - and for good reason. Anything set in Miami typically plays to a male audience eager for pastel fashion action and a peek at the female form. While there's plenty to see here, we're left licking the last bit of apple pie from our (plastic) fork, wondering where it all went and whether to just call 91...2. With countless crime-filled cities, the Reno 7 could next take their brand of crime fighting to more exotic locations: Moscow? Paris? Newark? The possibilities are endless. Do we need to watch? Probably not. But it's oh so hard to look away. |
