Bulletproof (1996) Review

Director: Ernest Dickerson
Starring: Adam Sandler, Damon Wayans
Released: 1996

By Jake Dee

It’s safe to say Adam Sandler has done pretty well for himself. Over the past decade or so, the humble SNL alum has transcended into mega movie star status, recently sharing screen time with Hollywood heavyweights like Don Cheadle in Reign Over Me and Jack Nicholson in Anger Management. He’s even branched out dramatically, working with esteemed directors like P.T. Anderson in Punch Drunk Love. But lately, every decent flick of his is usually neutralized by tepid fare like Click or I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, The Longest Yard, or his newest entry You Don’t Mess With the Zohan, whatever. In the halcyon days though, the Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore days, a nice variation on the themed buddy-cop picture entitled Bulletproof, co-starring Damon Wayans might have gotten lost in the shuffle.

As we open, we meet Archie Moses (Sandler) and Rock Keats (Wayans), a couple of small time car thieves about to lift a $100,000 Ferrari. They steal it; make a hasty joke strewn getaway. A following bar scene illustrates just how close the two are; Rock physically defending Archie from a burly biker whose girl he was flirting with. A bond is clear and present between the two. So much so in fact, that Archie is willing to introduce Keats to crime boss and big time drug runner Frank Colton (James Caan), a nice gesture to help Keats earn a little extra doe. Only a little extra doe isn’t what Keats is after. Actually, his name isn’t even it Keats, it’s Jack Carter, an undercover cop assigned to foil the dastardly dealings of one Frank T. Colton; Archie’s just the human homing device.

Problem is; Jack’s spent a year becoming Archie’s friend in attempt to uncover the one major drug deal that puts Colton away for years. Close friends they’ve become, like brothers. On the day of the big sting, Carter becomes exposed, all hell unleashes and Moses accidentally shoots Carter in the head; a near fatal wound that requires a metal plate and extensive physical therapy upon recovery. Meet our physical therapist; a cold but beautiful looking woman named Traci Flynn (Kristen Wilson), who eventually begins dating Carter romantically. After recouping, Carter is assigned back on the case, for Archie won’t talk to anybody but the man he once deemed is best friend. Hard headed (the plate maybe), Carter finally agrees.
Upon transporting Archie, the two men make a narrow escape from Colton’s henchmen; the bulk of the film has them at each other’s throats like a high action Odd Couple tag-team. It’s like 48 hours, without the bigotry (or realism, as some might say). Every where the pairs goes, Colton’s men keep showing up, even in the most deserted of places. It soon becomes clear a mole is involved, keeping Colton abreast of Rock and Archie’s whereabouts. Traci is kidnapped, Rock and Archie must get her back and take down Colton all in one swoop; there’s a nice little climactic showdown at the tycoon’s mansion.
Deviating from the tired, played out buddy-cop flick, here we have men on both sides of the law, somewhat in the vein of a Midnight Run. This movie is an above average action comedy solely because of the two lead actors; their own different comic ability, and the effortless chemistry the two share on screen. Sure it might play like an amalgam of one long SNL/In Living Color sketch, but parts continue to create laughs upon repeat viewings, in specific Damon Wayans. A running gag has him verbally jabbing back and forth with a colleague; at one point he says: “Anyone ever tell you, you look damn funny!

Oh, and for those many a Sandler fanatic, the requisite Allen Covert sighting can be had. For those in the know not, Allen Covert, long time friend of Sandler, is an actor who has bit parts in almost every single Sandler film dating back to the obscure Going Overboard (a position since assumed by Rob Schneider). Covert was the homeless caddy in Happy Gilmore, the greasy ‘80s hipster in The Wedding Singer, etc. Here, Covert plays Detective Jones; a lowly wrung in the detective ladder, steps below Jack Carter. Director Ernest Dickerson (Juice, one of my favorites), a long time Spike Lee collaborator, keeps a brisk pace here, never over saturating the jokes or leaving too much time in between. In fact, aside from one painfully sappy late car scene, the only real problem I have is that the movie is too short. Running at 84 minutes, I feel like a good 15-20 minutes could have been added without a distracting hitch.
Favorite Part: When Jimmy Caan cinches his belt, unclips his little hair piece and tries to throw down as a 56 year old tough guy. Funny.

The Overall Dee-Cision: Watch It!

© LameMovies.net