STUBER – Review

Here’s good news for those needing a brief break from the superhero epics, franchise flicks, and assorted reboots. How about a good ole’ cop buddy comedy? I know we had variations of that staple in this summer’s so-so sequels MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL (basically two mismatched space cops) and SHAFT (not buddies, but family, one P.I., one C.I.A.). Luckily this new entry has a bit of a twist since it really focuses on the laughs (much like THE HEAT), and one of the guys isn’t a cop (shades of MIDNIGHT RUN with the ex-cop bounty hunter and fleeing mob accountant). The civilian here was the star of the best comedy of 2017 (he nabbed an Oscar for co-writing it), and the “man” is a part of one of those big comics-inspired franchises (we just saw him in action ten weeks ago). And just what is up with the one-word title? Well, that’s the source of some chuckles (and a chunk of the plot) in STUBER.

This starts with a flashback several years ago to the “cop” part of the story. We meet hulking bespectacled detective Vic Manning (Dave Bautista) and his partner (one of his co-stars from that “super series”) as they try to arrest the vicious, brutal drug kingpin/assassin Oka (Iko Uwais). Of course the bust goes bad (Vic’s darned eyeglasses) and Oka vanishes into the crowd exiting the LA Staples Center. Cut to today, and we’re at the big box sporting goods store where Stu (Kumail Nanjiani) does his 9 to 5 gig. He’s just signed the papers with longtime “galpal” Becca (Betty Gilpin) to open a “spin” exercise center. To help pay for this business venture, Stu uses his leased electric car as an Uber driver after clocking out (this is why his obnoxious retail boss calls him “Stuber”). Meanwhile, Vic is still on the force and still trying to track down Oka. Unfortunately, his boss, Captain McHenry (Mira Sorvino) informs him that the “feds” are taking over the stalled case. This on the day he’s to get laser eye surgery. But Vic gets a visit from his artist daughter Nicole (Natalie Morales) reminding him of her gallery reception that night. How can he get there after getting his peepers zapped? She takes his phone and registers him for Uber. Later, after the surgery, as he’s resting in his dark apartment, wearing his shades, Vic gets a call that may lead him to Oka. So is he gonna’ let a little thing like temporary blindness get in his way? And who’s his Uber driver? Well, it’s gotta’ be Stu? But he wants none of that track down stuff since Becca drunk called him saying she broke up with her cheating NBA star beau. She just may want more than a shoulder to cry on. But somehow these very diverse strangers bond over a deadly night in the mean streets of Los Angeles. So, just what will Stu do to get a treasured “5-star” driver review?

Nanjiani proves that his SICK success was no mere fluke by being a solid comedy anchor for this satiric studio action/thriller. Should be no surprise since his vocal performance in the latest MIB a few weeks ago was one of that dreary flick’s few bright spots. His Stu is an endearing “fussbudget” in the same vein as Felix Unger, at least when it comes to his auto devotion, making his pleading cries of “It’s a lease!” a most hysterical “call back” bit. And somehow Stu is an also another screen “everyman”, especially in his romantic frustrations concerning his “torch” for Becca. She opened the locked door on her “friend zone” cage one glorious night, and Stu thinks that one more “booty call” will release him forever. It seems his one big hope after thinking that he’s got to forget career passions in order to survive in LA. All that, plus Nanjiani’s dry line delivery and brutal verbal stabs make Stu a memorable but unique action hero. A more standard hero is the surly, brawny Bautista, who gets a great chance to stretch his dramatic “chops” and deliver caustic put-downs in a style similar to the beloves galactic brute Drax. Vic’s haunted by his past tragedy and is singled-minded in his own quest for justice. But he’s also eager to repair the crumbling relationship with his grown daughter (though her talents are perplexing). And his “slow burn” glaring looks at Stu always deliver. Morales as Nicole is a most engaging screen partner to Bautista, always standing up and chipping away at his stubborn “old school” behavior. It’s great to see Oscar-winner Sorvino back on the big screen, though her taciturn boss with a twist, is one that seems too familiar. Finally, Uwais is a most compelling martial arts human cyclone as the relentless Oka who is a convincing threat to Bautista’s “wall of muscle”. After the RAID flicks, and MILE 22, this dazzling film fighter deserves his own studio franchise.

Director Michael Dowse deftly handles the laughs (he’s a TV and film comedy vet) along with the bone-crunching action set pieces. The elements are fairly evenly balanced in the script by Tripper Clancy, which gets in some inspired jokes at pop culture (when a thug won’t talk, Stu makes him “sing” by grabbing his phone and tweeting his love for a certain hunky actor). It all clocks in at a fairly lean 93 minutes with little footage wasted, as they make use of some interesting LA locales (zipping from a MAGIC MIKE-style club to a hot sauce factory). The only thing that may take some viewers away from the clever comedy bits is its extreme violence. That “R” rating is truly earned in the opening moments when high caliber blasts make heads explode like ripe juicy melons (shades of Gerard Butler’s FALLEN flicks). Plus the sex jokes are plenty raw, particularly in that earlier mentioned club. But if you’re a fan of the lead actors, there’s plenty to enjoy in the inspired pairing of Nanjiani and Bautista in the bullet-riddled STUBER. And since we don’t go to five, I’ll give this ride and the driver a solid….

3 out of 4 Stars