Boomerang

What a weak movie... and such large portions! At least half an hour too long, through most of which we only get to watch Murphy mug and look winsome and make out with a succession of gorgeous women. Not worth seven bucks in my book. The story is so feeble you feel as if the writers (working from a story by Murphy--ah, there’s the rub) were wracking their brains trying to come up with material, and failing. They stretch the one joke to past the breaking point. When Murphy finds true love, it is totally unconvincing. Oddly, the picture is also misogynistic in its own way, by making the Givens character an object of scorn--just because she acts like a man.

What does that say about equality for the sexes? There is very little flow and rhythm, and no worthwhile narrative to speak of (frankly, I’m amazed they managed to fill up all this time) so they try to make up for it with flash and hip talk. It seems to work better as a primer on how to be a successful African American, and so is condescending in that way too. The most authentic (and uncomfortable) moment in the film--when the three black pals are hassled by a clerk in an upscale clothing store--is simply not enough to make up for the nearly two hours of drudgery. (7/30/92)