Bowfinger (1999)

Summary

An aging director schemes to make the movie he sees as his last chance for success.

Director

Frank Oz (better known as the voice of Miss Piggy)

Downey Factor

He's got exactly three scenes.

Character

Jerry Renfro, a young Hollywood studio executive.

Looks

Good, but don't blink, you may miss it.

Performance

Brief.

Line

Get me Kit Ramsey and you've got a go picture.

Dies, Gay or Villain

No, unlikely, no.

Cast

Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin, Heather Graham, Christine Baranski, Terence Stamp

Connection

Christine Baranski in The Pick-Up Artist.

Heather Graham in Two Girls and a Guy.

RDJ Says

I remember driving a classic convertible, first day of shooting, no experience with the car, it was a big boat, and I have to fit it right into a parking spot with a sandbag, that sort of thing. And I remember being so proud that I didn't bang up the car, or overshoot the mark and knock over the monitors or something ... I took a very reptilian approach to this character ... Kind of like L.A. Story was more about Los Angeles as a place, [this is] that same kind of very insightful hilarious take on it. A lot of it's very true and I think the way, at least my experience, of the way they're doing it is that it's not a farce or a particular send up of it.

Time & Place

Present day (1999), Los Angeles.

Availability

Released in theaters 13 August 1999. On DVD in Region 1, 2 and 4.

Foreign Titles

Argentina: El Director Chiflado (The Nutty Director)
Brazil: Os Picaretas (The Fakers)
Finland: Koukkusormi (Bowfinger)
France: Bowfinger, roi d'Hollywood (Bowfinger, King of Hollywood)
Germany: Bowfinger's große Nummer (Bowfinger's Big Number)
Greece: Ena trello, trello kolpo (A Crazy Crazy Trick)
Hungary: Fergeteges Forgatás (Hilarious Shooting)
Japan: Big Movie (English translation)
Poland: Wielka Heca Bowfingera (Great Fun Bowfinger
Portugal: O Sem-Vergonha (The Shameless)
Russia: Cool Guy (English translation)
Spain: Bowfinger, el Picaro (Bowfinger, the Faker)
Sweden: Knubbigt Regn (Chubby Rain)
Turkey: Çatlak yönetmen (Cracked Director)

Rotten Tomatoes

80% Fresh | 108 Reviews

Does It Hold Up

Although there is some big talent in this, it's proven to be a rather forgettable movie.

2 Reasons to See It

1. Eddie Murphy plays two roles and both are actually funny.
2. The movie is clever.

Overall

If Robert Downey Jr is the only thing that interests you about this movie, he's just not in it enough.

If You Like It

You might also like Soapdish (1991), Tropic Thunder (2008)

Photos

Video