I think get in the car, bitch would have been a better name for this movie than Bad Company, directed by Joel Schumacher. The trailers, the star Chris Rock (Lethal Weapon 4) and the whole premise of this picture sounded really cheesy, but in fact this film turns out to be more than what we expect. I guess with the director and the other star, Anthony Hopkins (Hearts in Atlantis) this picture does have some redeeming qualities to it. Rock plays a dual character in Jake Hayes and his twin brother Kevin Pope, alias Michael Taylor antiques dealer. Rock is not the usual annoying, loud, obnoxious character we have come to despise. He has actually shown some growth as an actor in this film. He was even a likable character. I gave this film a chance and was totally surprised.

This movie begins with Rock as Kevin Pope, CIA undercover as Michael Taylor. Hopkins is his boss as Gaylord Oakes who sends Pope undercover to buy a nuclear bomb for 20 million. This undercover operation is two years into the making. Only problem is they substantially out bid another country that wanted the bomb for terrorist activities on the US, so the terrorists felt the need to take out the competition. Now the CIA’s only hope is dead. How conveniently he has a twin brother. They were separated at birth, Pope went to a successful family that gave him a Harvard education while Hayes went to foster care. The CIA begins tracking down Hayes and finds him just as his girlfriend is leaving him. They offer him some money along with a phony story and begin his transformation into his brother. They have nine days to get this guy educated.

The plot doesn’t sound like much, but how it is carried out makes this movie. Rock comes through as lead character material in this film. He shows depth, warmth, humor and strength. This film is not predictable, which is refreshing for movies these days. Yeah you know the good guys are gonna win, and they will come through for each other in the end, so blah blah blah that is predictable, but all of the storyline in-between is fresh. Also appearing in the film is Gabriel Macht (American Outlaws) and Garcelle Beauvais. For a movie I was not looking forward to seeing, this picture is actually enjoyable. I think get in the car, bitch is a better name for the movie because who exactly is the bad company? At least we know who is getting in the car, bitch. I give this movie an eight on the About-Movies.com scale.

Last updated: Thursday, March 20, 2008 02:48:43 AM

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