Once a year audiences around the world are treated to a
cinematic experience like no other, Stuber. A journey into a world you would
otherwise never experience. A tale from minds so adventurous you question how
the writers came up with such tales. Right from the get-go, the trailer gives
the audience a glimpse into what their cinema experience would be like. And
that’s the exact point most people would stop and go no further. Stuber is
quite simply, stupid.
Here is the thing about Stuber, it could actually be the
most perfect film that falls into the category of a “switch off” film. From the
unlikely on-screen duo, WWE superstar Dave Bautista and comedian Kumail
Nanjiani. To the outrageous storyline and almost bizarre situations, Stuber
makes no effort at trying to be anything other than stupid. But its stupidity
is exactly the reason this film might just be what you’re after.
Sporting goods salesman Stu is earning a little extra cash
on the side as an Uber driver. He’s saving to help pay for his investment into
a spin gym. Police Officer on a staycation, Vic Manning has just had corrective
eye surgery and on his way to attend his daughter’s art exhibition. Stu happens
to accept Vic’s Uber request but rather than go to his daughter’s exhibition,
he acts on a tip for a case he’s been working on.
Vic’s eyes haven’t healed and won’t for a few more hours.
With no other means for getting to his tip-off, he convinces Stu to drive him
around LA with the proviso he gets 5 stars. Going from clue to clue Stu and Vic
start to build a bond as they get closer to cracking the case.
Let’s start with Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy,
Hotel Artemis, Spectre). It’s fair to say Bautista can’t act. He can play dumb
really well, but there’s no chance he is able to achieve much else. What he
does do really well is fight and that’s exactly what he does, he gets beaten up
and beats up.
Then there’s Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley, The Big Sick,
Men In Black: International) who plays the same character he’s played in almost
every movie and TV show he’s ever worked on. But he plays it so well. His
sharp, dry, nerdy and annoying humour is the polar opposite to his onscreen
partner.
In all, you have a story where a partially blind Police
Officer with muscles bigger than the squirmish and tiny Uber driver. Yet the
two go to shoot outs and questionable places around LA in search for a bad guy.
And somehow the two end up surviving to tell the tale. It doesn’t work. There’s
no part of this film that works. The acting doesn’t work. The story doesn’t
work. The fight scenes are more unbelievable than a WWE SmackDown. Yet because
of those reasons, it’s actually watchable.
The comedy aspect of Stuber is dumb. But that’s the exact
audience it’s targeting. People who just want to pop a film on and not have to
think about it. The jokes are obvious and set up to make you giggle. The story
isn’t hard to follow even when you’re Instagramming as it lost your
attention.
If you don’t expect anything of this film, if you don’t want
to have to think about what you’re watching and you don’t mind forgetting what
you’ve just watched, Stuber is a perfect film to switch off to. And that’s all
you’ll get. Nothing more, but a whole lot less.