Winning streak

"Blue Streak"
Overall Rating: ***½


When reviewing "Entrapment," I commented on the similarities to "Topkapi"--most notably, the use of a roof entry and dropping into the building to get the jewels. "Blue Streak," likewise, uses the same method of operation--climbing down into the building (through an elevator shaft, this time). Yet, when one of the thieves spits into the elevator shaft ("for luck"), I couldn't help but think it was mocking the earlier efforts. Sure enough, the thieves in "Blue Streak" commit a crime that certainly makes a mockery of crime everywhere, and when the robbery ends, so do the similarities to the earlier films.

Miles Logan (Martin Lawrence) is a jewel thief. However, when his partner in crime turns against the gang, he is forced to hide his ill-gotten $17 million diamond in a construction site, and let the cops arrest him. When he's finally released from prison two years later, he returns to the completed building--a police station. He soon realizes he can only enter the building as a cop, so he brushes up on his cop TV shows and buys some fake papers. The only trouble is that if you act like a cop in a police station, people will expect you do to police work.

"Blue Streak" is hilarious; the jokes run practically the length of the film. It's mostly low humor: citing two jokes (used in the previews--though not the best in the film) as examples, there's the scene where Logan, in hot pursuit of a suspect, stops momentarily when he sees a naked woman. Then there's the scene where Logan tries to prove that he speaks Spanish--only to be told that what he said was "I have a big cat in my pants" (accounting for the bad grammar, that translation is close enough). The best jokes revolve around the central joke: Logan--because he knows how real crooks think and work--is a better cop than the real police. On the more slapstick and special effects side, if you long for flying cars a-la "The Dukes of Hazzard," you will enjoy the climactic car chase. All around, there are few dull moments.

In a big way, Martin Lawrence is the sole comedian--practically all the other actors play straight man for him. His overwrought character works very well. Lawrence, however, doesn't just tell jokes--he succeeds in making his character likable--not an easy task, considering that he plays a thief turned con artist. One actor who goes beyond playing straight man to Lawrence, however, is David Chappelle; playing Tulley--one of Logan's former partners in crime who gets arrested by Logan.

So, what's not to like? Mostly, what's not there. "Blue Streak" isn't particularly thought provoking in any way--there's no real theme, just chaos. After the film is over, that's it--nothing to think about, only jokes to reflect on. I also have mixed feelings about a jewel thief as hero. It works better here than in "Entrapment" or "Payback," but while I was mostly rooting for him to get away, part of me also wanted him not to.

"Blue Streak" has its share of bad language and innuendo, and there are scenes involving drug smuggling. There is also some violence--though mostly fist-fights, there are two on-screen killings (one in self defense). The sexual content is limited, and no nudity is seen by the audience. Parents may also be concerned that the "hero" is a thief. "Blue Streak" is probably a bad choice for young children, but is probably OK for teens (bad driving aside); PG-13 is a reasonable rating.

So, what's the report? No need to call the cops--except maybe for crowd control. "Blue Streak" is no crime, but it is a riot.

Title: "Blue Streak"
Release date: September 17, 1999
MPAA rating: PG-13
Overall rating: ***½
Aprox. run time: 94 min.
Director: Les Mayfield
Writers: Michael Berry, John Blumenthal, Steve Carpenter
Stars: Martin Lawrence, Luke Wilson (plays Carlson), David Chappelle


Original URL: http://www.geocities.com/reviewsbyjohn/BlueStrk.htm
Added to blog site: 7/26/09