This is among the best spoofs of Hollywood to come along in years. Not only do Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy (in a dual role) demonstrate exceptional acting skills (the facial expressions alone are priceless... Eddie Murphy's 'face of fear' is both believable and hysterical), but Steve Martin also shows his considerable comedic writing talents as the film's screenwriter. The premise is funny yet simple. Let's make a really bad movie that we think is great with a star who doesn't know he's in it! On top of that, let's forget about a budget, plot, permission, or a conscience. Oh, and the fact that the film-within-a-film is about aliens which happens to be the star's greatest phobia -- again, the star of a film he doesn't have a clue he's in -- is pure genius. Martin expertly interweaves a crazy fictitious plot within a crazy fictitious plot! The product is a great comedic achievement far better than most Woody Allen comedic satires. The humorous elements were subtle and unpredictable yet incredibly funny in their execution. When Martin's character says he'll have to find the best crew he can afford, then the next shot is Martin and his cohorts at the US-Mexican border in a van with back doors open waiting to grant safe harbor for illegal border crossers fleeing gunfire was hysterical. He got his crew, who turn out to be film aficionados themselves! Another funny touch... This crew is suddenly fluent in English by the end of the film. Amazing what myths Hollywood can perpetuate. Besides being exceptionally funny, what's great is that no one escapes Steve Martin's pointed pen. Ambitious starlets, greedy Hollywood moguls, deranged film icons, the superficiality of materialism and dubious status symbols, insincere Hollywood accolades for film premiers not worth the price of admission, even Scientology masquerading in the form of "MindHeads." All are well-deserved targets of Martin's obvious inside knowledge of contemporary Hollywood. The ending shouldn't be missed! Martin's character, the down-on-his-luck movie producer and director becomes a star in his own right, making (not "B" but "Z") movies in Taiwan together with the less-than-stellar talents of the brother of his earlier film's major star. While extremely funny to watch, it's ironic in its truth. There are hundreds of filmmakers who feel successful making similar schlock. These aren't even worthy of being direct-to-video releases, but have their premiers in third-world nations via bootleg tapes likely financed by investors who want the losses for tax purposes. Bowfinger, however, is not such a film. It's well made, funny, and insightful. The acting, particularly by Martin and Murphy, takes the movie to a higher level. In his two roles -- one a maniacal Hollywood star who wants an Oscar for making movies not "films," and the other a naive, friendly neophyte who's sole objective is to "do errands" -- Eddie Murphy is completely credible. He shows his range while this film will show you a great time. Watch it! You'll be glad you did. 9/10.
