Flashy production design and visual effects aside, "Pluto Nash" is a largely inconsequential movie. There are a few funny throwaway moments in the script by Neil Cuthbert ("Mystery Men"), but the plot, which tries to combine whiz-bang sci-fi action, comedy and gangster elements is rather blah and forgettable. Why Eddie Murphy chose this script is a mystery, because he's not really given any opportunities to unleash his unique brand of wise-cracking comic pizzazz. Most of the funniest bits belong to Randy Quaid, playing Murphy's automatonic bodyguard. Director Ron Underwood does what he can to keep the mindless proceedings moving swiftly and efficiently Not terrible; kids may go for it and it may play better on TV, but it's definitely mediocre at best. It's not hard to see why Warner Bros. let it sit on the shelf for better than a year. The powers-that-be clearly saw that "Pluto Nash" would be scant competition against other Summer blockbusters. My rating: ** stars
Review of The Adventures of Pluto Nash
