Return of the Ghost of the Son of the 31 Days of Cheese - Day 25 - Pluto Nash

I’m not entirely comfortable with being in a universe where a film like Pluto Nash exists.

As one watches the film so many many questions spring up – is this a comedy – an action picture – was Eddy Murphy asleep when he accepted the part? He looks a lot like he just woke up before the film started rolling.

Okay – it’s 2087 – which isn’t that far away time wise folks alive now will see it (which makes some of the jokes weird and some of them just  baffling)  Eddie Murphy  is Pluto Nash who runs the hottest nightclub on the moon – yes that’s right by then we’re to the point where we are not simply surviving on the moon we are getting down to boogie or some such thing.

Pluto is also or was a famous smuggler – which is rather boring to point out makes no damn sense at all. Like none. That’s like being a famous pickpocket or famous well anything criminal – other than a gangster – somebody sees that Pluto Nash is arriving by rocket or however they move about here and on earth that ship is going to be torn apart al la the Lincoln in the French Connection (always wondered why they didn’t noticed that it was a different car, ah well  plot stuff).  Some 7 years ago  - and we see this Pluto rescues a friend who owes money to the mob buys friend’s bar because he always wanted to be a club owner – well okay –

As said it’s 2087 – someone representing Rex Crater a mysterious whoever – wants to buy Pluto’s club. He says no. He has his robot bodyguard – played in bizarre fashion by Randy Quaid – it’s seriously strange piece of acting even for a man pretending to be a somewhat obsolete robot (a point which is not so much of a running gag as a running failed joke and oh yes he recharges by pulling the fly of his pants down and well yes. Ha ha ha.  I’m dying of laughter).

I think I rather hate this film.

Pluto has said no – the female lead arrives looking for a singing job but settling for a waitress job at the place – the female lead is the very attractive and talented  Rosario Dawson. However I think the costume designer hated her . Actually thinking about it, the costume designer hated everybody in this film.  Everybody looks ridiculous. 

The sets are of a drab uninteresting not quite as bad as blade runner dystopia – and yet the moon has a casino – explained that gambling is illegal on Earth. Just how the hell did that happen? Especially as nowadays almost every city wants to have if nothing else some slot machines and is more than willing to tear down that preschool to make room for it . It’s one of the many points in this film that just make you go eh?  As for example, the money with Hilary Clinton’s face on it. That’s a real huh moment. What was or is the point of that joke?

Anyway Rex Crater – mysterious gangster who nobody has ever scene – has Pluto’s club blown up – and so Pluto, female lead and Quaid robot are off to escape hit men and to find out who Mr. Crater is. We meet some wacky folks – our heroes are pursued by thugs – some folks get killed – things get blown up there is an embarrassing cameo by John Cleese as a cars’ computer intelligence – there is some other guy with a van that makes my head hurt – and there is a casino were the mystery is solved after we are treated to Pluto’s friend doing a Frank Sinatra impression.

Two things here – we are expected to believe that nobody remembers Frank Sinatra. Really?  I have a portable systems right now that could hold every single note Frank sang if I wanted to.

Also I’m not a big fan of Frank or Vegas style music acts or the great American song book – so this just added to my irritation with the film.

In the end we find – surprise that Rex Crater is a clone of Eddie Murphy – made while he was in prison but well never mind that the clone would be at best 15 years old and b wouldn’t know everything Eddie did – and , oh just let it go. It’s a miserable stupid film and it sat on the shelf for a year for a reason.

Eventually it ends. The Bad Eddie Murphy is killed (twice I think) Pluto rebuilds his club the girl sings and the robot remains annoying.  I don’t care and neither will you.

Enjoy with comfort food.