Opening 13 Jan 2005
Directed by:
Tim Story
Writing credits:
Luc Besson, Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon, Jim Kouf
Principal actors:
Queen Latifah, Jimmy Fallon, Henry Simmons, Jennifer Esposito, Gisele Bundchen
Queen Latifah clearly enjoyed herself when making this movie. After some spectacular stunt cycling in the opening scenes, she says goodbye to her colleagues, collects her brand new taxi and starts a new life on New York’s streets. Belle’s misfortunes begin when she is ordered by Officer Washbourne, NYPD, to follow some bank robbers. The cop is played by Jimmy Fallon from Saturday Night Live and the movie Almost Famous. Officer Washbourne is a very bad driver, but Belle is a spectacularly good one. Her standard taxi is transformed into a souped-up racing car at the touch of a few buttons and a quick change of steering wheel, and it’s quite capable of following the thieves’ getaway BMW. The head thief (Gisele Bündchen) manages to drive fast and look supercilious at the same time. Aah, but sensible Belle has the measure of the likes of her, and she and the bumbling Washbourne will get her in the end, won’t they? The car scenes are as good as any you’ll see in the movies today; the baddies will end up right where they ought to; Officer Washbourne will work with his old detective once more and Belle will fulfil two of her dreams. Director Tim Story has produced a light-hearted movie which will make you laugh. (Jenny Mather)
