The Return of Buddy Love

Rating: 8/10 (10 May 2007)

"Who," one may ask, "is Buddy Love?" Well, it's like this: in the original "The Nutty Professor," Jerry Lewis plays a nerd scientist who invents a Jekyll/Hyde formula that turns him into a suave, sophisticated, irresistible, arrogant ladies man who calls himself "Buddy Love." In this movie, Peter Parker comes under the influence of some type of alien life-form that turns him into a suave, sophisticated, irresistible, arrogant lades man who calls himself--well, he still calls himself Peter Parker. Not that being influenced by Mr. Lewis' film is bad; actually it's a pretty humorous part of the movie.
Other highlights:
1. Bruce Campbell should be the next Inspector Jacques Clouseau. Take a look at his supporting performance and see if you don't agree that he has that Clouseau thing down pat. In fact, it wouldn't be a surprise to learn that he was purposely imitating the great detective.
2. The score was exceptional. It reminded me of the kinds of scores you might find in movies of the 30's and 40's.
3. Kirsten Dunst sings Irving Berlin, and you can't beat Irving Berlin. I thought she was going to sing Peggy Lee's "Fever" (the introduction to the song is played in the nightclub scene), but she didn't. And Chubby Checkers sings "The Twist."
In fact, this movie, to me, hearkened back to great action films of yesterday. It has the feel of a 1940's serial, with one action scene built upon another. Truthfully, expect for some minor cussing and maybe one violent part, this movie would fit perfectly into that time period.
I have only three negative criticisms: one, it's too long. I enjoyed it once, but I wouldn't want to sit through it again in the near future, unless, maybe, I wanted to visit an IMAX theater. Second, too much of it is obviously a cartoon. It looks like the computer generated images it is. Third, as in all action movies today, the film is populated with action shots made of closeups and herky-jerky motions so that the viewer really can't see the action the filmmaker is supposed to showing him.
So, great move; just a little too long.