A THOUSAND WORDS DVD (2012)
SYNOPSIS: Fast-talking Jack McCall (Eddie Murphy) says whatever it takes to close a deal. But after stretching the truth with a spiritual guru, he suddenly finds his life depending on a magical tree with 1,000 leaves…one for every word he has left. Now Jack’s got to stop talking and conjure up some outrageous ways to communicate or he’s a goner.
MOVIE REVIEW:
When was the last time you find Eddie Murphy funny? Beverly Hills Cop. Seriously, that long? The Nutty Professor. That was in 1996 by the way. The once hugely successful funnyman has hit a career-low in recent years with his family-oriented comedies and with the dismal performance of “A Thousand Words”, Murphy’s career path looks seriously ill at this point of time sad to say.
Frozen in carbonite for four years and belonging to the last release title of the now defunct DreamWorks/Paramount distribution deal, Murphy plays a motor-mouthed literary agent, Jack McCall in “A Thousand Words” whose extravagant life suddenly have to depend on a magical tree that sprout out of his garden one night after he promised a spiritual guru, Dr Sinja (Cliff Curtis) that he will publish his new book. For every word Jack utters (including written), a leaf will instantly fall off and when the tree is deprived of all leaves, the tree will die along with Jack. Will Jack succumb to his fate or the guru has other things planned for the man?
In some ways, “A Thousand Words” functions a lot like Jim Carrey’s classic hit “Liar Liar”. Carrey’s character can no longer lie to save his life and career in the latter while Jack McCall can no longer utter anymore words to salvage his once successful career and family. And both movies depend heavily on their leading man to make things work. Murphy of course is known for his verbal, motor-mouthed skills, take that away and all you have is a string of charades and physical comedy which somehow fails to work in some of the gags. Of course, Murphy lacks Carrey’s rubberface attribute and that takes the shine off a little.
Yet, the movie isn’t as bad as Murphy and director Brian Robbins’ earlier low-brow collaborations, “Norbit” and “Meet Dave”. It is certainly not a horrible movie as what the general critics are saying, it’s simply an uneven one scripted by Steve Koren (Jack & Jill, Bruce Almighty). Take for example; Clarke Duke (Sex Drive) who plays McCall’s assistant, Wisenberger becomes the movie’s obvious victim when his character is filled with insipid one-liners and banal jokes that you wish he is the one being cursed instead.
The last act turns everything into a poignant, heartwarming journey which is glaringly a stark contrast to the initial setup especially a touching moment with McCall’s dementia mother (Ruby Dee) and coming to terms with his late estranged father. Despite the encouraging message of self-redemption, the entire watching experience seems like two movies being stuffed into one and probably will be better conceptualized if it went through a couple more rewrites. Pity.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
6 Deleted Scenes are included on the DVD including a far more spectacular car crash sequence.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
“A Thousand Words” looks fantastic on DVD, pictures are sharp and colours natural. Dialog is crisp and the ambient effects active and immersive.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Linus Tee
