Bowfinger (1999)

'Bowfinger' is an endlessly inventive and often funny film that, although completely relying on one premise or idea, manages to play with the formula and remains a fun watch throughout. It stars Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy - both on fantastic comedic form throughout - who, with this film, briefly resurrected their flailing careers as it was both critically and commercially successful. The story is of Bobby Bowfinger, a desperate, down-and-out film-maker in Hollywood, who - living at the opposite spectrum of the American Dream - decides to make a movie with a famous action star. However the often temperamental lead actor does not know they are filming and so the hilarious adventure ensues. The film is essentially a big, long parody on Hollywood film-making from start to finish. Steve Martin concocts a script that satirises everything from Hollywood movie execs (a sharp comic turn from Robert Downey Junior), to the actors and actresses desperate for a part and a career (Heather Graham plays 'Daisy' an actress focused on 'bedding' her way to the top), to the egotistical Hollywood stars (Eddie Murphy playing an arrogant, rich film star excellently), to the sort of films made (with 'Chubby Rain' definitely not a classic). As mentioned earlier, Eddie Murphy excels in the film, however not just with one role but two. He concocts two extremely different but endearing characters who both have some of the best lines in the film. His true comedic talent is really on show but he also manages to give a sort of depth to the characters that makes, especially 'Jiff Ramsey', extremely likeable with the cast aside younger brother being the heartfelt point of the film. Overall, Bowfinger is a really enjoyable and surprising film and, although not a satirical masterpiece like 'The Player' or 'Barton Fink' and not being the most subtle film in the world with lots of slap stick, it still provides plenty of laugh out loud moments and makes for a great watch. By Jack Cooper