TAXI

US, 2004, 98 minutes, Colour.
Queen Latifah, Jimmy Fallon, Henry Simmons, Jennifer Esposito, Gisele Bundchen, Ann- Margret.
Directed by Tim Storey.

Taxi is a remake of the successful French film written by Luc Besson. The French film had two sequels. It is difficult to know whether the Americans would make a sequel to this film because it was not a commercial or critical success.

The film relies on the comic style of Queen Latifah, so good in Chicago and in comedies like Beauty Shop and Bringing Down the House. The taxi driver star is Jimmy Fallon from Saturday Night Live who does not make a striking impression as the lead in this film. However, he was to exert more charm and presence in Perfect Catch (Fever Pitch) with Drew Barrymore.

The film is an excuse for madcap comedy, car chases, robbers – especially in the form of beauty contestants, especially Gisele Bundchen. There are many confrontations – action and comic.

A surprise cameo role is that of Ann- Margret as the hero’s mother.

1.The popularity of the original French films and its sequel? The transposition to New York City?

2.The New York City scenes, the streets, highways? The banks? Police precincts? New Jersey – and the incomplete bridge? Authentic atmosphere for this kind of action comedy? The musical score and the range of songs, especially the rap songs for mood?

3.The title, the importance of the taxi for Belle, her driving in the taxi, her passengers? The taxi and the police? The impounding of the taxi, getting the taxi back again – and her future with the taxi?

4.The plausibility of the plot, Andy and his ineptness? Belle and her background, taxi? The relationship with Jesse? The relationship between Andy and Marta? Andy’s mother? The comic caricatures?

5.The action sequences, the opening with the breaking of the record by the cyclist, Belle being the cyclist? Cycling messengers in New York City? Taxis, speed? The revved-up taxi for Belle? The nervous passenger to the airport, the police pursuits? The special effects and stunts?

6.Belle, her background, juvenile detention, her learning mechanics from her family? As a cyclist? Her getting her licence, the taxi, the nervous passenger? Being taken over by Andy? The chase of the robbers, her identifying them? Her working out where they would go for repairs? Her skills, keeping vigil with Andy? Her standing up Jesse, his being exasperated? Her going to Andy’s place, Andy’s eccentric mother? The interrogations by Marta? The continued pursuit, working out of where the crimes would take place, the final confrontations? The reconciliation with Jesse and his understanding? Her future as a racing car driver?

7.The contrast with Andy, inept, living near his mother, his mother continually being drunk, her spoiling him? His continued mistakes, the impersonation of the Cubans, spoiling the drug deal, the shootings? His being taken off jobs, his getting the information about the robbery, taking the taxi? His interactions with Belle, telling his life story? With Marta, her continually telling him off, dismissing him? The newspapers – and the fellow police mocking him? His relying on his mother? His determination to succeed, with Belle, using his wits, the final pursuit? Trapping the robbers?

8.Marta, her work, exasperation? Interaction with Belle? Anger with Andy? Her giving herself as the hostage – and the attention given by the robbers? The rescue in mid-drive? Undercover with Andy at the end? Jesse, his courtship of Belle, the appointments, the meals, his disappointment, exasperation? Jesse and everything being explained by Andy’s mother?

9.Ann- Margret as the mother, her comic style, drinking, meals, ordering out, hospitality, support of her son?

10.The police, efficiency, the bungling police?

11.The robbers, people thinking they were men, their arrival at the airport, the glamorous models, lesbian – and the sexy overtones for the sequences for the male audience? At the garage, the exploding car, their escape, driving and pursuit? Their finally being stranded? Their hostages, the garbage man having to help them because of his wife? Andy and Belle working out the garbage route, finding the man, rescuing his wife?

12.A variation on the buddy movie, the feminist tone (in reversal from the male-female roles of the original)?