Showtime (2002)

25% of critics liked it
(122 reviews)
29% of users liked it
(47,629 ratings)

Robert DeNiro continues to lampoon his tough-guy persona with this spoof of buddy cop movies that teams him with comic co-star Eddie Murphy. DeNiro is L.A.P.D. detective Mitch Preston, a gruff, no-nonsense 28-year veteran whose bust of a drug gang is botched one night by Trey Sellars (Murphy), a… More Robert DeNiro continues to lampoon his tough-guy persona with this spoof of buddy cop movies that teams him with comic co-star Eddie Murphy. DeNiro is L.A.P.D. detective Mitch Preston, a gruff, no-nonsense 28-year veteran whose bust of a drug gang is botched one night by Trey Sellars (Murphy), a bumbling patrolman who's really a frustrated actor at heart. When Mitch's aggravation is captured by a television news crew, he fires his gun in their direction and becomes an instant media celebrity, while earning himself a temporary suspension at work. After his fame draws the attention of network TV producer Chase Renzi (Rene Russo), Mitch is soon informed that the only way he can get back to work is to allow a production crew to trail him on the job for a new cop reality series called "Showtime". In order to make the taciturn lawman more palatable to the viewing public, he's paired with the camera-friendly, fast-talking Trey. The new partners drive each other crazy, but their mismatched sensibilities make for great TV, while their newfound fame has its advantages in getting them back on the trail of those escaped drug dealers, who possess a powerful new weapon. Showtime co-stars Frankie Faison and William Shatner, who sends up his own TV cop role in T.J. Hooker. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Tom Dey
Written By: Keith Sharon, Alfred Gough, Miles Millar
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 15, 2002 Wide
On DVD: Aug 13, 2002
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Reviews

Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune
The thinness of the conception gives the actors so little room to maneuver that they turn in uniformly one-note performances.
Jessica Winter, Village Voice
90 punitive minutes of eardrum-dicing gunplay, screeching-metal smashups, and flaccid odd-couple sniping.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
This has the feel of something that was written by committee and it's all been done before.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
So pleased with its own spoofy conceit it stays in annoyingly self-amused, predictable mode.
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
It's not so much the generally preposterous premise as it is its sloppy handling that completely unhinges the film.
Mike Clark, USA Today
... Showtime isn't much of a show at all.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
A funny movie for adults and older teens.
Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
Throughout the movie, De Niro scowls and looks as if something smells bad -- and something does. It's the script.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...the real problem with Showtime is that, for a comedy, it's not nearly funny enough.
Tom Grealis, RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)
While it's completely pointless and silly, 'Showtime' does have one of the most vital ingredients for success - it entertains.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
Pairing no-nonsense actor Robert De Niro and comedy king Eddie Murphy may have been a clever idea rife with possibilities, but they are working for a creative team that ultimately misses its own point.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
Shatner is probably the funniest person in the film, which gives you an idea just how bad it was.

Read all 12 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Wahida K

Showtime a lot of LOL s Movies.
Conner R

It's not the worst thing Eddie Murphy has ever done, but it might be De Niro's. It is a failed attempt at a buddy cop revitalization. It has very little comedy that isn't stale and overdone. It was a complete waste of two good actors. Zero originality.
Arash X

Entertaining, De Niro is good like always
Jason S

It wasn't very good and might be a low point in both the actors careers.
Tim S

Bobby, Bobby, Bobby!
danny d

has some funny parts, not bad
Leigh R

It had its moments of funny, but mostly a bore.
Al S

Enjoyable
Steven V

Funny movie. Some of the scenes borderline amateurish. This is one of the movie not to be taken too seriously.
Deb S

"It's...Showtime!" Mitch Preston is a dedicated cop who is an incredibly focused professional completely intolerant of anything that gets in the way of the performance of his duties...like, say, a T.V. cameraman. All he asks is that he be left alone to do his job. So… More
"It's...Showtime!" Mitch Preston is a dedicated cop who is an incredibly focused professional completely intolerant of anything that gets in the way of the performance of his duties...like, say, a T.V. cameraman. All he asks is that he be left alone to do his job. So when the network executives approached him with the idea of this new reality show, I was thinking "Leave the guy alone. He's just trying to do his job." Nevertheless he gets roped into working with a rookie police officer (and actor on the side) with a snappy mouth Trey Sellers, played by Eddie Murphy, who wants to be a big movie star. Predictably, Eddie Murphy ends up using his street smarts and offers some help in solving the case. Of course Mitch and Trey mix like oil and water and much merry mayhem ensues. Rounding out the cast are Rene Russo (as the pushy, sexy TV executive) and look for a small but hilarious role from William Shatner as T.J. Hooker.

Read all 10 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Robert De Niro as Mitch Preston

            Eddie Murphy as Trey Sellars

            Rene Russo as Chase Renzi

            Pedro Damien as Vargas

            Mos Def as Lazy Boy

            Frankie Faison as Captain Winship

            William Shatner as Himself

            Nestor Serrano as Ray

            Drena De Niro as Annie

            Linda Hart as Waitress

            Taj "T.J." Cross as ReRun

            Judah Friedlander as Julio

            Kadeem Hardison as Kyle

            Peter Jacobson as Brad Slocum

            Kenneth Hudson Campbell as Cop in Gym

            John Cariani as Charlie

            Tom Billett as Freddy Bouncer #2

            Joyce Bryant as Lexi

            Rick Cramer as Duty Officer

            Zaid Farid as Captain (Audition)

            Henry Kingi as Garbage Truck Driver

            John Polce as Police Officer

            Jeff Sanders as Big Boy

            Andrew Wilson as Locker Room Cop #1

            Marshall Manesh (II) as Convenience Store Owner

            Christopher Darga as Announcer At Gun Show

            Clement Blake as Gun Show Patron

            Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. as Himself

            Maurice Compte as Chili

            Teresa DePriest as Female Cop #2

            James Roday as Cameraman

            Larry Joe Campbell as Locker Room Cop #2

            Chris Harrison as Reporter #2

            Rachael Harris as Teacher

            Alan Borstein as Casting Director

            Holly Mandel as Producer

            Joel Hurt Jones as Reporter #1

            Perri Peltz as Reporter #3

            Amy Powell as Reporter #4

            Debra Snell as Reporter #5

            Chris Ufland as Reporter #6

            Ewan Chung as Ping Pong Opponent

            Reggie Gaskins as Locker Room Cop #3

            Freez Luv as Freez

            Merlin Santana as Hector

            Julian Dulce Vida as J.J.

            Robert L. Joseph as Gangbanger #4

            Angela Rosa Alvarado as Gina Reyes

            Kirk Ward as Parking Garage Police #1

            Reggie Jordan as Parking Garage Police #2

            Lucille M. Oliver as Screaming Woman

            Callie Childers as Pool Girl

            Neil Mather as Uniform

            Joel Elliott as Animal Welfare Worker #1

            Grant Sawyer as Animal Welfare Worker #2

            Lisa Renee Pitts as Female Cop #1
See full cast

Showtime (2002)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Wahida K

Conner R

Arash X

Jason S

Tim S

danny d

Leigh R

Al S

Steven V

Deb S

Cast

Photos

Trailers & Clips