By EWAN McDONALD
(Herald rating: * *)
No More Mr Nasty Guy: Robert De Niro decided a few years ago that he'd reached a stage in life when he was going to enjoy himself, and one of the greatest actors of his time toddled off into a sometimes ill-advised comedy schtick. Meet
The Parents, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Showtime, Analyze This and That. This most prolific of actors (five flicks in production as we write) has kept up the bad work, however.
Vincent LaMarca (De Niro) is a New Jersey homicide detective who has had to battle his father's legacy as a convicted baby-killer. It's blighted the son's life. He walked out on his wife, Maggie (Patti LuPone), and son, Joey (James Franco) because he couldn't handle relationship. He's kind of dating his neighbour, Michelle (Frances McDormand), and has an uneasy working life with his partner, Reg (George Dzundza).
As he searches a warehouse, Reg is shot dead, and Vincent's son, Joey, is the chief suspect. With the ghosts of his past in his mind, Vincent has to prove his son didn't do it — and give a home to Joey's junkie girlfriend, Gina (Eliza Dushku), and his grandson.
You'd think that with names like De Niro and McDormand, this movie couldn't go wrong. Unfortunately, they need something to work with, and this script doesn't give it to them. The unlovely characters could evoke some sympathy if they were well drawn but the plot and characterisation are thin, the theme that the fathers might escape their background and redeem one another, and their grandson, is contrived.
Cliched and mediocre with an ending that you'll see coming long before the counter clicks around to 108min.
DVD features: movie (108min); commentary by writer Ken Hixon and producer Matthew Baer; Six Words about Filmmaking feature.
