What would happen if some random editor decided to splice pieces of "Beverly Hills Cop," "Blue Streak," "Bad Boys" and "48 Hours" together in hopes of having a substantial, worthwhile film on their hands? Viewers would either wind up with a nonsensical clip reel or something similar to the newly released and surprisingly entertaining flick "Bait."
Bait - R
Starring:
Jamie Foxx, David Morse, Doug Hutchison and Mike Epps
Directed by:
Antoine Fuqua
Now playing:
Showplace 12 West
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Jamie Foxx headlines as Alvin Sanders, a petty thief who yearns for bigger scores and substantiated props. Alvin has hatched a scheme to pilfer a warehouse of some prawns ("They're like shrimps on steroids," says Alvin). Of course, the scheme doesn't pan out and Alvin is promptly arrested. The jail sequences are the match beneath Foxx's comedic firecracker, aptly making the most of these moments, he talks smack, cracks wise and is an all-together smart-ass.
Alvin winds up bunking with a safecracker by the name of John Jaster (Robert Pastorelli). As Alvin was busy ganking Red Lobster's latest shipment, Jaster, a real-deal criminal, and his mentally ill, yet infinitely intelligent associate, Bristol (Doug Hutchinson), were in the process of heisting $42 million worth of gold bullion and knocking off two Federal Reserve agents.
Believing that Alvin knows the location of the gold, tough-as-nails cop Clenteen (David Morse) has a revolutionary tracking device implanted within Sanders' jaw, releases him on a technicality, and allows him to roam the streets as bait for the nefarious Bristol.
Jamie Foxx follows up his virtuoso dramatic work in Oliver Stone's "Any Given Sunday" with a versatile, spirited and comedic performance in "Bait." Alongside Foxx is a highly talented supporting cast that includes "Green Mile" vets Morse and Hutchinson, primo character actor Jamie Kennedy, fellow comic foil Mike Epps and Kimberly Elise ("Beloved") as Foxx's love interest.
What the film lacks in originality, it makes up for in the stylish direction of Antoine Fuqua, a former commercial director who cut his teeth on the half-baked Chow Yun Fat vehicle "The Replacement Killers." This flick is not only a huge step up for Fuqua, but for the action-comedy genre as a whole. Although not a great movie, "Bait" definitely has what it takes to catch an audience.
