Corky Romano (2001) / Comedy-Crime

MPAA Rated: PG-13 for drug and sex-related humor, and language
Running time: 86 min.

Cast: Chris Kattan, Peter Falk, Chris Penn, Vinessa Shaw, Matthew Glave, Fred Ward, Richard Roundtree, Peter Berg, Roger Fan, Dave Sheridan
Director:  Rob Pritts
Screenplay: David Garrett, Jason Ward
Review published July 4, 2003

One of the things we can always be thankful for is that most dumb comedies only last 90 minutes or less.  You go into it knowing it's going to be completely silly slapstick, but hoping you can squeeze a few laughs out of it, and by the end, you're ready to switch that brain back into receive mode and face the day.  Corky Romano will certainly fall into the category of one of these typical dumb comedies, and Chris Kattan's (Monkeybone, A Night at the Roxbury) films are virtually interchangeable with Rob Schneider's, so it's no surprise that the screenwriting team of Garrett and Ward would write Schneider's upcoming film, Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo.  I can feel my brain cells collapsing from lack of use already.

The plot revolves around the need for a mob family, the Romanos, to send in their own mole to infiltrate the FBI and steal the evidence that is going to put godfather, Pops Romano (Falk, Vibes) away for the rest of his days.  The trouble is, the FBI already has extensive files on all of the family, except one: estranged son Corky.  Corky spends most of his days as a happy-go-lucky klutz of a veterinarian, but doesn't want to see anything bad happen to Pops, so he consents to the plan.  However, they overplay their hand when it comes to Corky's abilities, and soon he's utilized in the FBI's toughest assignments, and hasn't a clue what to do.

You have to really love Chris Kattan's physical brand of humor to get into Corky Romano, so if you aren't a fan, stay away at all costs.  I must admit, I find him mostly annoying, but occasionally amusing, and that's precisely my feelings about the film as a whole.  The main plot is nothing too interesting, but it does provide for some interesting situations, some of which are actually amusing.  Alas, these moments aren't often enough, especially for a film that tries so hard to create an atmosphere of hilarity.  Hopefully, you don't care what happens by the end of the film, because by that time the entire plot falls apart with confusing motivations and nonsensical developments.  If you think the stupider the comedy, the better it is, Corky Romano may find a receptive audience with you.  Most others will just think it's too stupid to sit through, regardless of the mercifully short running length.

Qwipster's rating:

©2003 Vince Leo