Movie Review: Miami Vice

One of last weekend's biggest-hyped openings, Miami Vice is directed by Michael Mann, whose dark vision gave the 80s TV show its signature look as well as embuing Mann's movies (Heat, Collateral) with a similar sensibillity. Like Mann's other flicks, Miami Vice has plenty of style and sex appeal--even the explosions are kinda hot--but unlike the others, it doesn't have the performances (of Tom Cruise in 2004's Collateral, Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro in Heat) to lend some substance to all the action.

Sad to say, the much-hyped duo of Collin Farrell and Jaime Foxx (stories of their wild nights during the film's shoot have been recent tabloid fodder) are underwhelming. In fact, Farrell, his puppy-dog eyes pleading out from under distractingly large eyebrows and bad hair, is frequently upstaged not only by Gong Li as his Asian-drug-trafficker love interest, but by the movie's lighting. His Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson in the series) may well be a heck of a nice guy and even a good detective: we just can't tell, because the only moments he generates interest are in sex or dance scenes with the magnetic Li.

Foxx, who plays Detective Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs, fares a little better, but not much. One of Mann's favorite actors (he starred in Collateral and will star again in Mann's upcoming Damage Control), he's not given a lot to work with here. In scenes with Farrell, one can sense his much-publicized frustration: it's hard to play off a wooden actor, even a very very pretty one. He manages some nice moments, however, with Naomie Harris, who recent moviegoers might recognize from the second Pirates of the Carribean movie. There, she was a creepy witch-lady, here she's the love interest caught up in the middle of the action.

Despite mediocre performances, however, Miami Vice is a satisfying movie experience: a smart thriller featuring Mann's fantastic sense of place and interesting camerawork. It won't change your life, but you won't regret the price of your ticket. It's solid summertime fun.

Grade: B