Bowfinger (1999)

Director:

Frank Oz

Writer (WGA):

Steve Martin (written by)

Release Date:

13 August 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

A desperate plan for a desperate man

Plot:

When a desperate movie producer fails to get a major star for his bargain basement film, he decides to shoot the film secretly around him.

Plot Keywords:

Hollywood | Movie Producer | Brother | Curly Hair | Touching Breasts

Awards:

6 nominations

Cast

Steve Martin	...	Robert K. Bowfinger
Eddie Murphy	...	Kit Ramsey / Jefferson 'Jiff' Ramsey
Heather Graham	...	Daisy
Christine Baranski	...	Carol
Jamie Kennedy	...	Dave
Adam Alexi-Malle	...	Afrim
Kohl Sudduth	...	Slater
Barry Newman	...	Hal, Kit's Agent
Terence Stamp	...	Terry Stricter
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Jerry Renfro
Alejandro Patino	...	Sanchez
Alfred De Contreras	...	Martinez
Ramiro Fabian	...	Hector
Johnny Sanchez	...	Luis
Claude Brooks	...	Freddy
Kevin Scannell	...	LA Cop
John Prosky	...	MindHead Executive
Michael Dempsey	...	Camera Security Guard
Walter Powell	...	Federal Express Man
Phill Lewis	...	Actor at Audition
Marisol Nichols	...	Young Actress at Audition
Nathan Anderson	...	Clothing Sales Clerk
Brogan Roche	...	Renfro's Executive
John Cho	...	Nightclub Cleaner
Lloyd Berman	...	Camera Store Clerk
Zaid Farid	...	Kenny, Kit's Limo Driver
Aaron Brumfield	...	Kit's Bodyguard
Kevin Grevioux	...	Kit's Bodyguard
Kimble Jemison	...	Kit's Assistant
Alex Craig Mann	...	Studio Executive
Laura Grady	...	E! Channel Interviewer
Reamy Hall	...	Farrah, Hollywood Lesbian
Michelle Boehle	...	Laker Girl
Kimberly Baum	...	Laker Girl
Megan Denton	...	Laker Girl
Janet Jaeger	...	Laker Girl
Hope Wood	...	Laker Girl
Addie Yungmee	...	Laker Girl
Andrea Toste	...	Laker Girl
Mindy	...	Betsy - Bowfinger's Dog
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Martin Andris	...	Premiere Guest (uncredited)
Adam Carrera	...	News Reporter (uncredited)
Carl Kocis	...	Reporter at Premier (uncredited)
Tiger Mendez	...	'Mongo' Premiere Guest (uncredited)
Steve J. Termath	...	Black Masked Ninja (uncredited)

Directed by
Frank Oz

Writing credits (WGA)
Steve Martin		(written by)

Produced by
Kathleen M. Courtney	....	associate producer (as Kathleen Courtney)
Brian Grazer	....	producer
Karen Kehela Sherwood	....	executive producer (as Karen Kehela)
Bernard Williams	....	executive producer (as Bernie Williams)

Original Music by
David Newman

Cinematography by
Ueli Steiger

Film Editing by
Richard Pearson

Casting by
Margery Simkin

Production Design by
Jackson De Govia		(as Jackson DeGovia)

Art Direction by
Tom Reta

Set Decoration by
K.C. Fox

Costume Design by
Joseph G. Aulisi

Makeup Department
Gary Archer	....	prosthetic dental technician
Steve Artmont	....	key makeup artist
Frank Griffin	....	makeup artist: Mr. Martin
Stacey Morris	....	hair stylist: Mr. Murphy
Gloria Ponce	....	key hair stylist (as Gloria Albarran Ponce)
Waldo Sanchez	....	assistant hair stylist
Rick Sharp	....	makeup artist
Linda Trainoff	....	assistant hair stylist
Alicia M. Tripi	....	hair stylist
Toy Van Lierop	....	makeup artist: Mr. Murphy (as Toy R. Van Lierop)
Toni-Ann Walker	....	hair stylist: Mr. Martin (as Toni Ann Walker)
Clinton Wayne	....	prosthetic makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Leslie J. Converse	....	post-production supervisor
Bernard Williams	....	unit production manager (as Bernie Williams)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stacy Christenson	....	dga trainee
Evan Gilner	....	additional second assistant director (as Evan L. Gilner)
Basil Grillo	....	second second assistant director (as Basil Bryant Grillo)
Michele Panelli-Venetis	....	first assistant director
Matt Rebenkoff	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Marc Baird	....	storyboard artist
Bryan Belair	....	construction coordinator
Brian Bilson	....	assistant props (as Brian K. Bilson)
Michael R. Blaich	....	paint foreman
Richard Boris	....	greens person
Susan A. Burig	....	graphic designer (as Susan Burig)
Ed Calderon Jr.	....	labor foreman
Matt Callahan	....	set decorator coordinator
Mike Cunningham	....	assistant props
Sienna DeGovia	....	art department assistant
Oscar Delgadillo	....	set dresser (as Oscar X. Delgadillo)
Gus Feederle	....	greens foreman
Jack Forwalter	....	set dresser
Chad S. Frey	....	assistant art director
Scott C. Garrett	....	set dresser (as Scott Garrett)
Les Gobruegge	....	set designer
Carmine Goglia	....	stand-by painter
Kenny Hayes	....	labor foreman (as Ken Hayes)
Gary Isbell	....	set dresser (as Gary S. Isbell)
Karl J. Martin	....	model maker (as Karl Martin)
Karl J. Martin	....	set designer (as Karl Martin)
Melissa Mollo	....	art department coordinator
Wesley Nordby	....	construction foreman (as Wesley R. Nordby)
Noah Plunkett	....	stand-by greens
David Saltzman	....	on-set dresser (as David E. Saltzman)
David Scott	....	assistant graphic artist
Dawn Snyder	....	set designer
Andrew R. Stern	....	stand-by greens
Mark Woods	....	lead person
Rick Young	....	property master
Louis Farah	....	construction medic (uncredited)
Scott C. Garrett	....	draper (uncredited)
Joshua Hunt	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Chris Revuelta	....	labor foreman (uncredited)
Fred Seibly	....	signwriter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Brendan Beebe	....	boom operator
Ron Bochar	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ron Bochar	....	supervising sound editor
Martin Raymond Bolger	....	sound mixer
David Boulton	....	adr engineer
Kam Chan	....	foley editor
Benjamin Cheah	....	supervising foley editor (as Ben Cheah)
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (as Marko Constanzo)
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Juno J. Ellis	....	adr editor (as Juno Ellis)
Chris Fielder	....	assistant sound editor
Lewis Goldstein	....	sound effects editor
Matthew Haasch	....	foley engineer
Ruth Hernandez	....	apprentice sound editor
Harry Higgins	....	sound re-recording assistant
Alan Holly	....	adr engineer
Bob Hughes	....	sound utility technician
Dennis Jones	....	boom operator
Marissa Littlefield	....	supervising adr editor
Todd Milner	....	assistant sound editor
Tim O'Shea	....	foley editor
Jay Peck	....	foley artist
Wyatt Sprague	....	assistant sound editor
Magdaline Volaitis	....	dialogue editor
Nicholas Renbeck	....	adr editor (uncredited)
Dennis C. Salcedo	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Phil Cory	....	special effects coordinator (as Philip Cory)
Richard Cory	....	special effects technician
Matthew W. Mungle	....	special effects makeup

Visual Effects by
Kelly G. Crawford	....	editorial: Illusion Arts Inc.
Syd Dutton	....	visual effects: Illusion Arts Inc.
Adam Kowalski	....	camera operator: Illusion Arts Inc.
Lynn Ledgerwood	....	rigging: Illusion Arts Inc.
Fumi Mashimo	....	animator: Illusion Arts Inc. (as Fumi Mashimo)
Kelvin McIlwain	....	matte artist: Illusion Arts Inc.
Roberto Moreno	....	digital assistant: Illusion Arts
Kenneth Nakada	....	matte artist: Illusion Arts Inc.
Richard Patterson	....	digital supervisor: Illusion Arts
Catherine Sudolcan	....	visual effects producer: Illusion Arts Inc.
Bill Taylor	....	visual effects supervisor: Illusion Arts Inc.
Mike Wassel	....	senior matte artist: Illusion Arts Inc.
David S. Williams Jr.	....	lead compositor: Illusion Arts Inc. (as Davis S. Williams Jr.)

Stunts
Bud Davis	....	stunt coordinator
Tabby Hanson	....	stunts
Michael Haynes	....	stunts
Gary Hymes	....	stunts
Robert Jauregui	....	stunts (as Bob Jaurequi)
Alan Oliney	....	stunts
Lynn Salvatori	....	stunts
Spencer Sano	....	stunt performer
Dennis Scott	....	stunts
Patricia Tallman	....	stunts (as Pat Tallman)
Fred M. Waugh	....	stunts (as Fred Waugh)
Keith Woulard	....	stunts
Tsuyoshi Abe	....	stunts (uncredited)
Kevin Beard	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Jay Caputo	....	stunts (uncredited)
Darryl Chan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Edward Conna	....	stunts (uncredited)
Danny Downey	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Jayson Dumenigo	....	stunts (uncredited)
Robert Jauregui	....	stunt double: Steve Martin (uncredited)
Hiro Koda	....	stunts (uncredited)
Kim Robert Koscki	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Koyama	....	stunts (uncredited)
Will Leong	....	stunts (uncredited)
David Loitz	....	precision driver (uncredited)
Casey O'Neill	....	stunts (uncredited)
Alan Oliney	....	stunt double: Eddie Murphy (uncredited)
Michael Owen	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jean Paul Ruggiero	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Sakas	....	stunts (uncredited)
Felipe Savahge	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jill Stokesberry	....	stunts (uncredited)
Charles A. Tam	....	stunts (uncredited)
Clark Tucker	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mike Washlake	....	stunts (uncredited)
T.J. White	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Lee Whittaker	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Ash	....	best boy: Universal
Guy Norman Bee	....	Steadicam operator
Guy Norman Bee	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Richard Boyle	....	rigging grip (as Richard J. Boyle)
Gary L. Camp	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Scott Drinon	....	dolly grip
Richard Elias	....	best boy rigging grip
Kevin Fahey	....	grip
Michael James Fahey	....	best boy grip (as Michael J. Fahey)
Gary Fredrickson	....	electrician
Nathaniel Goodman	....	additional camera operator: "b" camera
Jim Grce	....	chief lighting technician
Mike Green	....	grip (as Michael Green)
Tony Hibbard	....	rigging electrician (as Michael Tony Hibbard)
Michael J. Hogan	....	video assist operator
Duane Katz	....	electrician
Ronald Kline	....	assistant lighting technician
Suza Kohlstedt	....	camera loader
Steve Lazarus	....	rigging best boy electric (as Steven Lazarus)
Michael Lyon	....	rigging electrician
Anthony T. Marra II	....	key grip
Michael A. McFadden	....	grip
Matthew Thomas Moles	....	rigging key grip
Paul J. Morra	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Tim Nash	....	grip
Max Neal	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera (as Maxim Edward Neal)
Bill O'Drobinak	....	camera operator (as Billy O'Drobinak)
Gustavo Oliva	....	rigging electrician
Simone Perusse	....	electrician
Christopher Prampin	....	rigging gaffer
Robert A. Preston	....	additional dolly grip
Robbie Redner	....	electrician (as Robert Redner)
Kendall A. Reed	....	crane operator
Zade Rosenthal	....	still photographer
Joe Sanchez	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera (as Joseph Sanchez)
Mark Santoni	....	first assistant camera: Bowfinger camera
Michael A. Savage	....	grip
David W. Slodki	....	electrician
Scott R. Todd	....	rigging electrician
Michael Tolochko	....	rigging best boy electric
Kenny K. Tong	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Donna Vega	....	rigging gaffer
James B. Walsh	....	grip
Mike Gerzevitz	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Edward A. Gutentag	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Jerry L. Mandley	....	electrician (uncredited)
Larry Markart	....	video playback operator (uncredited)
Daniel P. Moore	....	video operator: additional photography (uncredited)
Ralph Scherer	....	grip (uncredited)
Sandi Sissel	....	additional photographer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Carmen Cuba	....	casting associate
Steve Spiker	....	extras casting
Shannon Dunn	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Cynthia Black	....	set costumer
Cheryl Beasley Blackwell	....	key costumer
Fetteroff Colen	....	costumer: Mr. Murphy
Kendall Errair	....	costume supervisor
Chrisi Karvonides-Dushenko	....	assistant costume designer
Dennis Schoonderwoerd	....	costumer
Paki Wolfe	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Abdul Franklin	....	assistant editor
Margaret Guinee	....	assistant editor: avid
Bob McMillian	....	color timer
Christy Richmond	....	first assistant editor
Laura Rindner	....	assistant editor
Anne Sawyer	....	apprentice editor
Tony Solomons	....	assistant editor: avid

Music Department
John Carbonara	....	assistant music editor: New York
Lenny Castro	....	musician: latin percussion
Jim Cox	....	musician: keyboard
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor
George Doering	....	musician: guitar
Andrew Dorfman	....	assistant music editor: Los Angeles
J.J. George	....	music editor
Dan Higgins	....	musician: saxophone
Alexander Janko	....	orchestrator
John Kurlander	....	scoring mixer
Michael Lang	....	musician: keyboard (as Mike Lang)
Pilar McCurry	....	music supervisor
Krystyna Newman	....	consultant: musical score
Dean Parks	....	musician: guitar
Steve Schaeffer	....	musician: drums
Neil Stubenhaus	....	musician: electric bass
Melodee Sutton	....	music coordinator
Brian Bulman	....	assistant music editor: temp tracking (uncredited)
Marty Frasu	....	scoring sound supervisor (uncredited)
J.J. Holiday	....	musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Larry Alicata	....	driver
Anthony Ardito	....	driver (as Tony Ardito)
John M. Batiuk	....	driver
Tom Battaglia	....	driver
Rod Bennett	....	driver
Ron W. Cafferty	....	driver
Bill Cockrell	....	driver
John Costner	....	driver
Tom Dias	....	driver
Marcelle 'Kitty' Dutton	....	driver (as Kitty Dutton)
Craig Fehrman	....	transportation coordinator
Michael Forte	....	driver
Bruce Hathaway	....	driver
Clifford Johnson	....	driver (as Cliff Johnson)
Mike Kulisch	....	driver
Bud Lacy	....	driver
Greg Landis	....	driver
Cecil McClain	....	driver
Walter McClain	....	transportation captain (as Walt McClain)
Marco A. Orozco	....	driver (as Marco Orozco)
Russel Overstreet	....	driver (as Russ Overstreet)
Nacho Ramirez	....	driver
Robert Santoro	....	driver
Myron P. Shepherd	....	transportation co-captain
Ervin Wayne Spowehn	....	driver (as Wayne Spowehn)
Michael Vieira	....	driver
William West	....	driver
David N. Williams	....	driver
Vincent J. Ybiernas	....	driver
Robert Dulys	....	driver (uncredited)
Gary Edelman	....	driver (uncredited)
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car (uncredited)
Bonnie Yamahiro	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Kyle Alexander	....	location production assistant
Molly Allen	....	key location manager
Linda C. Azevedo	....	construction accountant
Bethany Babyak	....	assistant: Mr. Kehela
Steven A. Berman	....	office production assistant
Ray Berrios	....	stand-in
Deborah Bird	....	production coordinator
Judy Blinick	....	first assistant accountant
Lisa Blok-Linson	....	location manager
Sue Bokobza	....	production accountant
Allan Bragg	....	stand-in
Kevin A. Canamar	....	supervising medic
Virgil Carter	....	photo double: Mr. Murphy
Carlos E. Chairez Jr.	....	set production assistant
Amin Chande	....	craft service (as Amin Chandra)
Leslie J. Converse	....	assistant: Mr. Oz
Anna Culp	....	assistant: Mr. Grazer
Juan De Villa	....	stand-in
Michael S. Dunitz	....	assistant location manager (as Michael Dunitz)
Patricia Ebert	....	assistant location manager
Michael Espejo	....	stand-in
Marty Frasu	....	programmer
Jennifer Zolten Freed	....	post-production accountant (as Jennifer Freed)
Allison Ganz	....	intern
Anthony Genovese	....	stand-in: Adam Alexi-Melle
Jemal Guillory	....	assistant: Mr. Murphy
Melissa Hammond	....	intern
Maru Hernandez	....	office production assistant
Charisse M. Hewitt	....	executive assistant: Mr. Murphy
Douglas Huber	....	stand-in
Robert Huerta	....	stand-in
Sondra James	....	adr loop group
Darla Jameson	....	stand-in
Donnie Johnson	....	assistant: Mr. Murphy
Zachary Kahn	....	office production assistant (as Zak A. Kahn)
Jamie Kehoe	....	craft service
Luca Kouimelis	....	script supervisor
Mike Langenbach	....	stand-in
Terry Langford	....	projectionist
Keira March	....	payroll accountant
Alison Marshall	....	stand-in
Elizabeth Maxwell	....	caterer (as Liz Maxwell)
Michael Maxwell	....	caterer
Peter McKernan Sr.	....	helicopter pilot (as Peter J. McKernan Sr.)
Peter McKernan	....	helicopter pilot (as Peter J. McKernan Jr.)
Michael Musteric	....	assistant: Mr. Martin (as Michael J. Musteric)
Jennifer O'Neil	....	assistant: Mr. Williams
Joshua Owen	....	intern
Charity Parson	....	animal trainer (as Charity M. Parsons)
Mike Piccirillo	....	office production assistant
Gregg Pittman	....	head animal trainer
Bronwyn Preston	....	unit publicist
Alan D. Purwin	....	helicopter pilot (as Alan Purwin)
Nancy Reid	....	production secretary
Roger E. Reid	....	stand-in (as Roger Reid)
Kristi Roberts	....	intern
Nina Saxon	....	title designer: New Wave Entertainment
Lindsay Sloane	....	assistant: Mr. Grazer
Shannon Speaker	....	assistant production coordinator
Jean Stehle	....	intern
Sunday Stevens	....	set production assistant
Ken Struck	....	assistant location manager (as Kenneth M. Struck)
Lynn Struiksma	....	set production assistant
Dan Sullivan	....	assistant: Mr. Grazer
Sheila Thornsberry	....	accounting clerk
Mark Trapenberg	....	set production assistant
Christa Vausbinder	....	second assistant accountant
David Waldram Jr.	....	intern
Matt Walker	....	set production assistant
Ilene Waterstone	....	executive assistant: Mr. Martin
Randy Webster	....	assistant: Mr. Murphy
Julie Adams	....	dialect coach: Mr: Terence Stamp (uncredited)
Bohnie Avanzino	....	title designer: New Wave Entertainment (uncredited)
George Herthel	....	location manager (uncredited)
Scott A. Lopez	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Catherine Pittman	....	head dog trainer (uncredited)
Peter Pamela Rose	....	adr loop group (uncredited)
Bill Timoney	....	adr loop group (uncredited)

Thanks
Rick Buchanon	....	special thanks: NBA
June Butler	....	special thanks: Pacific Design Center
Pam Lockhart	....	special thanks: The State of California Film Office
Buck Martin	....	special thanks: Los Angeles Lakers
Robin Oz	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures (presents)
• Imagine Entertainment

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1999) (UK) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1999) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Filmes Lusomundo (1999) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1999) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1999) (Spain) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2000) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (200?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• CIC Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (200?) (Australia) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Egmont Entertainment (2000) (Finland) (DVD)
• Finnkino (2000) (Finland) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (2000) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Nelonen (2003) (2004) (2006) (Finland) (TV)
• Sub (2008) (2010) (Finland) (TV)
• SubTV (2006) (Finland) (TV)
• Universal Home Video (2000) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Universal Ultimate Selection)
• Universal Pictures (2002) (Germany) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Illusion Arts (visual effects)

Other Companies

• American Humane Association, The  animal action monitoring ([AHA90115-1])
• C5  post-production sound services
• CMG Worldwide  Beverly Hills sign under license authorized by
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• City of Los Angeles  special thanks
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Entertainment Industry Development Corporation (EIDC)  special thanks
• FedEx  logo trademarks courtesy of
• Home on the Range  catering
• Los Angeles Lakers  special thanks
• Major League Baseball Properties  major league baseball trademarks licensed by
• National Basketball Association  special thanks
• Pacific Design Center  special thanks
• Pacific Studios Inc.  chromatrans background
• Pacific Title/Mirage  opticals
• Pacific Title/Mirage  titles: "Chubby Rain" titles
• Performing Animal Troupe  animals provided by
• Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP)  the People's Choice Awards statue under license from
• Rockbottom Rentals  cell phone rentals
• Rocky Mountain Motion Pictures  camera rentals
• State of California Film Office  special thanks
• The City of Beverly Hills  special thanks
• The City of Long Beach  special thanks
• The City of West Hollywood  special thanks
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sex-related material and language

Runtime:

97 min | Turkey:85 min (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:U | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Germany:6 (w) | Iceland:L | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:M | Norway:A | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #36611) | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

1621 Vista Del Mar Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Based on a real incident in 1927. A Russian filmmaker covertly shot footage of the vacationing Mary Pickford, and fashioned an entire film around the footage, creating the illusion that Pickford was actually starring in this Russian film.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the first scene with Carol and Kit, she confronts him at an outdoor café, and the shots alternate between her standing upright and leaning a bit with her left hand on a chair.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Robert K. Bowfinger:Wow. Great script. Great script!
[to his dog]
Robert K. Bowfinger:Betsy? It's now or never. We are gonna make a movie.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Epic Movie (2007)

Soundtrack:

When You Go Deep

Steve Martin was funny, then he wasn't. Now he is again

Steve Martin, the funniest man alive in the 80s, lost his way in the 90s with the likes of "Leap Of Faith" and "A Simple Twist Of Fate". Now, after sterling work in David Mamet's "The Spanish Prisoner", Martin's return to writing and acting in straight-up comedy is surprisingly, reassuringly good. "Bowfinger" is a movie about movies, with all the potential for in-jokery and self-indulgence that brings, but for the most part dispenses with the clever-clever, isn't-Hollywood-shallow stuff to deliver laughs.

Martin's Bobby Bowfinger, a struggling producer desperate for a hit before he reaches the 'unemployable' age of 50, hits on the idea of putting action star Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy) in his new sci-fi film "Chubby Rain" without the star knowing anything about it. Consequently, Bowfinger's inept crew follows Ramsey around in increasingly crazy and surreal fashion, utilising everything from 'Will Work For Food' signs made of foil to cranes mounted on trucks to get the shot they need. When Bowfinger stumbles across a Kit double (Murphy again) who will do anything the director asks including fetch the coffee, he starts to think all his birthdays have come at once. Meanwhile, the neurotic Ramsey, never that stable to begin with, begins to lose it altogether as he becomes convinced that sex-crazed pod people are stalking him.

It's a simple plot and, while the script throws a few barbs at Hollywood, it's played mainly for big laughs - and gets them. Heather Graham is spot-on as the ingenue literally just off the bus from Ohio who is prepared to sleep with anyone to get longer scenes, and Jamie Kennedy is all laconic wit as Bowfinger's long-suffering assistant. Really, though, it's Martin and Murphy's show. The original wild and crazy guy shows he hasn't lost all his manic energy in the title role, nor his wit with the sharp script. Surprisingly enough, though, the standout performance is Murphy's; he is brilliant as both the paranoid, highly-strung Kit and his dumb-but-sweet double Jiff. This might even be a career-best.

It's simple, lightweight and throwaway of course, but comedies that try to SAY something, even if they're good, often just don't make you laugh that much. Bowfinger will.