Made (2001)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Jon Favreau

Writer (WGA):

Jon Favreau (written by)

Release Date:

18 October 2001 (Singapore)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Welcome to disorganized crime

Plot:

Two aspiring boxers, lifelong friends, get involved in a money-laundering scheme through a low-level organized crime group.

Plot Keywords:

Money Laundering | New York City | Loudmouth | Stripper | Bar Fight

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jon Favreau	...	Bobby
Vince Vaughn	...	Ricky
Joe Goossen	...	Referee
Famke Janssen	...	Jessica
Makenzie Vega	...	Chloe
Jenteal	...	Wendy (as Reanna Rossi)
Tom Morello	...	Best Man
Jonathan Silverman	...	Bachelor
Kimberley Davies	...	Bartender (as Kimberly Davies)
Faizon Love	...	Horrace
Elizabeth Barondes	...	Wife
Gary Auerbach	...	Husband
Bill Capizzi	...	Arthur
Peter Falk	...	Max
Vernon Vaughn	...	Coach

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language, some drug use and sexuality.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Netherlands:12 | Italy:T | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | Spain:18 | Australia:MA | Germany:12 | UK:15 | USA:R (PCA #37941)

Filming Locations:

Glendale, California, USA

Company:

Cardiff Giant Productions

Trivia:

Vince Vaughn's dad Vernon Vaughn makes a cameo as the Hollywood High School football coach.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Bobby, Ricky, Horrace and Ruiz make contact with The Welshman in the nightclub, a very conspicuous female extra wearing a tight sky blue sweater and a black bandana is visible behind the Welshman and the others (i.e. she appears to be on both sides of the club).

Quotes:

Ricky Slade: A lot going on. But there always is, isn't there? A lot going on.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland (2006)

Soundtrack:

Cali to New York

Some laughs but a very average flick.

I tried not to have many pre-conceived notions about 'Made' before renting it. Then again, having Favreau/Vaughn together again will always conjure up thoughts of T & Mikey. Swingers may well haunt Favreau for the rest of his career. He alluded to that with his guest shot on 'The Sopranos'. It was a special movie, an instant classic which would be hard to top for any writer. 'Made' certainly tries to follow suit with the writing style but it falls flat. Vaughn (Ricky) plays a character who talks exactly like Trent but is more of a lunatic loser who's dream is to give up boxing to be a mob guy. Favreau (Bobby) is the level-headed friend who vouches for him while getting an assignment from his boss (Falk). All he wants is to get some $ so he can make better life for his stripper girlfriend & her child. Basically from there it splinters off into Ricky & Bobby trying to take care of 'the drop' in NYC for the boss (Falk). Ricky's "Goodfellas-like" mentality is causing headaches for Bobby who just wants to take care of business. I thought Sean Combs did a fine job playing himself essentially (a ganster living the high life). Yes, there are some funny lines but overall the movie is just too sloppy. It feels like a low budget flick, the camera work is not very good and the film takes no risks. Characters were not developed & the ending tries to be all sweet but I don't think enough was done to set that up. There were just too many missing ingredients. If Vaughn & Favreau want to do future films together maybe bring Doug Liman into direct it. He did a marvelous job with Swingers and maybe they could recapture some magic. It sure was missing in 'Made'.

Rating 6/10