The Man (2005)

Director:

Les Mayfield

Writers (WGA):

Jim Piddock (screenplay) &
Margaret Oberman (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

9 September 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

One guy walks the walk. The other talks and talks.

Plot:

Special Agent Derrick Vann is a man out to get the man who killed his partner but a case of mistaken identity leads him to Andy Fidler, a salesman with too many questions and a knack of getting in Vanns way.

Plot Keywords:

Farting Scene | ATF Agent | Mistaken Identity | Box Office Flop | Title Spoken By Character

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Samuel L. Jackson	...	Derrick Vann
Eugene Levy	...	Andy Fiddler
Luke Goss	...	Joey / Kane
Miguel Ferrer	...	Agent Peters
Susie Essman	...	Lt. Rita Carbone
Anthony Mackie	...	Booty
Gigi Rice	...	Susan
Rachael Crawford	...	Dara Vann
Philip Akin	...	Second I.A. Agent
Christopher Murray	...	Homeless Man
Joel S. Keller	...	Laptop Guy (as Joel Keller)
John Hemphill	...	Ted
Kathryn Greenwood	...	Flight Attendant
Carrie Cain-Sparks	...	Big Kim (as Carrie Cain Sparks)
George Ghali	...	Cab Driver

Also Known As:

Cool & Fool - Mein Partner mit der großen Schnauze (Germany) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language, rude dialogue and some violence.

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

UK:12A | Netherlands:MG6 | Iceland:14 | Argentina:Atp | Mexico:B | Finland:K-11 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A (Ontario/British Columbia/Alberta) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Singapore:NC-16 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Ireland:12A | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

A working title for this film was "El Maninator".

Goofs:

Continuity: At the end of the movie, Vann gives the lieutenant his gun. In the next couple of scenes however, Vann gets a gun pointed at his head and in turn, pulls out his own gun which he had already handed over.

Quotes:

Andy Fidler: I just think we should be cooperating if I'm going to be your partner...
Special Agent Derrick Vann: You are *not* my partner!
Andy Fidler: Really? Then what am I?
Special Agent Derrick Vann: You're my bitch. My own personal bitch. When I pull the strings, you dance. Till then, you sit there, keep your mouth shut, and don't say a word... like the puppet you are.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: The Worst of 2005" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Improvisation #4

Hm...

The Man is one of what I like to call 'MWLP': Movies with little plot. The movie's plot is rather thin: Jackson is a cop whose partner was just killed by a gun-smuggling ring. He sets up a buy with a dealer, but a case of coincidence leads Levy to intercept the goods. Now that the dealers think Levy is the buyer, Jackson has no choice but to work with Levy to bust the ring.

Like I said, the plot if mediocre. But the movie itself is good. Jackson walks the walks, and Levy talks, talks, and talks! The cursing, swearing, tough-as-nails cop paired with a dental supply salesman who really just wants to get the job over with and go on with his life: preferably before Jackson shoots him in the keyster (again!). But in the end, Jackson must swallow his pride as Levy takes matters into his own hands and sets up a trade to get Jackson into the heart of the operation. Not bad for a dental supply salesman!

Over all...if you want an engaging, twisting, turning and suspenseful...look elsewhere. You want laughs, and one of the most outrageous cop pairings since Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan, see this movie.