Made

"Made" has a lot that works well.

Best is the buddy relationship between writer/director Jon Favreau, as a well-meaning boxer, and Vince Vaughan as his best friend and verbal and literal sparring partner who just can't let well enough alone.

The characters are better than the plot, as they get bogged down in a picaresque trek through a very dark, fictional New York underworld. I lost track of some of the clues in what is in effect a scavenger hunt as they do an errand for Peter Falk's crime boss.

Poor Famke Janssen is miscast in an unfortunate role as yet another stripper girlfriend who exists only in Hollywood.

"Pussy" of "The Sopranos" helped to ground the crime part of the plot, and Sean Combs was adequate.

The ending is pleasantly not clichéd.

(originally written 7/27/2001)