Stuber is the type of action buddy comedy that would been greenlit instantly in the 1990s: a mismatched pair, one guy a macho cop and the other a wimpy driver, must learn to work together to solve a case involving drug dealers and corrupt cops. The fact that Uber figures into the plot is the only element that wouldn't have present had this movie been made 20 years ago. The movie is generic and cliched with absolutely no real surprises in terms of story, but it is also, thankfully, just amusing enough to overcome those flaws. Stuber doesn't revolutionize the buddy genre, though it does prove that the formula can still work given a funny script, a good cast, and solid direction.
For those who don't like Kumail Nanjiani and Dave Bautista, Stuber is going to a painful watch. The duo brings their usual personas to their respective roles and turn in the performances fans would expect. As a fan of both stars, I got a lot of enjoyment out of seeing them bicker and banter onscreen. In the role of Uber driver Stu, Nanjiani makes the character timid without coming across annoying or over-the-top. The character easily could have been too overtly pathetic or cringe-worthy, but Nanjiana manages to portray Stu as just likeable and relatable enough to keep the audience on his side. As determined, no-nonsense cop Vic, Bautista brings charisma and toughness to a character that could have been a grating jerk. If there's one big disappointment to Stuber, it's that Bautista doesn't have as many hand-to-hand fight scenes as I'd expect, but given that Stuber pushes more into the comedy category than hardcore action category, this is forgivable.
I've seen complaints about the handheld camera work and editing ruining a lot of the action in Stuber, and while that may be true of the opening scene, the rest of the action in the film is well shot and easy to follow. The car chase towards the end of the film is the high point, perfectly mixing exciting action with laughs. The film had a relatively low budget for a studio flick, so those expecting massive set pieces are sure to be letdown, especially compared to the action extravaganzas that have been released this summer. At 88 minutes, Stuber provides enough comedy and action without feeling overstuffed.
Ultimately, the fact that Stuber was released in the middle of the summer may be the main contributing factor to its less than stellar box office. It is not the best movie of the summer, but it is far from the worst. Had the film premiered on Netflix, I have a feeling the critical and audience reception the film would have been much kinder. As cliched and predictable as it may be, Stuber is entertaining, fun buddy fare. 7/10
For those who don't like Kumail Nanjiani and Dave Bautista, Stuber is going to a painful watch. The duo brings their usual personas to their respective roles and turn in the performances fans would expect. As a fan of both stars, I got a lot of enjoyment out of seeing them bicker and banter onscreen. In the role of Uber driver Stu, Nanjiani makes the character timid without coming across annoying or over-the-top. The character easily could have been too overtly pathetic or cringe-worthy, but Nanjiana manages to portray Stu as just likeable and relatable enough to keep the audience on his side. As determined, no-nonsense cop Vic, Bautista brings charisma and toughness to a character that could have been a grating jerk. If there's one big disappointment to Stuber, it's that Bautista doesn't have as many hand-to-hand fight scenes as I'd expect, but given that Stuber pushes more into the comedy category than hardcore action category, this is forgivable.
I've seen complaints about the handheld camera work and editing ruining a lot of the action in Stuber, and while that may be true of the opening scene, the rest of the action in the film is well shot and easy to follow. The car chase towards the end of the film is the high point, perfectly mixing exciting action with laughs. The film had a relatively low budget for a studio flick, so those expecting massive set pieces are sure to be letdown, especially compared to the action extravaganzas that have been released this summer. At 88 minutes, Stuber provides enough comedy and action without feeling overstuffed.
Ultimately, the fact that Stuber was released in the middle of the summer may be the main contributing factor to its less than stellar box office. It is not the best movie of the summer, but it is far from the worst. Had the film premiered on Netflix, I have a feeling the critical and audience reception the film would have been much kinder. As cliched and predictable as it may be, Stuber is entertaining, fun buddy fare. 7/10