Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn are good partners in comedy. It was their chemistry as much as the story that propelled “Swingers” into the spotlight. Written, directed and produced by Favreau, “Made” gives them an even better opportunity to showcase their stuff. And the chemistry still flares, larger and brighter this time around.
Bobby (Favreau) is a rather bad amateur boxer who also drives for his exotic dancer girlfriend, Jessica (Famke Janssen). His best friend Ricky (Vaughn) is a lazy, difficult and dishonest talker who always seems to get them in trouble. Think Ed Norton and Matt Damon in “Rounders”. He also boxes, as well as work at the same jobs Bobby gets through the city’s mob boss, Max (Peter Falk). Max doesn’t like Ricky; hell no one likes Ricky but Bobby, putting him to work as a favor for saving his ass in the past.
When Bobby shows interest in getting Jessica out of the business, Max offers Bobby a job which involves flying to New York and making a drop-off with one of his men, Ruiz (Sean Combs). If he can complete the job with no trouble, Bobby will make enough money to support Jessica and her 6-year old daughter, but makes the mistake of bringing along the irritating Ricky, and as you would expect Ricky comes close many times to botching up the routine drop-off.
Vince Vaughn performs brilliantly, as in “Swingers”, playing the paranoid talker, and Favreau rebounds off of him perfectly, forming an almost modern Abbot and Costello team for the new millennium. The supporting characters are great, but only go so far as to what the plot needs; Vaughn and Favreau do the rest. There is also an ode to “Swingers” that any true fan would catch.
“Made” manages humor, irreverence and a taste of something sweet while sticking close to its indie roots. In a season of big budget remakes, stupid sequels and lifeless star vehicles, a modest original is a welcome sight.
4.5 / 5 Stars
Starring: Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn, Sean Combs
Director: Jon Favreau
