REVIEW: Eddie Murphy Mugs, Flails and Fails in A Thousand Words

The troubles marring the relationship between fast-talking literary agentJack McCall (Eddie Murphy) and his wife and the mother of his babyCaroline (Kerry Washington) are nothing next to the issues A Thousand Wordshas in marrying wacky physical comedy and a new age exploration of absentee fathers. The film, which is directed by Norbit'sBrian Robbins and written by Bruce Almighty'sSteve Koren, is being slung at audiences as a broad family laffer of the Jim Carrey school, but spends just as much time trying to be a serious tale about letting go of childhood resentments and accepting mortality. The "deep" bits aren't, despite a climactic shot in which Murphy actually frolics with his childhood self through a Terrence Malick-style dreamy field of wheat, and the parts that aim to be funny rarely succeed at that either, telegraphing their punchlines so far in advance that they don't really need to follow through on them. Murphy's journey into the lucrative and yet so often awful world of family-friendly comedies is one that's been taken by plenty of comics, but he wears it worse than most, his edges sanded off and a too calculated look in his eyes as he prepares for the soggy reconciliations with which these stories always end. It doesn't help that even the pratfalls in A Thousand Wordslook tired and recycled. McCallclimbs a tree to rescue a cat only to have it attack him, making him fall. McCallbluffs his way to the front of a long line at Starbucks by pretending his wife's in labor. (I realize this is reallynot the type of film at which to nitpick, but beyond the vaudeville-era mustiness of the gag, why would anyone believe that someone in a wild rush to the hospital would still stop for coffee?) McCallcauses multiple car accidents trying to help a blind man cross the street without being able to speak to him. The central conceit in A Thousand Wordsis that, thanks to a deal he's made with Dr. Sinja (Cliff Curtis), "the most popular nondenominational religious leader on the planet,"McCall finds that a mystical tree has suddenly grown in the backyard of his swank house of a hill. For every word he says or writes, a leaf falls off, and presumably when they're all gone both he and the tree will die. (The tree raises some mystical copyediting issues -- "dickhead" merits two leaves, but so does "sorta classy.") McCall obviously has some issues to work through, including the usual ones of working too hard and being emotionally unavailable, factors the film links back to his dad leaving his mom (Ruby Dee) when he was young. Caroline is so upset by his apparent lack of commitment (he refuses to sell his bachelor pad in order to move them into a more child-appropriate house and neighborhood) and unwillingness to communicate (something stepped up by the arrival of the tree) that she leaves him, though not before a laugh-free scene in which she tries to reinvigorate their relationship by wearing vinyl lingerie and breaking out furry handcuffs. That sequence, like most of the other comedic set-pieces, has the feel of something that went from brainstorming board right to the screen, as the film strains its way through every possible scenario that would be awkward when you're not supposed to talk -- ordering coffee, making an international call via an operator, making a deal over the phone, having a business meeting. When the film actually stumbles on a laugh, it seems almost an accident, as when Murphy's character, high because of pesticides (don't ask), inserts a breadstick upAllison Janney's nose. Murphy rolls his eyes and mugs ferociously at the camera -- A Thousand Wordsis the miming showcase the world never asked for -- but it'sHot Tub Time Machine'sClark Duke, playing McCall's assistant Aaron Wiseberger, who walks away with the film's best scene when he's forced to fill in for his boss at a high-powered dinner during which McCall can't speak. The only way he knows how to handle a business deal is by channelling his boss, and the entire joke is that he's a scrawny white kid offering fist bumps and telling someone "Sit your ass down!" But it's mostly funny because he's trying to pull off a decent Eddie Murphy. Remember Eddie Murphy? He used to be hilarious. Follow Alison Willmore on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Investors trickling back to film biz

When it comes to financing movies, the tables have turned. In the cash-flush days of 2005-2008, Hollywood had more investors than deals to give them. The 2008 financial collapse scared off many Wall Street financiers, some of whom are just starting to trickle back into the film financing game. That cautious return to the biz was one of the persistent themes at Wednesday's Film Finance Forum West presented by Winston Baker in association with Variety. That means that whoever holds the cash has more power than they might have had just a few years ago. And as studios making big-budget tentpoles continue to feel the pressure of corporate parents, the majors need to share the risk -- and the upside -- more than ever. "Most studios feel like they need to have a stable of financing partnersand that's a fairly recent development," said Jean-Luc De Fanti, founder and managing partner at Hemisphere Capital Management. De Fanti spoke on a panel at the conference aimed at guiding investors and filmmakers through new models for financing movies. "The financial investors, I think, should be very disciplined, very educated, very thoughtful about their process," Clark Hallren, managing partner at capital raising and advisory firm Clear Scope Partners, told the audience. Hallren adds that for studios, taking on those investors is just good business. "It's prudent for them to share risk." That means that studios are also getting increasingly cautious with the type of material they're willing to take risks to produce themselves. "We have an extremely rigorous greenlight process," said Ellen Shallman, an attorney and VP at Universal. "It's very detailed, very thoughtful, very much a bottom-line driven analysis of what films get made We just don't have the luxury of making vanity pictures." Contact Rachel Abrams at Rachel.Abrams@variety.com

New red-colored-colored-band TV spot for 21 Jump Street

21 Jump Street has released a completely new red-colored-colored-band TV place, through which Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum obtain arses handed on their behalf having a very angry Ice Cube.Inside the latest footage, Cube expects the pair of undercover cops getting a fate worse than dying because he can get wind from the party they're planning via "the Twittersphere". Naturally, the boys look fairly intimidated.Take a look within the new trailer below... Ouch. The man certainly knows ways to get his way, doesn't he? The film will dsicover Tatum and Hill's undercover authorities infiltrate a close secondary school to ensure that they are able to bust a teenage drug ring. But as Ice Cube highlights, they need to ensure they don't placed their teenage personas an excessive amount of...With Jonah Hill recently verifying the follow-up was already inside the works, MGM are clearly sure that 21 Jump Street will most likely be considered a large success within the box office. We'll need to hang about before the film opens on 16 March to uncover whether or not they are right, but for the time being, you can examine out our 21 Jump Street review here.

Finder Moves to Friday Nights

Zachary Quinto Zachary Quinto has signed onto another season of yank Horry Story, according to Deadline. Quinto, who recurred one of the deceased former entrepreneurs in the Murder House in Season 1, will return next season just like a series regular, but playing a totally different character. Ryan Murphy unveils particulars about Jessica Lange's return to American Horror Story The Heroes alum joins Jessica Lange, who executive producer Ryan Murphy has mentioned might be the star of Season 2. The relaxation from the cast is predicted being introduced at Friday's PaleyFest panel.

Idris Elba, Taraji Henson do 'Good Deed'

Screen Gems has cast Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson in Bad Deed, which Mike Burns will direct in the script by Aimee Lagos. Will Packer will produce via his Jungle Films banner along with Lee Clay. Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Lindsey Williams, Elba, and Make the most of Sturdy will executive produce. Principal photography in the project is positioned to do this April in Atlanta, Georgia. More later on... Contact Rob Sneider at rob.sneider@variety.com

Matthew Perry To Star In Scott Silveris NBC Comedy Pilot Continue

Pals alum Matthew Perry is returning to NBC and becoming back with former Pals co-showrunner Scott Silveri. Perry is positioned to star in and co-executive produce Continue, only one-camera NBC comedy pilot put together by Silveri and directed by Todd Holland. Produced by Universal TV, Continue concentrates on an irreverent yet charming sportscaster (Perry) who, trying to maneuver ahead from loss, finds surprising solace within the people of his mandatory group therapy periods. Scott has written a very funny, touching pilot,” mentioned Perry, who was simply approached for a lot of aircraft aircraft pilots this season, both round the comedy and drama side. “Im very excited being coping with him again. I asked for him to exhibit this into an ice show. He mentioned no. We have acquired wherever we left off. Silveri written the script for Perry without really planning too. “When I started writing the level of smoothness, no matter who I thought of at 9 AM, by 10 AM I used to be writing with Matthews voice,” Silveri mentioned. Despite carrying it out subconsciously, writing for Perry felt natural. “Writing for his voice (on Pals) was one of the great creative encounters of my existence,” he mentioned. Clearly, when NBC acquired Look At pilot, the producers’ wish list for your lead composed of just one single title, Perry’s. “Thank god he was open to it,” Silveri mentioned, adding, “Matthew can be a mightily gifted actor and our great comedy voices. We labored together for eight wonderful years on Pals. I’m thrilled with this particular opportunity for him to know my title.” While half-hour comedy, Continue features a dramatic component. Which appears tailor-created for Perry, which has starred in comedy and drama series. “He is among people rare males, an actress who is able to inspire such empathy and play such heart in one moment and subsequently lead you to laugh harder than others nowadays,” Silveri mentioned. He and Holland executive produce Move on with Karey Burke. Perry, repped by CAA, Doug Chapin Management and Surpin & Mayersohn, recently starred inside the ABC comedy series Mr. Sunshine which is next doing an arc round the CBS drama The Truly Amazing Wife.