In 2087 Pluto Nash (Eddie Murphy) owns one of the best nightclubs on the Moon. Rex Crater (Murphy again) plans to take over the entire Moon, and wants to buy Pluto's club. Gangsters destroy the club, and Pluto, singer Dina Lake (Rosario Dawson) and robot Bruno (Randy Quaid) flee. The trio find out what Rex Crater wants with help from singer Tony Francis (Jay Mohr).
Pluto asks Tony Francis if he married twins. Tony replies, "No, I met the perfect woman, so I had her cloned." Dina Lake asks, "Which one is which?" Tony says, "Who cares?" And when Pluto tells Dina that Tony will help them because "He couldn't sing a note if it weren't for me.", she asks, "You taught Tony Francis how to sing?" "No", replies Pluto, "I convinced a bookie not to pour some acid down his throat."
Pluto: "That's a cryogenic Chihuahua."
Dina: "It's a real dog?"
Pluto: "Oh, yeah, it's very delicate. You know it's illegal to bring pets up here. But I got a friend back in Juarez who knows how to freeze-dry these things. Look at that. It's a girl. Pop that little bitch in the particle wave for two minutes on defrost... she'll be running around the room."
Last night I watched PLUTO NASH for the second time. Overall, the movie is reminiscent of Schwarzenegger's TOTAL RECALL, which takes place on Mars. When I saw the trailer for PLUTO NASH a few years ago, I was eager to see it. Everybody told me it was no good, made for kids, etc. They had never seen it! I could only find a Spanish language version until recently.
I loved it the first viewing, especially since I was expecting the worst. However, it does not seem to withstand repeated viewings very well. Great movies can be watched many times and each time we enjoy them more and notice something new. A good analogy is music. Beautiful music can be listened to many times, and each time we appreciate it more. Then there's bad music...
Eddie Murphy was brilliant on Saturday Night Live, the best talent in SNL's history. His live stand-up concerts, influenced by Richard Pryor, are hilarious. Murphy's shocking obscenities and other unique routines continue to entertain us on video. Now he has matured and seems infatuated with Walt Disney's family values. Have you seen HAUNTED MANSION? But all is not lost, for he also makes movies for adults and blacks.
PLUTO NASH was a critical and box office failure. With a budget of $100 million it grossed only $7 million. Eddie Murphy did not promote the film and jokingly said, "I know 2 or 3 people who liked this movie". Critics complained about the acting, dialogue, and lack of humour. It was nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Picture.
Others in the cast include: Joe Pantoliano (Mogan), Luis Guzman (Felix Laranga), James Rebhorn (Belcher), Peter Boyle (Rowland), Burt Young (Gino), Muguel A. Nunez Jr. (Miguel), Pam Grier (Flura Nash), John Cleese (James), Victor Varnado (Kelp), Illeana Douglas (Babette), Alissa Kramer (Gina Francis) Heidi Kramer (Filomina Francis), Lillo Brancato (Larry), Alex Sol (Tommy), Doug Spinuzza (Doug), Roc LaFortune (Jimmy), Russel Yuen (Oliver), Eric Hoziel (Johnson), Christopher Bregman (Michalak), Marlon Sterling Long (Lindsey), Alexander Bisping (Ted Jeffreries), Alec Baldwin (M.Z.M.), Patrick Kerton (Colins), Linda Smith (Dr. Runa Pendanken), Brian D. Wright (Ed), and many others. Neil Cuthbert wrote the script. John Powell composed the music. Ron Underwood directed.
THE ADVENTURES OF PLUTO NASH is best suited for Murphy fans, sci-fi/fantasy fans, and kids. It is rated "PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned", but many "kids movies" today would have been banned for adults a few decades ago. We've come a long way, and comic geniuses like Murphy have taken us here.
