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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Thursday 11 July 2019

In ‘Stuber,’ a buddy comedy runs on fumes

By JAKE COYLE ber”) isn’t nearly as good.
Associated Press Stu is nicknamed “Stuber”
If you’re going to see one by his obnoxious boss at
comedy starring Kumail a sporting goods store in
Nanjiani as an Uber driver, a nod to his side gig. He’s
please make it the 2017 film conscripted by Bautista’s
he co-scripted, “The Big Vic, a Los Angeles po-
Sick.” In “Stuber,” Nanjiani lice detective temporarily
is again behind the wheel blinded by LASIK surgery,
of a compact ride-shar- to drive him around town.
ing vehicle, but this time, Vic can hardly see, but
the comedy is running on he’s hell-bent on pursuing
fumes and the company the most lethally acrobatic
(Zoe Kazan in “The Big drug dealer you’ve ever
Sick,” Dave Bautista in “Stu- seen (Iko Uwais of “The

This image released by 20th Century Fox shows Dave Bautista, left, and Kumail Nanjiani in a scene
from “Stuber.”
Associated Press
Raid”) who months ago kind of comic version of Mi- good comic performers. So
killed Vic’s partner. chael Mann’s “Collateral,” what’s missing here? Part
Stu, desperate for a five- with Tom Cruise as a con- of the trouble is that Bau-
star rating, is reluctantly tract killer and Jamie Foxx tista is playing too much to
sucked into a “Beverly as his cabbie — crafts a type (the twist on his bril-
Hills Cop”-like buddy ac- hardly novel running dia- liant Drax is that he’s lov-
tion comedy that quickly logue of masculinity. Oc- ably emotional), and few
turns violent and a little casionally, it hits just right, actors benefit from having
shrill. Nanjiani and Bautista, like when Nanjiani summa- their eyes taken from them.
the hulking former wrestler rizes their dynamic: “You’re That leaves most of the
best known as Drax in the built for justice. I’m built for comedy to Nanjiani, and
“Guardians of the Galaxy” brunch.” But most of the he does an admirable job
films, make a suitably odd time, it flails around in a trying to give the material
pair. Stu is sensitive and stale routine. During a fight a lift. But director Michael
nerdy, and desperate for at the sporting goods store, Dowse (“Goon”) struggles
his best friend (Betty Gil- Stu exclaims: “Real men to find the right tone, lean-
pin) to take him seriously as cry!” ing more into slapdash
a romantic partner. Vic is The movie’s premise is action scenes than jokes.
gruff and bumbling and of- one long Uber ad, but it’s Any chance of sustained
ten appears almost literally a clever enough buddy chemistry between the two
as a bull in a china shop. comedy setup, and both leads recedes in the rear-
Tripper Clancy’s script — a Nanjiani and Bautista are view mirror.q

Gimmie, gimmie more BANKS,

an artist on the rise

By MARK KENNEDY BANKS’ third album and
Associated Press one that jackhammers into
BANKS, “III” (Harvest Re- the dark, murky pop vein
cords) that other young women
You could call BANKS’ like Tove Lo, Meg Myers
first single in a few years and Lorde also mine.
steamy — but you’d be off- Born Jillian Banks, BANKS
base. “Gimme” is absolute- released her debut album,
ly erotic, an explicit, hyper- “Goddess,” in 2014, with This cover image released by
racy club song — maybe her follow-up LP, “The Al- Harvest Records shows “III”,
a sex club song? — that tar,” arriving in 2016. Her the latest release by BANKS.
announces the return of an songs have been featured Associated Press
artist in complete control. in the HBO series “Girls” and Buddy Ross (Frank Ocean)
“I been dripping for your fueled the opening act for and BJ Burton (Bon Iver,
love,” she sings. “Driving The Weeknd. Lizzo). It’s got highs but also
me crazy with the way you “III” finds BANKS co-writing lows, particularly when the
whine.” every track and collabo- production elements over-
It’s the highlight of the rating with some high- whelm BANKS’ warm and
appropriately titled “III,” level producers, including hypnotic vocals.q