Reno 911!: Miami
Rated: R
Runtime: 1 hour, 24 minutes
Directed by: Robert Ben Garant
Starring:
Robert Ben Garant - Deputy Travis Junior
Niecy Nash - Deputy Raineesha Williams
Mary Birdsong - Deputy Cherisha Kimball
Kerri Kenney-Silver - Deputy Trudy Wiegel
Wendi McLendon-Covey - Deputy Clementine Johnson
Carlos Alazraqui - Deputy James Garcia
Cedric Yarbrough - Deputy S. Jones
Thomas Lennon - Lieutenant Jim Dangle
Despite higher ticket prices in theatres and the majority of film studio revenues coming from DVD sales, Fox and Paramount have decided to make a feature-length, wide-distribution film about a cult-favorite comedy from basic cable. My best theory is as to “Why?” is that Fox predicted the popularity of the mostly-improvised Borat, who gained notoriety on premium cable’s Ali G Show, and hoped that with the success of that film, Reno 911!: Miami would do the same. While I wouldn’t expect the same explosive box office or acclaim, the motion-picture debut of the world’s worst cops will certainly satisfy fans of the show.
The highly inept Reno Sheriff’s Department is invited to a Law Enforcement Convention in Miami. After arriving on a cross-country bus ride and discovering they’re not registered, they decide to stay at nearby ratty motel. Luckily for them and unluckily for everyone else in Miami, a bio-terror quarantines off the entire convention hotel leaving the city in desperate need of anyone with a gun and a badge. From there, it’s basically the show writ-large, set in Miami, and allowing for the raunchy humor that basic cable would allow if it weren’t for fucking "Protect Our Families From Everything!"-type groups.
Fans of the show are already sold on the film and the best recommendation I can make for non-fans is to catch a couple episodes and see if the humor works for you. From there, you’ll know whether or not to buy a ticket. Personally, as a fan of the show, I thought the film was hilarious. I think there’s a bit of a missed opportunity to parody action-films instead of just making a big-screen parody of COPS, but I know I was laughing my ass off for most of the runtime, so it’s hard to complain too much.
Reno 911!: Miami may not be as satirical, biting, and ultimately as popular as Borat, but fans of the show will be more than pleased with the Reno Sheriff's Department motion-picture adventure. As for everyone else, well…you may want to catch some clips on YouTube before you decide to take out a loan for a movie ticket.
Words by
Matt Goldberg
1.24.07