Partners

PARTNERS (2000) **1/2 Low-budget, direct-to-video release about an ordinary man who illegally takes a top secret computer program from his high-tech work place and tries to sell it to an interested buyer. On his way across country to close the deal, Casper Van Dien intervenes and demands equal payment through the exchange. The screenplay isn't half bad, but I'm only giving it two and a half stars since I wouldn't re-watch it. It's one of those films that you may slightly enjoy, but you will have forgotten you had ever seen it after a week.

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The best thing about this movie is its characterizations, or even call them "stereotypes" -- not of personalities, but of the various ways of being kinda dumb, or having "no sense at all" in various situations, and how that interplays with trusting someone, letting your guard down.

It was fun to watch, and warmly humorous. It puts characters we all can see the foibles of right in our face, and asks the question of us, as we're watching, "do you think it will be worth it for, say, the Drifter (Van Dien), or his girlfriend (Vanessa Angel) to trust anyone at all? Short-term? long-term?

The plot twists keep you guessing at the film's answer -- yes, no, yes, no, yes, no, yes ... ??? A fun ride.

In brief, this is the same story as MIDNIGHT RUN (1988) with Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin, MY BLUE HEAVEN (1990) with Steve Martin and Rick Moranis, and NOTHING TO LOSE (1997) with Martin Lawrence and Tim Robbins.

It is a story I never get tired of hearing or seeing. Two men from wildly different backgrounds are thrown together. Each distrusts the other. Each believes the other to be nemesis. In some cases, one intends to rob, defraud, or escape from the other.

Then there is bonding. Idealization. Disappointment. Denigration. A second building of trust. Utter mutual dependency. Resolution. And end.

Everything depends on the set up, the chemistry, and the acting. I thought this was well done, considering that everything was B-team. Vanessa Angel did not seem up to her role.

Except for David Paymer, who is certainly NOT B-team. If you saw him in FOCUS (2001) with William H. Macy, you know of David Paymer as an A-team dramatic character actor. Casting him in this film was an odd bit. He held his own.

I wouldn't spend $30 for a DVD of this film but it is a nice 90 minutes while you are doing the laundry or baby sitting (after they have gone to sleep) or hanging out with friends.

This film directed by Joey Travolta (brother of John) is a silly, stupid farce comedy with violence. Casper Von Dien & David Paymer are the leads. Paymer is usually very good, but here silly antics made me laugh. Caspar, on the other hand is nice to look at, & I was hoping he would have gotten the flogging he did recieve in Starship Troopers. This man cannot act.This film was sent direct to video as no one in his right mind would pay to see this. This is a poor film in all aspects. Rating * 34 points IMDB 2

This familiar crime caper plot of multiple double-crosses and changing allegiances scores mostly for appealing mix of amusing, well-sketched stereotypes, though by the end of the film enough people have been killed to keep from calling this a comedy. The only real suspense is who will drive off with the money--but who really cares. Casper Van Dien does especially well with a dry-humored Clint Eastwood delivery while David Paymer is central casting's pick for an accounting nerd (actually a computer programmer). Jenifer Lewis as the tough detective in pursuit provides terrific counterpoint. What the film lacks to distinguish it in this low-budget genre is pacing. The banter is not always quick enough and some scenes just lack snap.