Kuffs

Never saw this movie during its commercial run, but we caught with it on cable recently. "Kuffs", directed by Bruce Evans, was a surprise we didn't expect. In fact, it appears not too many people saw it. The movie is a mixture of action and comedy, which might not sit well with a lot of people, but in fact, it holds our attention.

Something the film shows didn't make sense to us. It seems that in San Francisco certain precincts charge ordinary citizens for its protection, something one has never heard of. In fact, at the center of the film, is how one criminal makes an offer to the young Kuffs, who has inherited the job from his slain brother. That is the only thing we didn't quite get.

In the film, George Kuffs talks directly to the camera, taking the viewer into his confidence, which at the beginning feels strange, but after one gets over that, the film moves smoothly and one can see what the director intended. In the theater these moments are asides, and in the film it serves as George's way to explain what's going on in his mind.

Christian Slater made a good contribution to the film, although it appears he never liked the finished product. Milla Jovovich plays Milla, but she is only seen at the beginning, middle and at the end of the film, which is strange, but that's the way her part was written. Also in the cast, Tony Goldwyn who has some excellent moments and George de la Pena who plays the heavy Sam Jones.

"Kuffs" is more rewarding than other films of this genre.