Nervous laughter: Judy and Charlie (Bullock and Neeson) strike up a gentle romance amid the chaos...
Charlie (Neeson) is an undercover drug agent infiltrating a big deal between the Colombians and the New York mob, a case that has already cost the life of his partner. The stress eventually drives him into both group therapy and the hospital (for his constantly rumbling gut), where he begins to fall for a feisty nurse (Bullock, who also produced the film). And the edgy, nervous Colombians (Zuniga and Delorenzo) are nothing compared to the flustered Mafioso (Platt) who'd rather be a farmer but is trying to prove himself to his stern father-in-law (Vincent) and strong-willed wife (McCormack, way against type).
Blakeney's script juggles all these elements effortlessly and focuses on the likeable characters, all of whom are struggling against expectations of some sort. Neeson anchors it all solidly, with an off-handed comic performance that makes Charlie more than just a comic foil. And as the machinations of the plot begin to get unnecessarily complicated--and far too ingrown--the film efficiently puts a smile on your face without stretching your brain too much.
[15--themes, language, violence] 22.May.00
US release 4.Feb.00; UK release Sep.00
