What's The Worst That Could Happen?

What's The Worst That Could Happen?

**

Reviewed by: Angus Wolfe Murray

With a title like this, you're asking for trouble. The worst that could happen is the movie itself. Ha-ha!

Well, it's not as bad a joke as that. Run-of-the-mill means straight-to-video and that's what this should have been. Cinemagoers deserve something a little more inventive than Martin Lawrence as a friendly thief and Danny DeVito as a dishonest businessman.

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John Leguizamo plays Lawrence's sidekick and he's always good, but, as usual, underused. The plot revolves around a ring that Lawrence's girlfriend gave him and DeVito steals from him when Lawrence is robbing DeVito's beach house. Don't worry, it's not as complicated as it sounds.

DeVito and Lawrence are both crooks in their own way and so understand each other. DeVito's into bribing senators and judges. Lawrence's into fine art. DeVito's also into Playboy centrefolds, but that's another story.

In a caper like this, it's the actors who matter. Lawrence remains on the periphery of stardom, unlike his friend Will Smith who has passed into the stratosphere. He is not funny, so much as personable. DeVito is a great talker. Just listening to him is a pleasure. He tends to play the same role, but has been doing it so long he's getting better.

Laughter quotient: 2. Smile quotient: 12. Chance of remembering the movie next week: 0.

Reviewed on: 27 Jun 2002
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What's The Worst That Could Happen? packshot
Martin Lawrence is a friendly crook and Danny DeVito is a crooked businessman.
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Director: Sam Weisman

Writer: Matthew Chapman based on the novel by Donald E Westlake

Starring: Martin Lawrence, Danny DeVito, John Leguizamo, Glenne Headly, Carmen Ejogo, Bernie Mac, Larry Miller, Nora Dunn, William Fichtner, Sascha Knopf

Year: 2001

Runtime: 97 minutes

BBFC: 15 - Age Restricted

Country: US

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