Sometimes you find a gem. Stuber (2019) is an action comedy that delivers. It is funny, Stuber screaming, “It’s a lease!” never gets old. This one flew so low under the radar I missed it completely.
Writer Tripper Clancy offers up this cop/buddy comedy signposting most of the gags. Director Michael Dowse, the same guy who delivered the brilliant It’s all Gone Pete Tong, makes this one work. It’s no Pete Tong but it is funny.
The Story
Detective Vic Manning and his partner Sarah Morris close in on drug dealer Oka Tedjo. Morris is killed. Vic gets Lasik surgery on his eyes. Tedjo is spotted and the detective goes in for the kill.
After his surgery, Vic cannot see. He uses Uber driver, Stu (AKA Stuber; much to his annoyance.) who becomes a reluctant partner to the vengeful cop.
Meanwhile Vic’s daughter Nicole is waiting impatiently for her father to attend her first art show.
Stu and Vic work together, sporadically, to catch the elusive drug dealer.
The Main Cast
Dave Bautista is Vic.
Kumail Nanjiani is Stu/Steve/Stuber
Natalie Morales is Nicole
Iko Uwais is Oka
Bad Arse Cameos
Mira Sorvino is Angie McHenry
Karen Gillan is Sara
Fairly standard plot
Stuber relies a good bit on standart tropes and cliches to make the film work. This means that things are a tad predictable. Do these things take away from the film? Not necessarily. Amazingly, Stuber entertains despite these small problems.
Speaking of Tropes
- The mole is the boss.
- All veterinarians can remove bullets.
- All villains can parkour.
- Bad arse cops love animals.
- Uber drivers are insufferable?
It works but
I’ll not forgive the filmmakers for killing off Karen Gillan moments into the first reel. And they should have had a lot more Sorvino. However, Bautista and Nanjiani are an enjoyable double act. Although the character arcs are not only a cliche of epic proportions, they rely heavily on Hollywood stereotypes.
The action is good. A close quarters shoot out in the Veterinarian’s office is funny and well paced. Stunts are also done well and look believable.
Stu agonising over the state of his car, a lease, is a running gag. It is a funny gag.
*There is one point though, at the start of the film, that looks “wrong.” When Sara shoots at Tedjo, almost point blank, it looks like the bullet hits his right shoulder. It does not.*
The verdict
This is a pretty solid 3.5 star film. Everyone delivers here. This is one of those delightful surprises. Not all films equate to filet mignon, some are just rump steak but they are still worth watching. Stuber can be streamed on Tubi or rented on Prime.
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