Movie Review: They’re Calling Films "Stuber" Now

There’s got to be a better way to name films.

Hello, here’s Stuber, the kind of movie where the title comes first and the script comes second, or sometimes not at all.

Written by Tripper Clancy (the only name that sounds more contrived than 'Stuber'), it concerns an Uber driver called Stu, because I guess 'Clyft' was taken.

Kumail Nanjiani plays the semi-titular Stu, unwilling sidekick to sight-impaired detective Vic Manning (Dave Bautista). Vic commandeers Stu’s ride after getting Lasik eye surgery, needing an escort around Los Angeles so he can chase down a bloodthirsty drug dealer (Iko Uwais). Stu agrees because he needs Vic’s precious five-star rating to ensure he doesn’t lose his job. Here’s an alternative title for this picture: The Gig Economy Is a Nightmare. It’s longer, but less embarrassing to say out loud.

The only thing more disheartening than Stu’s Faustian bargain for the saddest possible prize is how the buddies in this buddy comedy remain entwined, by inexplicable narrative force. Even audiences who understand that irrational decision-making is the cornerstone of most American flicks will wonder why Stu doesn’t just, y’know, flee screaming. Or sub in someone else from Fiverr.

Michael Dowse, the director of Goon, is the filmmaker behind the wheel. He tries to distract you from the halting plot with surprisingly gory action scenes and faux-thoughtful commentary on what makes a man (Bautista’s brawn vs. Nanjiani’s emotional intelligence). It’s never enough. The real heroes are the casting directors Nicole Abellera, Jeanne McCarthy and Tara Feldstein. They had the good sense to populate the movie—a movie I will reiterate is called Stuber—with effortlessly appealing leads and extremely likeable supporting actors. If I was casting Stuber, I would, first, apologise to everyone I approached, and then similarly try to convince Natalie Morales, Betty Gilpin and Jimmy Tatro to take small, amusing parts, and see if The Raid’s Uwais wanted to offer his incredible talents too.

Last time we saw Kumail Nanjiani in cinemas was in The Big Sick (hearing him voice Pawny in Men In Black: International doesn’t count, partly because barely anyone actually saw it). Comedy fans have known for years he has an easy affability, and it is to the detriment of Hollywood that it took this long to cast him as an everyman. Former wrestler Bautista also proved he has both comedic timing and dramatic depth in—pause for effect—the Guardians of the Galaxy series. In this, unshaven and be-shirted, he flexes those same muscles in a larger capacity. If one was to enjoy Stuber—or, say, reluctantly give it a passing grade of three stars out of five—it would only be because Nanjiani and Bautista nudged one into a receptive enough mood to do so.

3/5

In Australian cinemas 11 July. Rated MA15+ for strong violence, coarse language and brief nudity.