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DEUCE BIGALOW: EUROPEAN GIGOLO

Review by Gordon Justesen

Stars: Rob Schneider, Eddie Griffin, Jeroen Krabbe
Director: Mike Bigelow
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Studio: Sony Home Entertainment
Features: See Review
Length: 83 Minutes
Release Date: November 29, 2005

“I want a man who’s unemployed and went to community college.”

“I AM and I DID!”

Film *

A one-joke comedy can only go so far. 1999’s Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo was a continuously funny movie, despite the fact that it pretty much took a single joke and stretched it out for 90 minutes. I laughed at nearly all the jokes and visual gags. I mean, how many comedies can get away with a line like, “THAT’S A HUGE BITCH!”?

Now comes Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo, which is perhaps one of the most unnecessary sequels to come around since The Whole Ten Yards. The makers of the sequel should’ve taken into consideration that if the first movie was lucky enough to be funny in spite of the one-joke premise they should’ve stopped while being so lucky. The movie does have some momentary laughs, but when they’re at the service of such a lame excuse for a plot, they can’t really save what’s already been done.

What’s even more interesting is how this sequel got made. Disney financed the original movie, which turned out to be a surprise hit. When star Rob Schneider and producer Adam Sandler approached them for a sequel, the studio execs said they would only agree to it at a PG-13 level. So Schneider and Sandler journeyed to another studio that would grant them the R rating, and presto-Deuce Bigalow European Gigolo.

It was a bold move, I must confess. In an age when just about every movie that should be rated R gets a sell out PG-13 rating, it gets under my skin. But when I saw this movie, and saw how far the movie went in many areas, I wondered were they trying to get an R rating or an NC-17. All of the gags are in true bad taste, making the original Scary Movie look tamer by comparison.

The plot has Deuce, formerly a fish tank cleaner and now a sort of veterinarian to sea animals, in a bit of a bind. After accidentally allowing a group of frightened dolphins to injure a few elderly swimmers, Deuce gets a call from his former “man-whore” pimp, TJ (Eddie Griffin), who’s in Amsterdam and in a bit of trouble of his own. He pleads with Deuce to travel overseas and help him out, which Deuce immediately agrees to do, since he’s a wanted man following the dolphin incident.

It turns out, that TJ’s very clients are being picked off by an unknown killer. After he and Deuce begin to snoop around, it leads to TJ accused to being a gay killer, after being surprisingly photographed as he inspects a dead body, and in a certain area. Oh, but TJ isn’t worried about being accused of killing; it’s the gay part he has a problem with. As you can tell by this point, this movie is willing to offend just about anyone.

So in order to bring the real killer out in public, Deuce must return to his previous profession of being a gigolo, or “man-whore” as the movie likes to repeat over and over again. And many of the movie’s desperate attempts at laughter are in the scenes where Deuce is with his numerous dates. Some aren’t too funny, while others are just plain too nasty for words.

The movie has by far one of the most disgusting scenes I’ve ever seen, and one that takes comedy to low further than Tom Green did with Freddy Got Fingered. Deuce is on a date with a woman who just so happens to have a male organ for a nose. And yes, she does let out a lengthy sneeze. Did the screenwriters honestly picture people laughing instead of cringing when they wrote this scene?

The only good thing about Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo is that it is very short, an hour and 23 minutes to be exact. I know that Rob Schneider is capable of making us laugh, but if I were him, I’d quickly forget about the day I ever agreed to do a piece of disposable junk like this. My advice, see the first movie and go no further.

Video ****

Sony’s anamorphic transfer is indeed as clean and incredibly clear as a movie can get. The bright imagery and nice use of colors blend together to make a lively and knockout visual presentation. It’s the kind of good visual handling that one doesn’t expect from such a plain comedy, so that makes it something of a surprise.

Audio ***

A nice presentation is at hand via the 5.1 mix. Many energetic song selections are played throughout the movie. In addition, the sound does much with the numerous physical pratfalls and outlandish moments. Dialogue delivery is as clean and clear as can be.

Features ***

The list of extras is abundant, despite their being no commentary track. Included are Deleted Scenes, Comedy Central's Reel Comedy Special, a "Man-Ho 101" Featurette, "A Burger and a Bently" Featurette, "So You Want to be a Man-Whore" Infomercials, "TJ's Float Crib" Featurette, "The Casting Lounge" Featurette, a Two-Part Making-of Featurette, and bonus previews.

Summary:

If anyone asks me if I’ve seen any incredibly bad movies lately, I’ll know what to respond with. Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo is easily one of the worst comedies in ages, as well as the single worst movie I’ve seen so far this year.