Both stars of Stuber, Kumail Nanjiani and Dave Bautista, have been on a meteoric rise in Hollywood. Fitting that the two would be paired in a buddy action comedy, Stuber—out now on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital download.
The film gets its name from the fact that Nanjiani portrays Stu, an Uber driver who garners the nickname that we’re never quite sure he likes or not. One thing is clear: Working in the rideshare landscape is not his ultimate goal. Still, he is one fantastic employee, scoring a hair-under 5-star rating from those who have hopped in his Prius.
Meanwhile, Bautista is LAPD officer Vic Manning. Due to some suspensions on his part, cannot drive himself. What’s a cop to do when a case that has been his white whale presents a longtime coming opportunity across the City of Angels? Hail Uber and Stu and Vic’s worlds collide. Whether Stu knows it or not, his day is about to become all about whatever Vic wants, needs, requires and so, so much more. Our rideshare driver may even have to shoot a few people (no spoilers, it’s in the Stuber red band trailer).
The key to any action comedy (and frankly ever single genre of film known!) is chemistry between the leads. These two must be equally as adept at garnering laughs as they are dodging bullets or successfully navigating a high speed chase through the crowded streets of Los Angeles. There’s also a delicate balance employed in this particular milieu that a distrust/dislike between souls must simultaneously translate into conflict and comedy while progressing our plot as the relationship between the two leads morphs into a friendship that if you’re lucky, might even drift into being touching.
Lucky for us, that is firmly the case with Bautista and Nanjiani. The two of them clash, almost predictably, as our film commences and throughout the first act. But director Michael Dowse and screenwriter Tripper Clancy have joined forces and never go for that low hanging fruit humor. The laughs here are mostly earned and often done on a more intricate nature that was more cerebral than physical. That is also a rarity in an action/comedy … that the laughs arise not solely from that fish out of water partner doing silly things. Sure, Stu is that guy, but through his tremendous talent and the situational comedy he is presented with, the laughs emanating from him are about as pure as they come.
Bautista obviously had a ball diving into that Vic sandbox. I’ll never forget my one-on-one with him for the first Guardians of the Galaxy and how he described how acting was beyond blissful and that he hoped that directors and casting directors will take him seriously because he takes the process seriously. History has shown that they have, and he is working quite often. He had Avengers: Endgame and Stuber earlier this year, then in January 2020 he’ll have the family comedy My Spy. With Stuber, the former wrestler-turned actor illustrates the depth of his talent. We know he can do action with Guardians, but the action in this home video release is of a more grounded nature that also found him adding comedic to the resume. He is perfect as Vic and shows levels of thematic understanding that I wish more actors of “traditional training” possessed. Bautista keenly knows when to shine and when to take a step back, when to support and when to fly solo. It’s impressive.
Stuber does drift a few moments into the more formulaic end of the pool, but it doesn’t drag down the joy, endearment and hilarity that ensues from the terrific tandem of Bautista and his new BFF, Nanjiani. Also, the plot does leave a bit to be desired … but it really doesn’t matter too much while we’re driving with Stu and Vic. Was it conceivable that Riggs and Murtaugh were taking on the entire government of South Africa in Lethal Weapon 2? No, no it didn’t. It was enough to get us in the door and then witnessing Mel Gibson and Danny Glover work their action-comedic chemistry was what made the entire thing to legendary. No, Stuber is no Lethal Weapon. But, let’s just say it’s like a second cousin—the one you like a lot.
When it comes to bonus features, there is a noticeable thing absent … and that’s OK. We are so used to having a bevy of bonus features that take us behind the scenes and give a “traditional” making-of slice of entertainment. Thing is, Stuber is not necessarily a movie that begs for that and kudos to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment for ignoring the urge to include one for a title that didn’t warrant it. The joyous moments of the film is the humor and they smartly have packaged some extras that purely focus on that.
Joke-O-Rama is a terrific five-minute compilation of the actors improving and riffing with one another—further showcasing the priceless camaraderie that exists between those two leads. That’s the selling point here, Nanjiani and Bautista. Joke-O-Rama is hilarious and a fascinating companion to the three-minute Gag Reel. Let’s just say this, we expect cracking up moments from the stand-up comic, but witnessing the former wrestler make his partner in fighting crime bust up is too cool.
There’s a brief salute to filming in the Peach State. If you have paid any attention to filmmaking in the last 20 years, there has been a seismic shift to the southern state, so it’s an interesting choice in bonus features to give viewers an animated look at what it’s like to shoot in the state that gave us Jimmy Carter. Check out Georgia Film Works and you’ll see why it’s a Hollywood hotspot.
The audio commentary provided by Dowse and Nanjiani is all the making-of insight one needs for Stuber. Hearing their first-hand recollections of filming certain scenes is not only insightful but reveals a shorthand that developed between director and actor that we hope will continue in the future in other projects.
Film Grade: B
Bonus Features: B-