CORPORATE LINE: Belle Williams (Queen Latifah) is a speed demon. Flying through the streets of New York in her tricked-out taxi, she’s earned a rep as New York’s fastest cabbie. But driving a hack is only a pit stop for her real dream: Belle wants to be a race car champion. And she’s well on her way – until she’s derailed by overeager cop Andy Washburn (Jimmy Fallon), whose undercover skills are matched only by his total ineptitude behind the wheel.
Washburn, whose lack of vehicular skills has landed him in the precinct doghouse, is hot on the heels of a gang of beautiful Brazilian bank robbers, led by Vanessa (Gisele Bündchen), their cold, calculating – and leggy – leader. To nab the evasive crooks, driver’s license-less Washburn convinces Belle to team up with him to pursue Vanessa and crew. Belle has carte blanche to drive at any speed and break any law.
The car-less cop and speed-demon cabbie – New York’s unlikeliest partners – begin a high-speed game of cat and mouse with the robbers. That is, if Belle and Washburn don’t end up killing each other first.
THE GOOD: Queen Latifah comes out unscathed from this car wreck. Otherwise…
THE BAD: …the rest of “Taxi” is a mess. Jimmy Fallon is way, way over the top. Jimmy Fallon acts so stupid it isn’t funny. Not to say that Fallon doesn’t have a career in movies but he might want to pick movies that are funny.
Finally, the concept is asinine. Is there anything more ridiculous than supermodels robbing banks? Yeah, a taxi going 90 miles an hour through Manhattan without running into a red light, crowds of people, gridlock, or any of another thousand things that slow you down. Oh yeah, there is Fallon doing just about everything he can to keep us from laughing.
FRANKLY: If you are a fan of Queen Latifah or Jimmy Fallon you’re certain to be disappointed. Have you ever run out of gas? Then you know exactly how it feels to watch “Taxi.”
+ Charlie Craine
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