Stuber

An affable yet mostly forgettable action/comedy, Stuber follows grizzled cop Vic Manning (Dave Bautista) as he essentially forces an uber driver (Kumail Nanjiani’s Stu) to accompany him on a case involving a vicious killer (Iko Uwais’ Oka). There’s little doubt that Stuber fares almost uncommonly well in its early stages, as filmmaker Michael Dowse does a superb job of establishing the two central characters and their appealingly mismatched chemistry – with the entertaining vibe heightened by an initial emphasis on comedically-tinged interludes and set-pieces (eg a visit to a male strip club is ultimately a highlight within the entire proceedings). It’s disappointing to note, then, that the picture slowly-but-surely loses its way as it progresses into an erratic, episodic midsection, as the focus is placed on the central characters’ rather hit-and-miss efforts at tracking down Uwais’ nasty villain (ie the investigation is hardly as compelling as scripter Tripper Clancy believes). The less-than-engrossing, action-oriented final stretch ensures that Stuber ends with something of a whimper, and it’s clear, in the end, that the movie is at its best when devoted to the agreeable banter between Vic and Stu (ie both Nanjiani and Bautista are often much better than the material itself).

**1/2 out of ****