The Robert Downey Jr. Film Guide: Bowfinger (1999)

An aging director schemes to make the movie he sees as his last chance for success.

Frank Oz (better known as the voice of Miss Piggy)

He’s got exactly three scenes.

Jerry Renfro, a young Hollywood studio executive.

Good, but don’t blink, you may miss it.

Get me Kit Ramsey, and you’ve got a go picture.

Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin, Heather Graham, Christine Baranski, Terance Stamp

Christine Baranski in The Pickup Artist. Heather Graham in Two Girls and a Guy.

I remember driving a classic convertible, first day of shooting, no experience with the car, it was a big boat, and I have to fit it right into a parking spot with a sandbag, that sort of thing. And I remember being so proud that I didn't bang up the car, or overshoot the mark and knock over the monitors or something ... I took a very reptilian approach to this character ... Kind of like L.A. Story was more about Los Angeles as a place, [this is] that same kind of very insightful hilarious take on it. A lot of it’s very true and I think the way, at least my experience, of the way they’re doing it is that it’s not a farce or a particular send up of it.

Present day (1999), Los Angeles.

Released in theaters 13 August 1999. On DVD in Region 1, 2 and 4.

Bowfinger: The Abridged Script

Argentina: El Director Chiflado (The Nutty Director)
Brazil: Os Picaretas (The Fakers)
Croatia: Otka?eni Producent (Funky Producer)
Finland: Koukkusormi (Bowfinger)
France: Bowfinger, roi d’Hollywood (Bowfinger, King of Hollywood)
Germany: Bowfinger’s große Nummer (Bowfinger’s Big Number)
Greece: Ena trello, trello kolpo (A Crazy Crazy Trick)
Hungary: Fergeteges Forgatás (Hilarious Shooting)
Japan: Big Movie (English translation)
Poland: Wielka Heca Bowfingera (Great Fun Bowfinger
Portugal: O Sem-Vergonha (The Shameless)
Russia: Cool Guy (English translation)
Spain: Bowfinger, el Picaro (Bowfinger, the Faker)
Sweden: Knubbigt Regn (Chubby Rain)
Turkey: Çatlak yönetmen (Cracked Director)

80% Fresh | 108 Reviews

1. Eddie Murphy plays two roles and both are actually funny.
2. The movie is clever.

If Robert Downey Jr is the only thing that interests you about this movie, he’s just not in it enough.