Outrageous Buddy Comedy With Massive Stars Being Hidden From New Fans
Odd couple pairings tend to make for some of the best viewing experiences in modern cinema, with hilarious, engaging, and downright shocking demonstrations of unexpected chemistry serving as the basis for plenty of exciting adventures. One such adventure includes The Man, a 2005 action comedy that is being hidden from new fans due to its lack of a presence on mainstream streaming services.
This film was a classic addition to my regular viewing rotation when I was younger, so I feel that it is an absolute crime that it’s so difficult to track down and watch today.
As stated, The Man (2005) offers a hilarious odd couple routine at its core, anchored by the performances of Samuel L. Jackson and Eugene Levy. Jackson stars as the grizzled and perpetually paranoid federal Agent Derrick Vann, while Levy takes on the role of a clueless, quiet suburbanite named Andy Fiddler.
For now, the only way to check this one out is by buying or renting a copy from digital retailers.
After Vann discovers that his recently deceased partner is dirty and assisting gang members in robbing weapons and ammunition from an ATF armory, he attempts to go undercover to find answers and clear his own name.
Through an awkward case of mistaken identity, however, Vann’s criminal contact mistakes Fiddler for the buyer, which forces Vann to enlist Fiddler as a proxy for his sting operation. The agent quickly comes to realize that this plan is flawed, as Fiddler has absolutely no street smarts, social awareness, or knowledge of a criminal enterprise, which serves as the breeding ground for numerous fish-out-of-water jokes.
As The Man (2005) builds to a shocking and hilarious conclusion, the abrasive officer and the clueless tourist eventually come to form a good team, and even start to absorb some positive qualities from one another along the way.
The Man (2005) comes complete with a number of laugh-out-loud set pieces, which would definitely make the film an appealing choice to the average Netflix subscriber. One memorable scene sees Vann pinning a street snitch into a chain link fence with his car, only to use hydraulic lifts in the vehicle to cheese-grater the snitch into confessing key plot details.
To this day, I wholeheartedly believe that hot sauce is a natural antiseptic worthy of spreading on a gun-shot wound for a quick fix, and I’m definitely not going to confirm that information with a Google.
The Man (2005) comes complete with a number of laugh-out-loud set pieces, which would definitely make the film an appealing choice to the average Netflix subscriber.
I have tons of positive memories of watching The Man (2005) with friends and family members after picking up a DVD copy of the film, even though critics didn’t seem to care for the buddy comedy. Today, the movie touts a downright embarrassing 12 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, which may explain why the executives who own the rights to the film are hesitant to strike a deal with streamers such as Amazon Prime Video or even Tubi.
REVIEW SCORE
As far as I can tell, The Man (2005) should be under the Warner Bros umbrella, so it shouldn’t be impossible to throw it on Max and see if new fans flock to it. Both Samuel L. Jackson and Eugene Levy are much bigger names now than they were in 2005, so it stands to reason that their faces on the poster would bring in at least a small percentage of viewers.
For now, the only way to check this one out is by buying or renting a copy from digital retailers. While I’d personally give The Man (2005) a resounding thumbs up, it’s definitely not for everyone, so proceed with caution if you plan to spend your money.
