By BETH JONES
THE ROANOKE TIMES

Archives Reprint

   Ice Cube and Mike Epps make an instantly likeable odd couple in "All About the Benjamins." Epps seems to bounce off the walls with energy as Reggie Wright, the con man incapable of keeping his mouth shut. With his imposing build and stern expression, Cube serves as the film's straight man, playing a bounty hunter named Bucum.

    Epps, in particular, exhibits comedic talent along the lines of Jim Carrey or Robin Williams. His gifts are especially apparent in one key scene where his character delivers a long string of insults at a bad guy with an especially high hairline.

    "You ain't got a forehead," he says. "You've got a five head."

    Trust me. It's funny on the big screen.

    There are plenty of other five-star moments, but most - including a very funny slam on Oprah - use language which can't be printed here. Though I can tell you about another laugh-out-loud moment when an elderly female Floridian refers to Reggie as Poop Dog (instead of rapper/actor Snoop Doggy Dogg).

    The trouble with "All About the Benjamins" comes when the movie puts the humor on hold to tend to the astoundingly violent plot.

    Remember the dude with the unfortunate hairline? After Reggie finishes his verbal tongue lashing, he and Bucum take turns tightening the screws on the brace the man wears on his arm. The sickeningly bloody act rivals the ear slicing scene from "Reservoir Dogs" for its gruesomeness. Such terrible graphic violence slows the story down and distracts Epps and Cube from raking in the laughs.

    While at times he seems to be borrowing from "Miami Vice,"director Kevin Bray does deliver impressive visuals. He seems particularly obsessed with close-ups of women in bikinis, which could be a plus or a negative depending on who you are.

    Written by Ronald Lang and Cube, the actual story is fairly run-of-the-mill. Bucum, which - hee hee - is pronounced Book 'em, is obsessed with making money, but - for the most part - he believes in playing by the rules. He's just doing his job by trying to nab Reggie when both men get caught in the middle of a dangerous diamond heist and become unlikely partners. Then, in an especially unbelievable development, Reggie and his girlfriend Gina (Eva Mendes) win the lottery, only the ticket is in his wallet, which is in the back of the bad guys' van.

    Yawn.

    In the end, the theme of the movie seems to be that the point of life is not finding love or even friendship. It's about making money. Despite Epps' and Cube's right-on comic timing, that kind of message makes the movie's gore completely unforgivable.

    Beth Jones can be reached

   at 777-6493 or bethj@roanoke.com.

    All About The Benjamins

    HH

    A New Line Cinema release showing at Carmike 10 at Tanglewood Mall and Valley View Grande 16. Rated R for language and graphic violence. One hour, 35 minutes.

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