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"MEET DAVE" (2008) (Eddie Murphy, Elizabeth Banks) (PG) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Mild Mild Heavy *Mild Heavy Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Heavy None Minor *Mild Minor Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Moderate None Mild Moderate Moderate QUICK TAKE: Comedy: Arriving on Earth in a space ship designed to look like an average-sized human body, miniature intergalactic travelers try to locate a missing device that will save their planet, but must contend with their vehicle interacting with various Earthlings. PLOT: Dave Ming Chang (EDDIE MURPHY) has arrived in New York, but his 1970s era all-white suit and odd and initially stiff demeanor are a dead giveaway that there's something unusual about him. And that's because "he" is actually a spaceship from another planet molded after its miniature Captain (EDDIE MURPHY). Along with his second-in-command, #2 (ED HELMS), cultural officer #3 (GABRIELLE UNION) and security officer #4 (PAT KILBANE) and many others, including mouth & throat worker #17 (KEVIN HART), the Captain is in search of a missing device -- the key to the survival of their people -- sent months earlier to drain Earth's oceans of their salt. Little do they know that the orb crashed through the window of 11-year-old Josh Morrison (AUSTIN LYND MYERS) whose widowed mom, Gina (ELIZABETH BANKS), just so happens to run into "Dave" with her car. She's horrified, but unbeknownst to her, the Captain's miniature crew has already performed the necessary repairs on Spaceship Dave. Realizing they don't want her to notify the authorities -- such as local cops Dooley (SCOTT CAAN) and Knox (MIKE O'MALLEY) who are investigating the impact point of the spaceship's earlier arrival -- the Captain has his crew have their human-sized spaceship interact with the mother and son. As their presence on Earth begins to affect their behavior, the miniature crew race against time and a diminishing power supply to find the orb and complete their mission. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Since it's aimed at families and younger kids, the film's advertisements might have them interested. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG For bawdy and suggestive humor, action and some language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: EDDIE MURPHY plays both the human-sized spaceship and the miniature Captain inside it. The former (as controlled by those inside it) tries to fit in as best as possible with the Earthlings but ends up behaving in unusual ways, while the latter initially only wants to find the missing orb, but then finds himself positively affected by his interaction with Gina, Josh and others. ELIZABETH BANKS plays a widowed mom and amateur painter who's horrified that she accidentally hits Dave with her car but then befriends him, although she occasionally finds his behavior peculiar (although in a mostly amused fashion). AUSTIN LYND MYERS plays her 11-year-old son who must deal with school bullies, but finds an unlikely friend in Dave who gives him supportive advice. GABRIELLE UNION plays the ship's cultural officer who assists in making decisions in how Dave should interact with the humans, but becomes jealous when she falls for the Captain but thinks he's more interested in Gina. ED HELMS plays the ship's second-in-command who becomes concerned about the change in the Captain and most of the crew and their loss of focus in getting the job done. Accordingly, he commandeers the ship by force. PAT KILBANE plays the ship's security officer whose exposure to life in New York City brings out his inner flamboyant gayness. SCOTT CAAN plays a local cop who investigates the small crash site and is certain it involves extraterrestrials. MIKE O'MALLEY plays his cop partner who thinks he's crazy. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this PG-rated comedy. Profanity consists of a handful of minor expletives, while some colorful phrases are also uttered. Some sexually related dialogue and song lyrics are present, as is some sexy salsa dancing. A miscellaneous couple passionately makes out, varying amounts of cleavage and the top of a man's bare butt crack are visible, while a character's inner flamboyant gayness is unleashed. Violence includes an attempted armed robbery, some striking of others, some property destruction via a laser gun of sorts, and a car accidentally striking a person (that's really a spaceship designed to resemble that). Some slapstick style material is also present. A few moments might be intense or suspenseful for very young viewers, and all sorts of behavior (most played for comedy) might be enticing for some kids to imitate, while various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes. Various instance of crude humor are present, and there's some drinking, while it's briefly mentioned that a major character has been widowed for four years. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's swishing camera movement as we take a quick journey through the inside of the spaceship. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Seeing Dave out in the alley (having not met him yet), Josh yells to his mom that there's another drunk guy out there. Knox thinks that the crash site is the result of some drunken guy's actions. Mojitos are delivered to Dave, Gina and Josh (he gets a virgin one) in a salsa club where others drink and Dave guzzles his down (not knowing what it is). Those working inside his mouth and throat then taste some of that and enjoy it. BLOOD/GORE A crewmember reports that a gas leak (inside the spaceship) was silent, but not deadly. Having seen money, Dave reproduces that in a clothing store changing room stall. While we don't see it actually coming out of his body, we do see bills and then coins hitting the floor between his spread feet (the joke being that it's defecated). A bully makes a farting sound by blowing on his hand and then tells Dave "Smell my butt crack." Having eaten many hot dogs in a hot dog eating contest, Dave matter-of-factly tells Gina, "Excuse me, my colon is impacted." We then see him standing in a bathroom stall (the door blocks the view of his body -- we see his face) and hear the undigested hot dogs dropping into the toilet from his robotic body. The guy in the next stall hears that and states, "Show off." After Dave shakes out a bully and notes the look on the boy's face, Dave asks if that's because he's sad or if it's a reaction to his underwear cutting into his rectum (after the boy complained about a wedgie). A crewmember who controls one of Dave's arms states that he was in the bathroom when a task was not completed as planned. Dave sneezes out the Captain and #3 to the city street (from his nose, but with no related mucous, etc.). The Captain and #3 end up out on the streets of New York City and they take refuge under a fire hydrant, but then flee when a dog urinates on that (we see the urine stream). #2 states, "Sorry Earth, sometimes #2 happens." THE CAPTAIN tells security to take #2 and place him "in my butt" (presumably referring to a holding cell located in the spaceship). DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE When Gina's cat shows up, the crew panics when "cat" brings up recorded footage of an aggressive lion in their data banks. Thus, Dave kicks the cat (we don't see where it lands or its condition). This is played for laughs, and thus kids might want to imitate that. Josh must deal with bullies, including the leader who calls him "You little freak" and then asks about his meteorite, "What do you use it for, playing nerd ball?" He later tells him "I will mess you up," calls him a "loser," and then acts disrespectfully toward Dave (thinking he's a substitute teacher at school) by telling him, "Smell my butt crack." Later, the bully calls Josh a "midget" and roughs him up a bit until Dave intervenes. Armed robbers enter a deli for a hold-up, and threaten Dave at gunpoint. A male crewmember enthusiastically exclaims "Damn!" when spotting a buxom female crewmember pass by him. A sergeant refers to Knox and Dooley (his subordinates) as "idiots." After a security guard states he saw Dave leaving with Gina, Knox asks, "Was she hot?" Jealous of Gina, #3 comments on the human's butt being "the size of our moon" (although when she finally sees her in person, she admits it's not that big). A crewmember refers to Gina as a "gigantic strumpet." #2 takes over the ship by force (thinking the Captain has lost focus on their mission). He then prepares to use the orb, not caring that it will adversely affect those on Earth. Dave literally catches a passing cab, yanking it back towards him. He then grabs the man in the back by his tie and removes him. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed here and under "Violence" might be unsettling or suspenseful to younger viewers but probably no one else. We hear that the crew's planet is on the verge of a catastrophic energy crisis and if they fail on their mission, their population might die off within the next generation. At the same time, we hear that their orb will drain Earth's oceans of its salt, thus endangering everyone there. Accordingly, some kids may be worried about the crew's success or failure in their quest. A bully takes Josh's meteorite and then pushes him back to his chair. A later scene also has the bully getting physical with the smaller boy (kids afraid of bullies might find this unsettling). Armed robbers enter a deli for a hold-up, and one shoves Dave. When that man tries to punch Dave, the latter catches his fist and then tosses that man across the store. The second aims his handgun at him, but Dave pinches the end of the barrel, causing the robber to run away. Dave uses a laser in his finger to blast open a police interrogation room door. As cops try shooting him (his shields block the bullets), he also uses the finger laser on some office equipment, and then a glass wall to exit the building. Outside, he blasts a police car with the same, causing it to explode up into the air and then land back down on the street with some cops diving for cover. The Captain and #3 end up out on the streets of New York City where their tiny size means they're in danger. That includes avoiding being stepped on, a bouncing ball nearly hitting them, the Captain being blown across the street, and #3 getting stuck on chewing gum as cars approach. One tire rolls over her and the Captain, but they're okay as the tread goes over them. They then catch a flight on a plastic bag, but it slams into a bus windshield and they must then contend with the wipers thrusting them back and forth. FBI agents hold handguns and machine guns as they arrive to deal with Dave. As he tries to fly away, they snare him with a net, but the robot's foot then flies off in the manner of an escape pod for the crew. GUNS/WEAPONS Armed robbers enter a deli for a holdup, and one shoves Dave. One aims his handgun at him, but Dave pinches the end of the barrel, causing the robber to run away. Knox and Dooley wear sidearms while on the job. #2 and other crewmembers prepare some sort of futuristic laser guns to take over the ship, and they use them at various times to point at the Captain and others while doing so. Cops aim guns at Dave while arresting him. Dave uses a laser in his finger to blast open a police interrogation room door. As cops try shooting him (his shields block the bullets), he also uses the finger laser on some office equipment, and then a glass wall to exit the building. Outside, he blasts a police car with the same, causing it to explode up into the air and then land back down on the street with some cops diving for cover. Guards hold laser guns on the Captain and #3. Dooley and Knox hold guns on Dave who's run out of power, so Josh grabs one's taser and uses it to shock Dave. FBI agents hold handguns and machine guns as they arrive to deal with Dave. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Dude," "Whoa," "Alright!" "Oh crap," "I am a captain of crunch," "Welcome to Old Navy," an incomplete "What the..?" "You little freak," "What do you use it for, playing nerd ball?" "I will mess you up," "Loser," "Smell my butt crack," "We've been compromised," "Time for me to exit into the night," "Idiots," "Shut up," "Yeah, boy!" "You silly goose," "You're such a goofball," "Midget," "Spectacularly unsuccessful," "Have you lost your mind?" "You have become a fool," "Was she hot?" "Gigantic strumpet," "Nut job," "Mother of Neel," "Sorry Earth, sometimes #2 happens," "This planet rocks, deal with it," "I am Dave Ming Chang," "You've all gone completely mad," "Take him and put him in my butt" (the Captain about #2 being put in custody), "Freak me out" and "You look like a wuss." Some/all of Dave's behavior might be enticing for some kids to imitate. That includes peculiar walking, making funny faces, shaking the wrong hand (and then shaking both, crisscrossed), and talking in both high and low-pitched voices. There's also Dave doing exaggerated imitations of others, the sloppy drinking of water from a glass, and the high-pitched singing of part of a Bee Gees song. He also breaks an egg in his hand and then whisks eggs (shells included) in a bowl, drinks an entire bottle of ketchup, and kicks a cat. He then does an exaggerated imitation of French kissing by himself, keeps repeating "Welcome to Old Navy" (and then struggles to try on clothes, flopping himself all over the store), defecates money in the dressing room (he's simply reproducing money as a robot), and sharpens a student's pencil by putting it up his (Dave's) nose. He also swipes everything off a table when Gina asks for his help in clearing it, quickly and repeatedly stuffs hot dogs into his mouth as part of a hot dog eating contest, and does some exaggerated salsa dancing (including shaking his clothed chest). A presumably gay man does an exaggerated snap with his fingers/hand in response to seeing Dave. We see miscellaneous graffiti. A bully makes a farting sound by blowing on his hand. A male crewmember enthusiastically exclaims "Damn!" when spotting a buxom female crewmember pass by him. #3 enthusiastically exclaims "Yeah, boy!" and slaps the top of the Captain's head. Josh grabs a cop's taser and uses it to shock Dave (to give him some power). JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A little bit of suspenseful music plays in a handful of scenes. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) Some songs contained lyrics that we couldn't fully hear and/or understand, thus presenting the possibility of them potentially containing objectionable material. A song has the line "Shake your money-maker." A song has the line "Shake your butt." PROFANITY At least 1 crap, 1 damn, 1 incomplete S.O.B., 5 uses of "Oh my God" and 3 uses of "Oh God." SEX/NUDITY We briefly see a distant view of "The Naked Cowboy" in NYC (dressed in small briefs, hat and cowboy boots, holding a guitar). A presumably gay man does an exaggerated snap with his fingers/hand in response to seeing Dave. Gina shows varying amounts of cleavage in various outfits. We see the top of a male crewmember's butt crack as he's bent over and his pants ride down a bit. Knox complains that having to investigate the crash site interrupted "my morning roll in the hay with Stacy." A song has the line "Shake your money-maker." Dave stares at a miscellaneous couple passionately making out in a park and then imitates that by himself (including lots of tongue action). The man tells Dave to take a picture as it will last longer, and Dave does (the flash coming from his eyes). We see miscellaneous cleavage from a nearby woman as Dave holds up a bikini top in front of his own clothed chest. A clerk then asks about Dave's size (meaning clothing), and when the man gives as an example "small," Dave shoots him a look (presumably a joke about penis size). Part of #3's outfit are straps of fabric that lie under her covered breasts, thus drawing attention to them (the outfits on the male crewmembers don't contain that). A male crewmember enthusiastically exclaims "Damn!" when spotting a buxom female crewmember pass by him. We see a shirtless crewmember as he shaves. Reacting to his exposure to New York City, #4 becomes progressively more gay (in a flamboyant way, both in behavior and dress) during the film. The Captain and #3 nearly kiss, but stop themselves. That nearly happens again later in the film, but at the very end, they finally do kiss. We see some standard-issue, sexy dancing in a salsa club, and that includes by Gina who really gets into it in her short skirt while dancing with Dave. In response to that, we see a brief view of male and female crewmembers doing some close and suggestive dancing inside the spaceship. Later, #4 takes over the dancing controls of Dave and orders that they get Dave's "accoutrements" right up against Gina. After a security guard states he saw Dave leaving with Gina, Knox asks, "Was she hot?" A song has the line "Shake your butt." To try to draw the Captain's attention away from Gina, #3 shows up in a sexy, cleavage-revealing outfit (but that doesn't work). A crewmember refers to Gina as a "gigantic strumpet." After Dooley retrieves the miniature #17 from his coffee, he blows on him to try to dry him off. #17 tells him to stop, saying he doesn't know him well enough to do that. SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES We hear that Gina's Navy captain husband has been dead for four years (and thus she's been raising Josh by herself since then). TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Extraterrestrials. Robots. Dealing with bullies. The film using the "fish out of water" concept for its plot and related comedy. We hear that Gina's Navy captain husband has been dead for four years (and thus she's been raising Josh by herself since then). Knox tells Dooley to act like a cop in not caring. When Josh complains he's the smallest fifth-grader in the city, Dave reminds him that some great things start out small. Reacting to his exposure to New York City, #4 becomes progressively more gay (in a flamboyant way, both in behavior and dress) during the film. VIOLENCE The small orb flies down from space and crashes through Josh's window. Dave the spaceship crash-lands -- headfirst -- into Earth, but is otherwise undamaged. Dave goes against a do not walk sign and thus Gina accidentally hits him with her car, sending him flying through the air. He gets up, but his ankle is badly twisted (he's the spaceship and thus that is quickly repaired). Dave's initially high-pitched voice accidentally shatters some nearby bottles. #17 and others are washed away when Dave drinks some water and it enters the spaceship's mouth and throat. When Gina's cat shows up, the crew panics when "cat" brings up recorded footage of an aggressive lion in their data banks. Thus, Dave kicks the cat (we don't see where it lands or its condition). This is played for laughs, and thus kids might want to imitate that. A bully takes Josh's meteorite and then pushes him back to his chair. Armed robbers enter a deli for a hold-up, and one shoves Dave. When that man tries to punch Dave, the latter catches his fist and then tosses that man across the store. The second aims his handgun at him, but Dave pinches the end of the barrel, causing the robber to run away. When Gina asks Dave for help in clearing the dinner table, he swipes everything off it to the floor (not understanding the real meaning of her request). #3 enthusiastically exclaims "Yeah, boy!" and slaps the top of the Captain's head. A bully roughs up Josh until Dave intervenes, catching the boy's punch and then turning him upside down to shake him out. Dave throws a softball at a carnival game, but the throw is so strong that the ball ricochets and hits Dave in the head, knocking him to the ground. We next see shock paddles being used on Dave to revive him, and when an MRI machine is turned on, Dave is yanked onto it (due to being made of metal). Crewmembers inside Dave's mouth and throat are washed away when he guzzles down a drink. Dave drops Gina to the dance floor in the middle of a dip. Dave uses a laser in his finger to blast open a police interrogation room door. As cops try shooting him (his shields block the bullets), he also uses the finger laser on some office equipment, and then a glass wall to exit the building. Outside, he blasts a police car with the same, causing it to explode up into the air and then land back down on the street with some cops diving for cover. #3 hits a guard on the head to knock him out and thus rescue the Captain. Dave literally catches a passing cab, yanking it back towards him. He then grabs the man in the back by his tie and removes him. #4 grabs a guard's gun and hits him in the gut with it. Josh grabs a cop's taser and uses it to shock Dave (to give him some power). FBI agents hold handguns and machine guns as they arrive to deal with Dave. As he tries to fly away, they snare him with a net, but the robot's foot then flies off in the manner of an escape pod for the crew. Reviewed July 9, 2008/ Posted July 11, 2008

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