Common Sense Media Review
By Nell Minow , based on child development research. How do we rate?
Think twice before hailing this Taxi.
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Taxi
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
What's the Story?
In this remake of a French film, Washburn (Jimmy Fallon), a dedicated cop who is the world's worst driver, gets teamed up with Belle (Queen Latifah), a speed-loving would-be NASCAR driver with a souped-up taxicab When Washburn hails Belle's cab to get to a bank robbery, it leads to all kinds of misunderstandings, shoot-outs, and car chases before they catch up with the culprits, a gang of (yes, really) four Brazilian supermodels.
Is It Any Good?
TAXI has some numbingly obvious musical cues and even more numbingly obvious jokes, with situation after situation rather than story. The script is so sit-com-ish you almost expect a laugh track. It all seems a little tired, from the lead-off to the tune of a former hit song to the attempt to find some humor in a character who has the same name as Supreme Court Justice Anthony Scalia.
Queen Latifah and Fallon have strong screen presences and great comic timing and the movie has a few moments of silly fun and a couple of slick stunts. The talented Jennifer Esposito gives her standard "exasperated police lieutenant" role some warmth and appeal. Giselle Bundchen makes great use of her supermodel body, but she's no actress. This is one Taxi you should think twice before hailing. (But if you do see it, wait until the very end because the best joke in the movie comes during the outtakes over the credits.)
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why Washburn was a bad driver and what makes someone a good driver.
Movie Details
- In theaters: October 8, 2004
- On DVD or streaming: February 15, 2005
- Cast: Jennifer Esposito , Jimmy Fallon , Queen Latifah
- Director: Tim Story
- Inclusion Information: Black directors, Female actors, Black actors
- Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 97 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: language, sensuality and brief violence
- Last updated: August 22, 2024
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