Posted on: Friday, August 12, 2005

MOVIE REVIEW
'Deuce Bigalow' sequel leaves bad taste

By Randy Cordova
The Arizona Republic

There's nothing wrong with stupid, gross-out humor if it's funny. But if it's not funny, all you're left with is stupid and gross.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to "Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo."

This painfully thudding tale is simply one crude gag after another, without a hint of cleverness or style. It's not a surprise that it's a bad movie, but it's surprising just how bad it is.

The oddball cast includes talented Jeroen Krabbe ("The Prince of Tides"), who must be wondering how he stumbled into this mess. Also on board are soap opera actor Charles Keating ("Another World") and Latin pop star Carlos Ponce, who has a sizable role but is buried in the credits. Maybe a bag on his head would have helped retain his anonymity.

In this sequel to the 1999 "Deuce Bigalow" picture, a weathered Rob Schneider returns as the title character, who heads to Amsterdam to meet pal T.J. (Eddie Griffin of "Undercover Brother"), a pimp with an army of male prostitutes.

Someone is offing "man whores" and all fingers point to Eddie. Deuce aims to clear his buddy's name by checking out European women who have been hiring gigolos. All the women have some kind of flaw, which is where the supposed humor comes in.

The whole thing is unpleasant and creepy, not to mention repetitive. But because it's coarse and crude, you know boys in junior high will love it. Of course, parents would be nuts to send their kids to this R-rated concoction.

Besides, why develop bad taste in movies at such a young age?

Rated R for crude sexual humor, language, nudity and drug content.