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Miami bounty hunter Bucum Jackson (Ice Cube) dreams of putting up his own private investigation
firm while he is stuck at tracking a small-time con man named Reggie Wright (Mike Epps), who has slipped from his grasp more than once. While Bucum is chasing Reggie, Reggie
is caught inadvertently in the middle of a big diamond heist masterminded by the ruthless, scar-faced Williamson (Tommy Flamagan). Reggie manages to escape, only to discover
later that his wallet containing the winning $60 million lottery ticket he purchased for his girlfriend (Eva Mendes) is left behind in the back of the real villains' getaway
van. Reggie convinces Bucum to help him recover his wallet from the jewel thieves. Bucum buys the idea of nabbing the jewel thieves to make good PR for the firm he is about to
put up, not to mention the big bucks at stake. From then on, they become partners in catching the diamond crooks.
Although it is the usual run-of-the-mill plot of treasure chase, the director manages to give the
film a fresh outlook through stylish visuals, hip-hop genius and a dash of social and political commentary on the lives of the lowly blacks. But then these efforts failed to
make up for the quite erratic and complex storytelling. The Ice Cube and Mike Epps pair could have been a promising comic tandem but their shallow, stereotypical and careless
attack resulted in more annoying than funny characters. There are some hilarious moments in the film though. In spite of its major flaws, the film remains to be a visual treat
for MTV and hip hop fanatics for the story was told in an upbeat fashion.
The film as the title suggests, is all about money, the love of it as the root of all evil. But
the movie somehow confuses the audience about what it is really trying to say. As the film progresses, even the protagonists have turned out to be savages in the name of dirty
money, making it appear that it does not really matter where it comes from or how it is acquired. The graphic violence shown in most scenes is never justified as nobody
actually pays for a crime committed. Justice seems to be absent in this movie as criminals on the loose are able to live lavish lifestyles without a single trace of remorse.
If life is all about wealth and status, then we can easily turn into savages one day in exchange for an outlandish worldly living. That is, if life is all about the Benjamins
($100 bills), as the film suggests. But as it is, there's more to life than acquiring wealth at all costs.
(Date reviewed: July 12, 2002)
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