Star (I) (2001)
The funniest installment in "The Hire"
20 July 2001
Before the review, a brief plot summary: Star is a famous rock star visiting a small town who is sick of poor service and bodyguards swarming around her. In addition to this, she is spoiled and cocky. In an attempt to loose her protectors, she jumps into The Driver's BMW and orders him around, critizing his driving and demanding he hurry up so that they outrun the guards. Finally, The Driver decides to listen.

As you probably know, BMW has made a series of short films called "The Hire" about a mysterious driver played by Clive Owen as it's driver and a chaueffeur for hire. Each of these films have suprisingly big directors, like John Frankenheimer (of "Reindeer Games") and Ang Lee (of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"). They are really just commercials with an action-film plot. Most are just fun car chases, but this and "The Follow" are the ones with true stories. So, they are both sort of expiriments, in different ways. "The Follow" directed by Kar-wai Wong (of "In The Mood for Love") shows, as it involves drama and emotion. This film is an expiriment with comedy.

To put it shortly, it works.

Guy Ritchie (of "Snatch") writes and directs this comic action short. All "The Hire" films have fairly popular actors, but this one has the biggest by far: Guy casts his wife Madonna in a role similar to that of her real life. The chemistry between her and Clive is fun, and it's entertaining to watch The Driver slowly respond to Star in a witty way. Then the hilarity begins, as he finally listens and "steps on it".... totally suprising her. You can't help laughing as Madonna gets tossed around in the BMW, and the whole film belongs in the "memorable quotes" section (although viewers should note this has stronger language than the other films as Clive uses the word "c**t" once). It even has the "whoo hoo" song in it!

The previous films are good action flicks, but if you want a bit of humour, check this out. The closing scene is hilarious as Star is humiliated in front of all her fans.
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