Bulletproof (1996 film)

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Bulletproof
Theatrical release poster
Directed byErnest Dickerson
Screenplay by
Story byJoe Gayton
Produced byRobert Simonds
Starring
CinematographySteven Bernstein
Edited byGeorge Folsey, Jr.
Music byElmer Bernstein
Production
companies
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • September 6, 1996 (1996-09-06)
Running time
84 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$22.6 million

Bulletproof is a 1996 American buddy cop action comedy film directed by Ernest Dickerson and starring Damon Wayans and Adam Sandler.[1]

Released theatrically in the United States by Universal Pictures on September 6, 1996, Bulletproof was panned by critics and grossed $22.6 million worldwide.[2]

Plot[edit]

Archie Moses is a small-time thief in Los Angeles who smuggles drugs for drug lord Frank Colton, who launders his drug money through a car dealership. Moses is unaware that his best friend, Rock Keats, is actually LAPD undercover cop Jack Carter, who befriended him to infiltrate Colton's gang.

Carter has Moses include him in Colton's next drug shipment, secretly planning to arrest Colton and take in Moses, whom he has come to care about, unharmed. Carter's undercover status is revealed before he can enact his plan, however, and a hurt Moses pulls a gun on him. During the raid on Colton's warehouse, an out of control crane hits Moses in the back, causing him to accidentally shoot Carter in the head. He then flees the state, and is subsequently found and arrested.

Carter miraculously survives and makes a full recovery with the aid of his physical therapist, Dr. Traci Flynn, with whom he falls in love. Moses is brought into custody, and he agrees to testify against Colton, but the trial is set to take place at the other side of the country. Carter's superior officer, Capt. Jensen, orders him to personally transfer Moses to the courtroom.

Carter harbors resentment against Moses, and tensions escalate once the simple transfer goes awry. Colton learns through bribed federal agents and LAPD officers of Moses' attempt to testify against him. As they flee from Colton's men, Carter and Moses slowly mend their friendship, and are successful in returning to Carter's precinct. However, Colton apparently holds Flynn hostage, and blackmails Carter into turning Moses over to save Flynn.

Carter and Moses pretend to comply with Colton, and shoot their way through Colton's guards. It is later revealed that Flynn is on Colton's payroll, and is responsible for leaking Carter's and Moses' whereabouts to him. Moses takes a bullet in the shoulder to save Carter's life, giving him time enough to arrest Flynn, then shoots Colton dead. Moses gives the incriminating documents on Colton to Carter, who allows him to escape. He heads to Mexico to become a bullfighter, with Carter and Moses' mother later accompanying him.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

Reflecting on the film years later, director Ernest Dickerson spoke to DVD Talk of his regretful experiences making the film:

There's a movie I did a couple years ago called Bulletproof. I'd like to just erase that whole experience. You know, I'm proud of a lot of the films I've done, but there's some situations that happened that in retrospect maybe I could have handled them a little differently if I had been a little smarter about it. But that's all second-guessing.[3]

Soundtrack[edit]

Main article: Bulletproof (1996 soundtrack)

A soundtrack containing mostly hip hop and R&B music was released on September 3, 1996, by MCA Records. It reached No. 85 on the Billboard 200 and #23 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

In addition, Varese Sarabande released an album of Elmer Bernstein's score.

Reception[edit]

Box office[edit]

Bulletproof grossed $6 million its opening weekend, placing it at No. 1 at the box office.[4] By the end of its theatrical run, it pulled in $21.6 million in North America and $1 million internationally for a worldwide total of $22.6 million.[5]

Critical response[edit]

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 8% based on 38 reviews and an average rating of 3.7/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "In addition to its ability to deflect gunfire, Bulletproof proves sadly impervious to humor, logic, or worthwhile viewing."[2] On Metacritic, the film received a score of 30 based on 16 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[6]

Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.[7]

Sequel[edit]

A direct to video sequel Bulletproof 2 was released on January 7, 2020, directed by Don Michael Paul and stars Faizon Love and Kirk Fox as Jack Carter and Archie Moses replacing both Wayans and Sandler.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Anderson, John (September 6, 1996). "MOVIE REVIEW Action Film 'Bulletproof' Is Romance Riddled With Holes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Bulletproof (1996)". Rotten Tomatoes.
  3. ^ "Never Die Alone Director - Ernest Dickerson". DVD Talk. Archived from the original on November 28, 2010. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  4. ^ "Bulletproof Is Tough at the Box Office". Los Angeles Times. 1996-09-09. Retrieved 2010-12-30.
  5. ^ "Bulletproof (1996)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb.
  6. ^ "Bulletproof (1996)". Metacritic. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  7. ^ "CinemaScore". cinemascore.com.

External links[edit]

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