Best Defense

I had a tough time, a truly tough time deciding between a rating of two stars, and one and a half for this 1984 release Best Defense. I have a long history remembering of this film's existence, but taking forever to actually seeing it, despite being in the back of my mind for decades. On the shelf at the video store where I grew up, I always wanted to rent it but I think Eddie Murphy's style of comedy wasn't my parents' cup of tea, even though Dudley Moore did interest them. As a result, the film became rather elusive on my need to see list. Forty years on, it's fun now seeing 80s films such as this for the very first time as it comes with an interesting perspective. Try it out!

However, there's a reason I never caught up with it. It's dull. As dull as say, Dudley Moore? Sorry to the Dudley fans out there. Or, just Dud. Best Defense, from the writers who later brought you Marvel's still most popular film ever, Howard the Duck, is actually not as terrible as I'd heard.

This is my second review in a row of an 80s film I'd not only not seen before, but was also filmed, at least partially, in Israel. It makes for some lovely scenery, so there is some visual appeal here which I appreciated. And Eddie Murphy, for me, is always a fantastic addition, or lead, in most if not all of his early career. In fact, that seems to be the only reason he is in this, to bring it some joy, and he IS successful. Even Dud Moore is just fine. It's just a very flat, dull film, with barely a plot, barely a laugh, and barely a reason to exist. So, Murphy here was so crucial in this film seeing any success that he was very purposefully credited, from marketing to the film credits themselves, as "Strategic Guest Star.'

It's strange for a film to be both not terrible, but also all-around abysmal too. Hard to explain as it is hard to understand. It just has you feeling befuddled by the end, after constantly asking yourself "OK, really. What the hell is this and what are we doing here?"