MAD DOG AND GLORY

(director: John McNaughton; screenwriter: Richard Price; cinematographer: Robby Muller; editor: Craig McKay, Elena Maganina; music: Elmer Bernstein; cast: Robert De Niro (Wayne ‘Mad Dog’ Dobie), Bill Murray (Frank Milo), Uma Thurman (Glory), David Caruso (Mike), Mike Starr (Harold), Tom Towles (Andrew the Beater), Kathy Baker (Lee), Richard Belzer (comic); Runtime: 96; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Martin Scorsese, Barbara De Fina; Universal Pictures/Kino Lorber; 2024)

“It still is nutty enough to be entertaining.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

A quirky cop love story that’s sort of rescued from its absurdity by the cutesy performances of puppy love by Robert De Niro and Uma Thurman, and the bullying performance by Bill Murray as a threatening comical gentleman mobster.

It’s directed by John McNaughton (“Wild Things”/”Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer”), who seems lost in material not in his comfort zone, and screenwriter Richard Price provides a snazzy dialogue.

The dull and gentle bachelor crime photographer for the Chicago Police Department, ironically called ‘Mad Dog’ (Robert De Niro), while on duty enters a convenience store being robbed and saves the life of the mob boss Frank Milo (Murray).

The grateful mobster as a reward sends his attractive debt-owing prostitute slave Glory (Uma Thurman), currently working for him as a bartender, to live in his apartment for a week. The shy Mad Dog falls in love with the heart of gold whore, and barters with Frank to buy her freedom for $40,000.

It culminates in a ridiculous street fight between ‘Mad Dog’ and Frank. The cops from Mad Dog’s’ precinct look on, as led by his loyal protector, the tough Irish cop Mike (David Caruso). Frank’s gang also are looking on, featuring the brutish bodyguard Harold (Mike Starr).

Though most of its comical efforts fail, it still is nutty enough to be entertaining.

REVIEWED ON 10/24/2024  GRADE: B-
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