Review of 'Taxi'

Based on the 1998 French film Taxi by Luc Besson, this American adaptation sees speed-loving bicycle messenger Belle (Queen Latifah) quitting her job when she receives her taxi licence. On her first day in her souped-up taxi hapless cop Detective Washburn (Jimmy Fallon) jumps in her cab and has her chase a group of bank robbers. The thieves manage to escape and Belle's cab is impounded for evidence while Washburn is dressed down by his boss. Getting the taxi of out the impound the two need to work together to put a stop to the bank robbers…

A lot of silly fun with talk show host Jimmy Fallon playing the cop trying to prove himself despite making big messes of everything he is involved in against the professional, fast talking and speed-loving taxi driver played with huge delight by Queen Latifah. Yes, the taxi is completely OTT (Manhattan to JFK in 12 minutes?) but the story is entertaining and the dialogue sparkles though I just feel that something was lost in translation from the French original. Though the two leads are amazing and fun it does not have the sense of sheer insanity of Besson's original which I would strongly encourage readers to watch (though you can probably skip the sequels).

Silly and fun, but not quite as good as the original.

Rating: “It is OK but I have some issues”

Review Date: 2025-09-27

Directed by: Tim Story

Studio: Twentieth Century Fox

Year: 2004

Length: 97 minutes

Genre: Action/Adventure

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0316732/