Movie Review: Corky Romano

Corky Romano star Chris Kattan says "Corky's not an idiot, he just has no sense that there could be anything bad in the world." Right now, it's rather refreshing to see that innocence portrayed in an escapist, physical comedy. "Corky" isn't one of Kattan's Saturday Night Live sketch characters but was developed with the comedian in mind. Surrounded by straightmen like Peter Falk, Fred Ward and the original "Shaft", Richard Roundtree, Kattan has a lot of solid dramatic "wall" to bounce off of.

Good-natured assistant veterinarian Corky Romano (Chris Kattan) works at "Poodles and Pussies", where he's surrounded by elderly pet owners and out-of-control fat cats and attack snakes. He receives a surprising call from his estranged mob boss dad "Pops" (Peter Falk), a crimelord who has been indicted by a grand jury. Although Corky's not-too-bright thug brothers Paulie (Peter Berg) and Peter (Chris Penn) want to have nothing to do with him, Pops knows Corky is the only hope to infiltrate the FBI as an agent and steal the evidence against him. Corky is reluctant but, despite early rejection, still loves his family and agrees. A computer hacker provides an over-the-top flattering resume that makes Corky look like James Bond.

Corky, as "Agent Pissant" (pronounced pee-SONT, it's French), is up against by-the-book agent Brick Davis (Matthew Glave) who suspects he's a fraud, and falls for sexy femme agent Kate Russo played by Eyes Wide Shut's hot Vinessa Shaw. As Corky bumbles his way to his goal, he inadvertently succeeds as the lead agent on the "Night Vulture" anti-druglord task force. Now, if he can just get that evidence against Pops...

Whether it's talking into his crotch (because his brothers have planted a microphone there), pulling someone's pet boa constrictor out of his pants or walking "undercover" into a nest of neo-Nazi bikers (while wearing a really bad bald cap), rubber-faced Chris Kattan is just funny. You wonder how any of the experienced, usually dramatic cast could keep a straight face around him. (They say they didn't).

Some of the physical comedy and wacky disguises are just plain silly but watching a sincerely sweet underdog bumble his way to success is somehow still endearing. Under the physical gags and over-the-top comedy action is a warm, fuzzy heart. Corky is ultimately about family, however dysfunctional. It's clueless Corky who helps his dad not only accept him back into the fold but embrace the flaws of his two older brothers.

Tighter editing might have been used to shorten some of Kattan's more indulgent physical comedy scenes but, as a whole, I found this character to be more endearing and entertaining that his "Night at the Roxy" loser. If you and your buds need some comic release from all the world's tension, go root for this underdog from "Poodles and Pussies" or wait for the inevitable "Mango Movie".

I give "Corky Romano" 2.5 out of 5 stars.