THE JUDGE
R
141 Minutes
Director: David Dobkin
Writers: Nick Schenk, Bill Dubuque, David Dobkin
CAST Robert Downey Jr...Hank Palmer Robert Duvall...Joseph Palmer Vera Farmiga...Samantha Powell Billy Bob Thornton...Dwight Dickham Vincent D'Onofrio...Glen Palmer
'...judge not lest ye be judged.'
-THE BIBLE, (Somewhere In The Back)
Judge Reinhold was riding high after the SANTA CLAUSE trilogy. But his addiction to huffing all that copier toner was taking a huge toll on his health. So Tim Allen and Steve Gutenberg held an intervention. And Judge got the help he needed at Passages Malibu. But then he relapsed two years later, breaking into a Xerox plant at 2 AM, one Friday night. Authorities found him passed out on the warehouse floor, looking like an Al Jolson character. During the court proceedings, there was a lot of confusion with the real judge, and the man named Judge. Kind of like an Abbott and Costello bit.
Judges have to be judged from time-to-time. Back in March, Judge Joe Brown was held in contempt of court, and sentenced to five days in jail. What's this have to do with the movie? Nothing, I just found it funny. Pardon my digression.
The Real Movie
After the mother dies, the Palmer Family reunites at her funeral. Several, days after the funeral, Judge Palmer ran over a motorcyclist, and left him for dead, allegedly. The death of the mother and the motorcycle incident with seem unrelated, at first glance. But are they? THE JUDGE is about the trial that ensues afterward.
Joseph Palmer was a judge for 42 years. He has three sons visiting him. As for that fourth son, Robert, that remains a mystery.
It's a good thing his city-slicker attorney, son can save his father from prison...all pro bono...that's not true, more like pro bonner, the way Hank is stickin' it to pops. Seriously though, Hank charged his father, but at a discount.
You feel like you knew this Hank character already. He's Slick lawyer that would defend anyone for a paycheck. Kind of like Tony Danza in FAMILY LAW, John Larroquette from NIGHT COURT, or Jim Carey from LIAR LIAR.
There is nothing wrong with the acting. Which means the story was the problem. The screenplay could have been more compelling. There wasn't enough focus on any major subject. Everything felt so tangential. I don't know anything about the Judge's mentally challenged son. Or the daughter Hank didn't know he had.
Vincent D'Onofrio was superb. Although it didn't seem like it at first. His character was this dull, average guy. But underneath this plain exterior, Glen has a deep well of unconditional love for his deeply flawed family members. The genuine brotherly moment between Hank and Glenn transformed a film from just okay, to good. At least I think so, I’ll let you be the judge.
Final Verdict: 80 out of 100