Breathless and breakneck, Bowfinger marks a rousing return to form for writer-star Martin.

| Dec 20, 2024

The film relies heavily on the chemistry Murphy and Martin have together, and the former’s uncanny ability to disappear into multiple roles blended well with the Hollywood shenanigans.

| Jul 8, 2024

Bowfinger is a terrifically witty movie that skewers all the right targets. It's self-referential and geared toward movie buffs, but it's not so insular that you need an in-depth knowledge of the industry to get the jokes.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Oct 26, 2023

Steve Martin's tribute to shoestring filmmaking and big-screen dreams is a loving lampoon that gamely straddles the chasm between cynical con-artistry and benign innocence.

| Aug 19, 2023

Martin makes a perfect delusional meglomaniac and Murphy's double act still plays really well.

| May 28, 2021

The minor characters are also great - most notably, Heather Graham..., Christine Baranski as a deluded stage veteran, and Eddie Murphy again in a second, surprise role that caps off the mayhem with just the right dash of stupidity.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Apr 15, 2020

Directed by Frank Oz and written by Steve Martin...

| Original Score: 3/4 | Feb 23, 2019

Entertaining, great actors but not a home run.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 22, 2010

The best thing about Bowfinger is the way the script by Steve Martin is tooled to his own and Murphy's comic strengths.

| Feb 2, 2009

Hugely funny film that mixes knowing satire with winning stupidity, and has Martin and Murphy in form they have rarely managed in recent years.

| Feb 27, 2008

This is enjoyable but thin, which is no doubt what was intended.

| Feb 27, 2008

A showcase for wit.

| Original Score: A | Jul 23, 2007

Mr. Murphy chews the scenery every chance he gets and it recalls what made him such a star in the first place.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jul 14, 2007

Murphy is wonderful ... The plot is mechanical, clunky and boring.

Full Review | Original Score: 79/100 | Feb 4, 2007

Preposterous and utterly self-absorbed, this has la-la land down to a tee.

| Jun 24, 2006

Just watch two of the still funniest guys in the country do what they do best, without a bad script to get in the way.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 6, 2005

You'll laugh 'til you stop!

| Original Score: B+ | Apr 9, 2005

This all has the potential to become a sidesplitting caper. ... Unfortunately, only a few of the manic scenes work.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Dec 6, 2004

[An] entertaining little comedy that should be forgiven for not living to its potential.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/10 | Dec 2, 2004

It's lively and frequently funny -- but why does it leave such a sour aftertaste?

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jul 15, 2003