Film Review: Kumail Nanjiani is the Only Reason to See ‘Stuber’

CHICAGO – Kumail Nanjiani is reaching the next level of stardom. Recently, he was the best thing in the rebooted “MIB: International” (as a cartoon sprite), and now he is the only reason to indulge in “Stuber.” Kumail portrays a nervy UBER driver named Stu (get it?), and upholds everything about the buddy movie that is enjoyable. The rest of it, including his buddy Dave Bautista, land with a dull thud.


Rating: 3.0/5.0


There was something there, but maybe it needed ten more rewrites or so. The lazy screenplay – by Tripper Clancy, I kid you not – seemed content with rehashing plots from the 1990s, as the Kumail/Bautista team pursuit an Asian martial artist running a heroin ring … complete with exotic Asian branded drug packaging. But Kumail is blissful in his zen surrounding this illogical scenario, and gets off a few hilarious lines. The Über Critic Rule … if it makes me laugh several times, it’s worth seeing. We all need more laughs in this crazy, mixed up world.

Stu (Kumail Nanjiani) has a day job as a clerk in a sporting goods store. To raise investment money for a spin class studio by his friend Becca (Betty Gilpin) he becomes an UBER driver in Los Angeles. To keep his leased car, he has to keep his rating over four stars (of five), and that’s threatened when an L.A. police detective named Vic Manning (Dave Bautista) decides to take over his vehicle in pursuit of a case.

Oka Tedjo (Iko Uwais) is running a heroin ring in La La Land, and Vic is pursuing him because he killed his partner. But there are complications. Vic has been blinded by Lasik surgery and his needs to be at his daughter Nicole’s (Natalie Morales) art show. Meanwhile, Stu is secretly in love with Becca, who wants him to come over for some rebound lovemaking. Will Stu maintain his UBER rating?

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Stuber” [20]

Vic (Dave Bautista) and Stu (Kumail Nanjiani) in ‘Stuber’
Photo credit: Walt Disney Pictures

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Stuber” [20]