Starring Chris Farley, Chris Rock, Robin Shou, Nathaniel Parker, Will Sasso, Nicollette Sheridan, Soon-Tek Oh

(5-Okay Film)

Goofy. Affable. Unexciting.

The story goes that there will come a day that a Great White Ninja emerges and saves the day. Somewhere in Japan, at a temple, Haru (Farley) trains, hoping one day to fulfill that prophecy. When the chance come to prove himself by helping the beautiful Alison Page (Sheridan), Haru, in true Inspector Clouseau style, proves only that he’s a fool. This is a fairly likable comedy brimming with Farley’s kind persona, but fails to deliver the big laughs of its clear inspiration, The Pink Panther. I liked some of the supporting characters: Rock as the over-enthusiastic bellhop/ disciple and Robin Shou as Haru’s far more competent brother, Gobei (reminiscent of François, going back to Pink Panther). The action sequences are all very dull, which is forgivable in a comedy if it’s laugh out loud funny. Beverly Hills Ninja is not laugh out loud funny.

-Walter Tyrone Howard-

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