Taxi

By FRANCESCA RUDKIN

(Herald rating: * * )

The American comedy skit show Saturday Night Live launched the film careers of comedians that included Adam Sandler, Mike Myers and Dan Aykroyd. Jimmy Fallon, the latest SNL star to break into movies, will have to do better than this light comedy to escape the stand-up circuit.

Taxi is produced by French director/producer/writer Luc Besson and is a remake of the 1998 film he scripted. Originally set on the streets of Marseilles, France, this 2004 Hollywood version takes place on the streets of New York and features feisty female rapper (Latifah) in the lead role of Belle Williams, and Fallon as undercover cop Andy Washburn.

Within the first 15 minutes we learn Andy isn't the brightest spark on the force, and when he loses his driving licence because he can't distinguish first gear from reverse, he catches Belle's cab to go to a bank robbery. Luckily for Andy, Belle can drive very well, and the two team up to catch a group of Brazilian supermodel bank robbers led by Gisele Bundchen.

Along the way we meet Andy's alcoholic mother - played by Ann-Margret - and his long suffering lieutenant (Esposito), who both contribute comedic moments to the film, and Belle's patient boyfriend - who contributes his good looks.

But all the eye-candy can't hide the a weak story and unoriginal gags.

Fallon, surprisingly, grows on you. And even if he doesn't set the screen on fire, don't write him off just yet.

And what was going through Latifah's mind when she was shooting this flick? She seems to lack interest in her performance, as if she resigned herself to the fact that it was going to be a dud.

CAST: Jennifer Eposito, Queen Latifah, Jimmy Fallon

DIRECTOR: Tim Story

RUNNING TIME: 97 mins

RATING: M (low level violence)

SCREENING: Village, Hoyts, Berkeley