I'm about to commit some kind of sacrilege. I love Larry the Cable Guy, I stuck up for his past few movies, which got almost panned across the board and I really was hoping that this third time would be the charm, that a few critics would lighten up and the movie would draw some decent cash. Sadly that is not the case and I am about to half heartedly recommend Larry's newest movie.



Larry here (still playing himself so arguably his presence is a natural one) is a small town deputy sheriff who is in training to be an FBI agent. He's in a cafe chatting away with his pals and his gal Connie when an SUV filled with suits suddenly pulls over for a break and among the group is Madeline, whom Larry believes has been kidnapped. Smelling not a fart, but an opportunity to prove himself of being an FBI agent follows the SUV and takes the girl Madeline, only problem is that she is WITH the FBI and now he kidnapped her. Larry however remains convinced that she was kidnapped and builds his evidence along the way to a conclusion where hilarity doesn't ensue.



Why not? Admittedly Larry's catchphrases and shtick which play better on stage are wearing out at the theater and Madeline actually gets better lines then Larry does which shouldn't happen. Madelin and Larry's chemsitry is weird too, a proper European woman with a Southern Bumpkin who warm up to each other chugs with a the grace of a dying Chevy. No one scene in Witless Protection really soars or made me laugh out loud either, some scenes just play out with lines I know are supposed to be funny but didn't work. The polo match where Larry bull in a chinas hops his way to a win is the only case and that was slight. A fist fight in a museum room could have been great but also misses.



By the way, did I mention Yaphet Kotto's character name is the same here as it was in the vastly superior Midnight Run? Thats a crime.



Larry, I love you but this movie wasn't that great. It was better a movie then I thought it would be, but it's not as funny as it should have been. At least for Larry's crybaby audience his gay/foreigner humor is toned down, which is good, but people will still whine at what is left in the movie, especially Larry's attempt to get a hotel room. Irregardless the film wasn't as funny as it should have been and I'm afraid that if another Larry movie tanks, his screen name could be Larry the Direct to home Video Guy.