THE PLOT THUS FAR
Eddie Murphy stars as an over-the-top television evangelist who finds a way to turn television home shopping into a religious experience, and takes America by storm.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
“Holy Man” focuses on self-absorbed TV executive Ricky Hayman whose career at the Miami-based Good Buy Shopping Network is in the crapper. When his new boss, Mr. Bainbridge, delivers an ultimatum, Ricky finds his work cut out for him. If network profits don’t pick up in 14 days, Ricky is history. Adding insult to injury, Bainbridge hires sassy media analyst Kate Newell to help Ricky devise a distinctive network image. At first, Ricky and Kate hate each other. Eventually, they wind up in each other’s arms. Breezing down the freeway one day, Ricky’s Jaguar blows a tire. Accident and coincidence serve to bring Ricky, Kate, and G together.
Hayman is initially as reluctant to have anything to do with G: where he is calculating, G goes with the flow; where he is a ruthless businessman, G is a free-and-easy spirit and where Hayman is stiff and reactionary G is relaxed and greets everything with a grin – it is only through Kate’s intrigue of the man that they are all brought together, before having to come to form a bond throughout the rest of the film. As it becomes obvious that G might just be the thing the network needs to boost sales, a crucial question arises which determines both the path and respective framework both the film and Hayman will go down; something attentive viewers will work out relatively quickly: will Hayman merely exploit the guru?
The Blu-Ray comes with a trailer as its sole special feature. The 1080p feature is good enough for an HD bow, but don’t expect anything that’s terribly clean. Mill Creek has priced the release right and I’d like to see more Blu-Ray companies get behind older titles in this matter. I’d rather have it in HD, then to not have a release at all. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase to fans.
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!
