 SEASON ONE
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How entertaining? ★★★★☆
Thought provoking? ★★★☆☆ 27 April 2008
This a movie review of TAXI season one. |
“I know what love is cuz I watch talk shows. Love is the end of happiness!” Louie De Palma (Danny DeVito)
The classic US sitcom that ran from 1978 to 1983 is finally on DVD. It launched the careers of Danny DeVito, Andy Kaufman (portrayed by Jim Carrey in MAN ON THE MOON), Judd Hirsch (RUNNING ON EMPTY, ORDINARY PEOPLE) and Tony Danza (WHO’S THE BOSS?). Taxi focuses on the adventures of the Sunshine Cab Company in New York. The team look to Alex Reiger (Hirsch) with all their problems. He is the rock of the group, with the most common sense, and also is the best booker. Alex is the only one full-time, the other drivers are working there while trying to pursue their dreams: Bobby is an aspiring actor, John studies forestry, Tony (Danza) boxes and Elaine wants to be an art gallery curator.
The classic US sitcom that ran from 1978 to 1983 is finally on DVD. It launched the careers of Danny DeVito, Andy Kaufman (portrayed by Jim Carrey in MAN ON THE MOON), Judd Hirsch (RUNNING ON EMPTY, ORDINARY PEOPLE) and Tony Danza (WHO’S THE BOSS?). Taxi focuses on the adventures of the Sunshine Cab Company in New York. The team look to Alex Reiger (Hirsch) with all their problems. He is the rock of the group, with the most common sense, and also is the best booker. Alex is the only one full-time, the other drivers are working there while trying to pursue their dreams: Bobby is an aspiring actor, John studies forestry, Tony (Danza) boxes and Elaine wants to be an art gallery curator.
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Comedy generally dates faster than drama. I like to think audiences get more sophisticated, but perhaps it is merely because tastes change. TAXI maybe 30 years old but it still retains its wit, and has charm in abundance. You can also see how it set the ensemble sitcom template, seeming to influence the likes of CHEERS, FRIENDS and THAT 70S SHOW. Even the character of Latka (Kaufman) can be seen as a forerunner to Borat, and some of the comedy moments in the Ocean’s films where characters can have conversations in different languages are seen here (albeit in Latka’s made up dialect).
The main set of the taxi garage is great, and so big as to be able to fit two cars in the background; though decor would be nothing without the energetic writing, distinctive characters and charismatic performances. For many Kaufman’s fantastic Latka is the scene-stealer, as the horny mechanic with a poor grasp of English from an unknown country, but for me it is Devito’s Louie, a cheapskate, amoral, misanthrope cab dispatcher. His performance, a bile soaked physicality, is a delight to watch.
Still funny. Enjoy.
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