THE GREAT CHAMELEON (Goran Kalezic). 97 minutes. Opens Friday (June 14).For venues and times, see listings. Rating: N
Here’s a change of pace. Unlike other Canadian-made disasters, The Great Chameleon does not feature a great cast and a crappy script. It offers hammy hacks working a crude and deeply offensive screenplay.
Co-writer Victor Altomare stars as Murky, the master of disguise, who’s sprung from prison so he can lead the cops, including Monique Zordan – who does nothing but shriek and roll her eyes – to bad guy Chiang (Ted Han).
Murky’s motivated because he thinks Chiang may have had something to do with the kidnapping of his niece. Chasing Murky is a parole officer (Robert Davi) whom Murky ripped off years before.
Aided by a makeup expert, veteran actor Stacy Keach – who plays the role as a confused homosexual in a performance that’s just plain weird – Murky dons various wigs and makeup to make himself Jamaican, Chinese and Latin American in unconvincing ways.
The stereotypes are gasp-inducing, the fart jokes juvenile – no, infantile – and the sexual gags staggeringly stupid.
I’m sure this thing would never have been made had there not been someone somewhere in some boardroom who believed that it could find an audience.
I dunno. Early on, Murky pretends to be a mentally challenged man in order to break into the line at a burger joint so he can get the food he craves. He then proceeds to take a shit on the floor.
If that’s your thing, go for it.
