The Distinguished Gentleman

Comedy superstar Eddie Murphy (BOWFINGER, THE NUTTY PROFESSOR) brings down the house in THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN, the hilarious new comedy hit about a small-time con man who runs for Congress -- and miraculously wins! As Thomas Jeffferson Johnson, Murphy hustles his way to the big time and wins an elected seat in the U.S. Congress. But that's only the beginning -- with the perks and power of his new position, Murphy cons for cash and doesn't have to break the law to bamboozle the big bucks! You can be sure you'll love it when Eddie Murphy goes to Washington!

"Mr. Murphy Goes to Washington." As a sly con man from Florida, Thomas Jefferson Johnson (a name he enjoys reciting), Murphy seems just about perfectly cast. And the notion that a crook would be drawn to Capitol Hill like a fly to honey is a cheap, cynical idea that could be milked for a few belly laughs. The chief bad guy, a greedy lobbyist aptly named Dick Dodge (Lane Smith), is a perfect, smarmy target, but the movie loses its cool and turns earnest and patriotic, striking a high-minded attitude that it has scarcely earned. It may have seemed a clever idea hiring a Brit, Jonathan Lynn (Clue) to direct, but he doesn't bring a fresh eye to the material. Sheryl Lee Ralph and Joe Don Baker bat cleanup. --David Chute