Product Description

TWO ASPIRING BOXERS, LIFELONG FRIENDS, GET INVOLVED IN A MONEY-LAUNDERING SCHEME THROUGH A LOW-LEVEL ORGANIZED CRIME GROUP. 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18902 in DVD
• Brand: LIONS GATE HOME ENT.
• Released on: 2001-11-27
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 94 minutes

Amazon.com
Progressing beyond their indie hit Swingers, Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughan return with Made, playing (respectively) Bobby and Ricky, long-time pals in Los Angeles. Failing as amateur boxers, they're recruited by their mob-connected boss (Peter Falk) to make what should be an easy delivery to an East Coast kingpin named Ruiz (Sean "P. Diddy" Combs). By the time they reach New York, Bobby's no-nonsense approach has been bulldozed by Ricky's hopelessly false bravado, which he's blithely absorbed from too many mobster movies. While Ricky invites disaster with reckless ambition, Bobby just wants a happier, legitimate future for his stripper girlfriend (Famke Janssen) and her neglected young daughter.

Made is an urban comedy that's sharper than its popular predecessor if not quite as appealing. Favreau and Vaughn make a hilarious odd couple of the underworld, and Vaughan's bullish performance--even as it grows redundant and deliberately irritating--is a raucous blend of stupidity and baseless braggadocio. Even more surprising is Combs, playing a thinly veiled variant of himself and providing some of the film's funniest, most authentic confrontations. As Favreau mines danger, humor, and pathos from carefully modulated scenes, the movie gains unexpected depth that sustains it through lulls of inspiration. And while Sam Rockwell, Bud Cort, and others pop in to spin gold in walk-on roles, Made continues to work its subtle charms, even with a tacked-on happy ending that arguably doesn't belong. --Jeff Shannon

From The New Yorker
Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn reprise their Mutt-and-Jeff act from "Swingers," but this time in a context uncertainly derived from Martin Scorsese's "Mean Streets." A nasty Los Angeles crime boss (Peter Falk) sends the two men-amateurs as criminals-to New York to do a job. The heavyset Favreau is morose and fearful and just wants to come home in one piece; Vaughn, boastful, unreliable, and stupid, has the time of his life. Favreau, who wrote and directed, veers back and forth between comedy and a more serious tone, and the movie winds up suspended in the air. The two actors try to pull the entire story out of their friendship with each other, but the psychological underpinnings are missing: we never really understand what holds this odd couple together. With Sean (Puffy) Combs, viciously incisive as a downtown Manhattan gangster, and Famke Janssen in a vaguely written part as a lap dancer. -David Denby
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

MADE - Jon Favreau & Vince Vaughn back to greatness!
Swingers was one of my favorite movies the year it came out. Jon Favreau wrote a very clever screenplay with cool fresh dialogue about the L.A. club and bar scene that any man 21 or over could relate to. Made is Jon Favreau's second movie and is every bit as clever as its predecessor with a little drama thrown into the mix. Jon stars once again with buddy Vince Vaughn as two friends (and I use the term loosely) who are making a run in the world of organized crime. Favreau who is trying to repay his debt to mob boss Peter Falk and Vaughn a screw-up, who just wants to become a made man for the glamourous prestige it will give him. Once again Favreau plays the straight man to Vaughn's comedic character and the formula is brought to life by these two solid actors. Favreau's screenplay proves that this man is not a one trick pony, he could have easily borrowed from Swingers and did lots of niteclub type jokes again but instead has created a really solid mob-type buddy comedy. The movie also features Famke Jansen (who's always great) as Favreau's stripper girlfriend, Sean "Puffy" Combs (surprisingly really good) as a mobster, and even a funny cameo from Dustin Diamond (Screech). The movie starts to feel a little long towards the end but I gladly sat through the rest of it waiting for the outcome. I wish Jon Favreau would start to write movies more frequently because good comedies like these are sorely missed at the megaplexes.

Made
Made is a very funny movie about two "stooges" who are trying to make it in the Mob. Jon Favreau plays the straight man, and Vince Vaughn is a terrific funny-man. He is the Oscar to Favreau's Felix, and they certainly do make an odd couple. The film starts in Los Angeles, and takes them to New York where they are on a seemingly simple assignment, but Vaughn makes sure to get them in trouble at every turn. Sean Combs (P-Diddy) also stars as a Mob middle man with whom they are working. He gives a surprisingly good performance, reprimanding Favreau and Vaughn as they fumble their way through the film. The great chemistry (Swingers) is apparent, and Vaughn's delivery of a well-written script is sure to make you laugh.

They ain't no Goodfellas...
"Made" is the story of two misfit boxers who are best buddies (even though they're always arguing and fighting). Bobby is dating a dancer and doesn't like what her job entails, so he's hoping that he can find something that will solve their money problems so she won't have to dance anymore. Ricky is a fast-talking and always outspoken character who thinks he's all that when in reality he doesn't have a clue. The two friends are offered a gig by a mob boss that offers a big payoff. It's their chance to live the life of the gangsters that they grew up watching in movies. However, they're about to learn how different real life is from the movies... and how horrible they are at being gangsters.

This isn't the type of comedy that offers the obvious laughs or a "wacky" finale. There are no "zany" gimmicks or an over-the-top plot. The movie relies on the tone, which is very subtle and has great timing. The characters are real because they are written that way. While it may be hard to believe that any mob boss would give these two guys a job, we're able to buy it because it's written and structured in a very realistic manner. This is probably why the film isn't overly popular with many folks, but that's fine by me. I really enjoyed myself when I watched this, and even had a better time watching it the second time. Jon Favreau is great in his role, as he knows that he's not the showstopper and has to make sure that he's subtle and mostly quiet--that is, unless he's arguing with his buddy. Vince Vaughn is the definite showstopper, and you can tell that he has a lot of fun with the role. He plays it perfectly, and I'm convinced that nobody else could pull off such a stunt. We also must not forget the very funny Peter Falk, and it must be said that Sean Combs ("Puffy") does a very good job with his part as well.

I must warn you that the movie has TONS of profanities in it. It even outdoes "The Big Lebowski" in the F-Bomb department, believe it or not. If you're not a fan of non-stop vulgar language, then you better stay clear from this. I think the language works because the movie is trying to play like a "Goodfellas" gone completely wrong. The DVD has some really great special features. The picture looks really good, and the sound isn't bad either. Some of the extras include commentary, deleted scenes, outtakes, a scene edit workshop, documentaries and much, much more. Plenty of goodies to play around with.

"Made" is a movie that really worked for me. I think it's an extremely clever comedy that is character-driven all the way. It's entertainingly written and very well directed. Keep in mind that you will be taking a chance on this one if you decide to check it out. People have mixed feelings about it. With that in mind, I would suggest that you rent it first before you decide to purchase, just to be on the safe side. It's a short movie so it won't take up much of your life should you end up not liking it. If you're looking for a funny comedy that doesn't rely on the usual gags, then this is something that is worth checking out. -Michael Crane