Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Osmosis Jones (2001)
Director: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly, animation Piet Kroon, Tom Sito
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
The Farrelly brothers take a cartoonish turn. The concept is basically The Numbskulls (the Beano comic strip about the little folk who run your head), scaled up to US proportions: an entire body politic organised per representative democracy and the division of labour. And, as Hollywood teaches, when such a system becomes corrupted, it takes a maverick cop and his fat buddy to save the day. Meet jive-talking white blood cell Osmosis Jones, and his new partner in infection-fighting, a 12-hour cold suppressant capsule. The corrupt constitution in question belongs to zoo janitor Frank (Murray), who's not doing his immune system any favours eating boiled eggs off the monkey cage floor. Enter Thrax, a virus of rare toxic intent. The film is remarkably versatile, even if the Farrellys' live footage looks like the chimps commandeered the camera. The plot's so much old rote, and the characters have all the personality of protoplasm; but the anthropomorphising of this microcosmic metropolis is wonderfully imaginative, and the dialogue decidedly spiffy.Author: NB
Cast & crew
Director: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly, animation Piet Kroon, Tom Sito
Producer: Bradley Thomas, Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly, Zak Penn, Dennis Edwards
Cast: Bill Murray, Molly Shannon, Chris Elliott, Elena Franklin, Laurence Fishburne, David Hyde Pierce, Brandy Norwood, William Shatner, Ron Howard, Danny Murphy, Chris Rock full cast
Genre(s): Comedy
Duration: 95 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
London Children's Film Festival
Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'
Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations












What do you think?
Post your review now