'Miami Vice': The (re)-view from a fan (very good)
The movie version of "Miami Vice" hardly resembles "Miami Vice" the television sensation, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Children of the '80s like myself were glued to the TV every Friday night, transported to the world of high-stakes drug-trafficking with Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs as our undercover guides.
The five-year series was usually more style than substance, but it was groundbreaking in the sense that it shattered the mold of buddy cop dramas and brought MTV appeal to network television.
The television series was all about the cars, boats, drugs, sex and action. All those elements are prominent in the movie, as well as the use of exotic locales and the accompanying breathtaking cinematography.
But that's where the similarities end. In fact, there's little to tie the TV and movie after the title appears in the opening credits. While the names, swagger, bravado and Ferrari are reminiscent of the original, director Michael Mann appears to draw more inspiration from his previous films ("Heat," "Collateral") than his stint as the television series' executive producer.
Given that the show aired its last original episode in 1989 and barely made a blip in syndication, the lack of symmetry is actually a shrewd tactic. There are no over-the-top references or cheesy cameos to appease die-hard fans of the show, which is a refreshing departure from other recent TV-to-movie forays.
Instead, Mann exploits the more subtle aspects and themes of the show. At one point in the movie, Jamie Foxx looks Colin Farrell in the eye and declares, "I would never doubt you." In some ways, that's a more genuine nod to the show rather than seeing Don Johnson making an awkward appearance in the final moments or hearing Phil Collins in the background (though a half-hearted appreciation of the original soundtrack is delivered in the closing credits).
The television series struggled when it came to the scenes lacking guns and/or drugs, and this movie is true to form. Portions of the movie heavy on dialogue or centered on the developing the characters' personal lives deliver some cringe-worthy moments.
Along those same lines, the movie offers a heavy dose of unfiltered brutality, something you might not expect from standard TV-inspired fare. However, the stark violence serves as a testament to how the movie carves out its own identity and never uses its television predecessor as a crutch.
Was "Miami Vice" the best that television had to offer? No, but when viewers tuned in two decades ago, they could count on being entertained. The movie does the same, except with socks.
Simit Shah is the director of Web operations for CNN.com and a longtime "Miami Vice" fan.
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