Metro, released on Jan. 17, 1997, is an action-packed thriller that showcases Eddie Murphy in a more dramatic role. He plays Scott Roper, a veteran hostage negotiator for the San Francisco Police Department, who finds himself entangled in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse with a cunning criminal.
The film features a strong supporting cast, including Michael Rapaport (Higher Learning) as Roper’s rookie partner, and Michael Wincott as Michael Korda, the menacing villain. The action sequences are well-executed, and the film maintains a sense of suspense throughout.
Carmen Ejogo stars as Ronnie, Roper’s ex-girlfriend that is kidnapped by Korda.
Paul Ben-Victor, Art Evas (Die Hard 2) and Denis Arndt round out the cast.
While not a critical darling, Metro is an entertaining and engaging action thriller that showcases Eddie Murphy’s versatility as an actor. It’s a solid entry in the buddy cop genre, with a good mix of humor and suspense.
Eddie Murphy in Metro (Photo/Touchstone Pictures)
Reception for Metro
Metro grossed $11.4 million on its opening weekend, placing second behind Beverly Hills Ninja ($12.2 million) starring Chris Farley and ahead of Evita ($8.9 million) starring Madonna.
The film would gross $32 million in its theatrical run.
Roger Ebert gave the film three out of four stars in his review, saying “The movie works well on its chosen level. The big action scenes are cleverly staged and Eddie Murphy is back on his game again, with a high-energy performance and crisp dialogue.”
Russell Smith gave the film three stars in his Austin Chronicle review, saying “Having revived his moribund career with last year’s out-of-nowhere hit, The Nutty Professor, Eddie Murphy now attempts an even more ambitious artistic feat: reanimating the fly-blown carcass of the cop-buddy movie genre that he helped define with early-Eighties blockbusters like Beverly Hills Cop.”
Legacy
Metro is a fun and entertaining action thriller that holds up well. It’s a good choice for fans of the genre and those looking for an entertaining action-packed ride.
