Reno 911!: Miami

Directed by: Ben Garant

Starring: Thomas Lennon

Genre: Comedy

Run Time: 84 min.

Release Date: February 2007

On The Web: Official Site

Teaser: Movie Trailer

Reviewed by Byron Merritt

The Reno Sheriff’s Department has graduated to the big screen, and for those who love the Comedy Central TV series, you’re in for more sexual innuendo, more ineptness, and plenty of pithy bathroom comedy moments you’ve come to expect from this unique band of brothers (and sistas!)

This time, though, Reno’s finest have been invited (mistakenly) to the U.S. Sheriff’s convention in Miami. All of our favorites plan to attend, too. The sashaying Lieutenant Dangle (Thomas Lennon, CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER WOMEN) with his exceptionally tight shorts and flagging leadership. Deputy Trudy Wiegel (Kerri Kenney) and her childish IQ and confused feelings for Dangle. Deputy James Garcia (Carlos Alazraqui) and his overly protective racial-ness. Deputy Clementine Johnson (Wendi McLendon-Covey) and her exposed bosom that attracts men like moths to a flame. Deputy S. Jones (Cedric Yarborough), probably the most ept of the inept but continuing to fall in with this depraved crowd and, not surprising, for Clementine. Depute Raineesha Williams (Niecy Nash), a large booty woman who’s attraction to Jones is never realized because he’s after Clementine. Deputy Travis Junior (Ben Garant) who’s only a small step up on the IQ scale from Trudy Wiegel and constantly fails to accomplish anything. And finally deputy Kimball (Mary Birdsong) who’s denial of her sexual orientation baffles the rest of her department; she’s tough and walks like a man.

This dangerous crew heads to Miami only to learn that they were not invited. Ticked beyond belief, they are forced to find lodging at a bottom rung motel. Drinking heavily and trying to fondle each other (but, failing that, themselves) the crew soon learns that a terrorist attack has taken place at the convention center, leaving them (Reno’s “finest”) as the only law enforcement folks in the greater Miami area.

Thrashing everything Miami turns out to be the best our wayward cops can do. Destroying police cars. Disabling dispatch centers. Watching citizens get eaten by gators. There’s nothing their not ready to let happen!

There’s a weaker subplot that unfolds throughout the story (related to the acting Mayor and a local drug czar) but it is fairly scatterbrained.

For those hoping for any type of cohesive story, you’re not going to find it. It is more like a long episode of Reno 911 than a film. Short gag jokes rule, including surprise visits from characters on the TV show that popped in from out of nowhere.

It’s still a damn funny film, just not as good as it could have been.

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Images from Reno 911!: Miami