CHINESE Actress, Gong Li, steals the show with a subtle performance in this action film with an international star-studded cast.

Her love interest, Crockett (Colin Farrell), comes across as a cartoon character in comparison, with comedy handlebar moustache and fixed serious expression throughout.

Jamie Foxx, who won Best Actor in the 2004 Oscars, gives a steely performance as Tubbs and British actress, Naomie Harris, imbues her character, Trudy, with depth, portraying a complexity of emotions. It is a shame though that both female characters, although strong at first, expose their vulnerability and become victims in this film, whilst the men prowl around with cold exteriors and do nothing to bring humanity to their characters.

Miami Vice, an update on the cult 80s TV show, follows the exploits of vice cops Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs as they go undercover to expose the inner workings of the Miami drugs world.

Miami Vice 2006 is a world away from the 1980s MTV-style cops show that became renowned for the fashion and its music video quality, showcasing Miami as a sexy, sun-drenched, fast-moving city.

Michael Mann, executive producer of the original show, chose to direct the big screen version and in doing so 20 years on has brought the perspective of the city up to date, with grainy digital film and a skyline that seems to be constantly threatening a storm.

The action scenes are well executed and evoke a realism that is missing from many Hollywood blockbusters and there is a tangible tension throughout. As with the TV show, Crockett and Tubbs tread a dangerous line between emulating criminals and becoming them, which gives an interesting insight into the world of undercover work.

But Miami Vice lacks conviction.

Never do we see our two heroes enter an office building, or write up a report, or be chastised by a superior.

These two, it would seem, are a law unto themselves and it is difficult at times to understand their motivation. The plot is patchy in places and our main protagonists two-dimensional.

I was left wanting to know more about the men behind the heroes. What happens when they go home? What makes them laugh? Because no-one could hold such a furrowed brow for long in real life.

Unless they had a serious mishap with Botox!

  • See it at UCI, Odeon