Eddie Murphy does keep testing our patience by trying to expand his cinematic horizons. For some reason, he is the only person on the entire planet who can rescue a magically gifted child from the clutches of evil kidnappers. A detective who specializes in locating lost children, he is chosen by a Tibetan princess to lead a rescue mission that will save the world from the clutches of Old Nick.

Murphy was at the height of his career, having enjoyed his first box-office crest when he attempted this more dramatic role. If his career survived the gamble, it certainly was not because of the lackluster script, mediocre production values, or leaden performance of costar Charlotte Lewis. Not that Murphy does much with his role, either. He mugs for the camera and his timing is off in both dramatic and comedic moments. Stick with his earlier triumphs, or explore his subsequent return to confident comedy turns in The Nutty Professor. -- Rochelle O'Gorman