Bowfinger (1999)

The frantic scheme to film a star without his knowledge makes low-budget resourcefulness and Hollywood vanity feed each other. Eddie Murphy's two performances have distinct comic rhythms, and Steve Martin's director keeps finding a business justification for the next outrageous shortcut. The craft survives the period's industry references because the desire to look successful is doing most of the work. Its treatment of an aspiring actress can still feel sour; the strongest reason to return is the ensemble's escalating, absurdly practical problem-solving.