Stuber

Stuber is a 2019 American action comedy film directed by Michael Dowse and written by Tripper Clancy. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox and stars Kumail Nanjiani as Stu, an enthusiastic Uber driver, and Dave Bautista as Vic Manning, a stressed LAPD detective. The premise centers on an improvised partnership between the two when Vic must rely on Stu to reach a criminal investigation, leading to a chaotic but humorous night through the city.

The film emphasizes the clash of personalities between the taciturn, cigarette-smoking detective and the talkative, well-meaning driver who is eager to help. Their unlikely alliance spirals into a road-trip-style chase as they pursue a dangerous suspect, blending action sequences with comic set pieces and banter. The dynamic is the central engine of the movie, with humor arising from cultural and generational differences, as well as the escalating stakes of the pursuit.

Stuber premiered in 2019 and was released theatrically in the United States on July 12, 2019. It received mixed reviews from critics, who generally praised the pairing of Nanjiani and Bautista and some of the action moments, while criticizing the plot as formulaic and relying on familiar buddy-cop tropes. The film had a production budget estimated around $40 million and grossed approximately $49 million worldwide, making it a modest box office performer for its genre and scale.

In summary, Stuber is characterized by its star-driven setup and its blend of action and humor, anchored by the contrast between its two leads and their evolving partnership during a single high-stakes night.