Today’s quick review: Osmosis Jones. Frank (Bill Murray), a slovenly zookeeper, puts his life in danger when he eats an egg tainted with Thrax (Laurence Fishburne), a deadly virus with a plan to kill its host within 48 hours. Osmosis Jones (Chris Rock), a disgraced white blood cell, teams up with Drix (David Hyde Pierce), an over-the-counter cold medication, to stop Thrax’s plan and save Frank’s life.
Osmosis Jones is an animated family crime comedy set in a fictionalized version of the human body. Anthropomorphic cells work hard to keep Frank up and running, in spite of his atrocious diet and bad lifestyle choices. Osmosis Jones follows the buddy cop formula, with Frank’s immune system serving as the police department. The movie has a clever premise that serves as a fruitful source of humor, but its offbeat style and shallow plot hold it back.
The best aspect of Osmosis Jones is its setting. Every scene shows off a new part of Frank’s body, from the new arrivals at the stomach to the control center in the brain. The movie has a knack for matching up the locations in a city with Frank’s organs, and it delivers a constant stream of puns, medical humor, and sight gags. And while the action is not a major selling point, Jones’ amorphous body leads to some creative chases and fights.
However, Osmosis Jones has a few things holding it back. The movie is crude by nature, packed with bodily humor and adult references. The art style and subject matter have none of the cuteness seen in other family films; the animation is mainly there for sight gags and cartoon physics, not to capture something beautiful. Meanwhile, the plot never ventures far from the buddy cop formula, and its emotional arc falls a little short.
Osmosis Jones is a curiosity that the right viewer will find entertaining. It does not have the sharp writing, elaborate plot, or emotional depth of the best family films, but it does bring to life a fairly original premise. Fans of the offbeat side of the genre will find that it’s worth checking out. But those looking for a more fulfilling, family-friendly adventure may want to approach with caution.
For an animated family comedy with a similar flavor of humor, try Robots or Shark Tale. For a more emotionally laden depiction of the inner workings of a peron, try Inside Out. For a live action cop comedy with a bit more punch, try Lethal Weapon or Beverly Hills Cop.
[6.3 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181739/). I give it a 6.5 for a creative premise with some rough edges.