The Man is a 2005 American action-comedy film directed by Les Mayfield. The film follows ATF Special Agent Vann (Samuel L. Jackson) as he looks for the man who killed his partner. A case of mistaken identity leads to him teaming up with dental supplies salesman Andy Fiddler (Eugene Levy), who asks too many questions and generally makes Vann's mission harder.
The film also stars Miguel Ferrer, Luke Goss, Anthony Mackie, Susie Essman, and Gigi Rice.
Not to be confused with the 1964 novel by Irving Wallace, or its 1972 film adaptation.
Tropes for the film:
- Actor Allusion: At one point, Vann tries to offer Andy "a tasty burger".
- Do You Trust Me?: Briefly used as Derrick Vann tells Officer Santos that he needs the money so that he can fool the criminals in his operation. Santos reluctantly gives in. He gets more upset the second time when he needs the money for the captain to check on. Derrick then reminds Santos that he can trust Derrick and that Derrick has never given him a reason to distrust him. He trust Derrick and gives him an extension. Derrick asks, "Where the love, Dawg?"
- Internal Affairs: Derrick is a Cowboy Cop who is being investigated by IA after his partner turned out to be corrupt and was killed by a criminal. The IA investigator believes that corrupt cops usually have corrupt partners. He ends up leaving satisfied that he was wrong after Vann returns the money he borrowed for a sting operation.
- Last-Second Word Swap: Andy Fiddler tries to get Vann to stop cursing so much: "Oh, fffor crying out loud!"
- Shot in the Ass: Has Agent Vann getting shot in the ass, where in the next scene, he tries to get on a plane, but a metal detector prevents him from doing so because the bullet is permanently lodged.
- Smart Cop, Dumb Cop: The film plays with this. Derrick Vann is special agent in the middle of a very important sting operation to try and nab the person who had killed his partner (it doesn't help that the rest of the task force think he did it, since he hates everybody and everything), though unfortunately, a case of mistaken identity and being in the wrong place at the wrong time drags out-of-town dental supplies salesman Andy Fiddler into the operation. Vann reluctantly and begrudgingly accepts Andy as a temporary new partner. However, because Andy has little clue as to what's going on, or what Vann's plans are, almost every move Vann tries to make is bungled by Andy in some way or form, bringing them two steps back in cracking the case.
- White Bread and Black Brotha: Agent Vann is a black Cowboy Cop on a Roaring Rampage of Revenge. Andy is a meek and awkward dental supply salesman.
