Film Review: Delivery Man

Undated Film Still Handout from Delivery Man. Pictured: Vince Vaughn. See PA Feature FILM Film Reviews. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Entertainment One. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature FILM Film Reviews.

Occasionally though, the same creative force takes the helm for both versions.

In 1993, Dutch director George Sluizer adapted his gripping 1988 thriller Spoorloos for American audiences and delivered The Vanishing starring Kiefer Sutherland and Sandra Bullock.

Japanese director Takashi Shimizu cast Sarah Michelle Gellar in a reworking of his supernatural horror Ju-on: The Grudge while Oscar-winning Austrian director Michael Haneke revisited Funny Games with Michael Pitt and Brady Corbet as the psychopathic youths, who wreak havoc during a home invasion.

Two years ago, French-Canadian filmmaker Ken Scott charmed critics and audiences with his bittersweet comedy Starbuck.

He remains in the director’s chair for this brasher remake, which transplants the action from Montreal to the mean streets of Manhattan.

In most other respects, Delivery Man is the identical twin of its predecessor, repeating scenes virtually word for word in an effort to recreate the winning formula.

A romantic subplot feels underpowered second time around but does thankfully find leading man Vince Vaughn in restrained form.