With a cast of Jimmy Fallon, Queen Latifah and Gisele Bundchen, Taxi doesn't seem promising. But after sharing several hearty laughs with the rest of the audience, I was convinced that the screwball comedy, NASCAR-like car chases and even the contrived plot could be entertaining enough to cure my skepticism. Taxi tells the story of Washburn, a pathetic New York cop (Jimmy Fallon, Anything Else) who is unusually anxiety-ridden behind the wheel. After totaling his third car and blowing a routine drug bust, not only does Washburn become the joke of the force, but he also loses his license and comes dangerously close to losing his job. While walking down the street, he happens to be the first one on the scene of a bank robbery. Car-less and desperate to redeem himself, Washburn uses his authority to commandeer a taxi, which happens to be driven by the feisty Belle (Queen Latifah, Bringing Down the House).

Despite Belle's insane driving, they fail to catch the robbers, played by four models and led by Bundchen's character, Vanessa. As a consequence of Washburn's reckless actions, he gets kicked off the force and Belle's car is confiscated. Wanting to prove his worth, Washburn strikes a deal with Belle, enlisting her help to catch the villains before the FBI, and, in exchange, he will get her taxi back. Hilarity ensues, as it becomes apparent that Belle is more capable of performing the duty of a policeman than Washburn is.

The movie includes several surprises and explanations that seem all too convenient but somehow work together well enough so there are few, if any loose ends still hanging come time for the credits. For example, the film begins following a stunt cyclist racing through the city, maneuvering swiftly through the Macy's perfume department and the subway, only to discover once the helmet is removed that the rider is in fact, Queen Latifah's character.

Her alliance with a group of young cyclists comes in handy later in the film during one of the many attempts at catching the villains. Washburn's incompetence as a cop and a person in general can be traced back to his living next door to his mother, who is predominantly portrayed cradling a blender of margarita mix as if it were a newborn baby. The film even accounts for Washburn's fear of driving, as his mother cheerfully relates his first driving lesson at six-years-old when his father, while on the freeway, promptly put his hands in the air and said to Washburn, "you'd better take the wheel or else you are going to kill the whole family."

The acting was mediocre, but luckily the plot and the action didn't require much talent. Fallon was successfully funny as the naive and inept Washburn, employing many of the comedic techniques he honed during his years as a member of the Saturday Night Live cast. Queen Latifah plays the character she always does-tough, loud-mouthed and witty-and, although it is cheesy at times, she manages to create a decent comedic rapport with Fallon.

Bundchen should probably stick to modeling. While her part didn't require much more than strutting her stuff, driving a nice car, giving smolderingly sexy looks and wielding a gun, I sincerely hope she takes to heart the failed cross-over attempts by Naomi Campbell and Tyra Banks.

Those who enjoy fast car chases and appreciate nice cars might enjoy this film. Both Belle and the robbers drive nice cars, a Crown Victoria and a BMW, respectively. While not as exciting as the stunts in The Fast and the Furious or as skillful as The Bourne Supremacy, Taxi was able to hold its own for an action-comedy. However, in order to enjoy the film, one had to be ready to suspend belief. Somehow, on the salary of a cab driver and a freakish knowledge of racecars, Belle was able to afford and equip her cab with the ability to transform into a NASCAR-worthy racecar with the press of a few buttons. While these modifications seemed technologically possible, they were more appropriate for the Bat-mobile than a New York taxicab.

Overall, Taxi is probably not worth seeing in the theater. Sadly enough, I discovered that some of the funniest moments appeared in the outtakes shown during the credits. But it is worth the viewing if only for a few good laughs, and I expect there will be some good deleted scenes included in the DVD release. The previews left me with low expectations, so I was surprised to leave the movie theater actually satisfied. I wouldn't quite compare Taxi to the likes of such recent gut-busting comedies as Anchorman or even to the fast-paced action of The Bourne Supremacy, but the film managed to hold its own.