He casts power-star African American Bobby Mason (LL Cool J), a recent convert to Judaism, in the title role and, after some creative wrangling with studio big-wigs and feisty project developer Deidre Hearn (Meg Ryan), whom he is instantly attracted to, he proceeds to set up production in South Africa. Charlie then lies to the studio, saying Bobby insists Deidre, who has purposely avoided Charlie, be sent to South Africa to assist on the production. She arrives, and she and Charlie eventually 'hook-up'. After Bobby is kidnapped by terrorists during the shoot, and the film is shut down, Deidre hatches a scheme to produce Lionel's original script on the 'Q.T.'. Using financing that must stay in Prague, Charlie and Deidre manage to film Lionel's original movie there, which goes on to receive seven Golden Globe nominations, making Charlie and Deidre the newest power couple producers in Hollywood.
No relation to the 2003 HBO television drama about Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
This film contains examples of:
- Bavarian Fire Drill: Charlie's bread and butter when it comes to convincing people to go along with him. That and Refuge in Audacity.
- Clothing Damage: Specified in the script for Fiona's character, but she manages to get it changed to her ripping her shirt off to bandage the arm of Bobby's character.
- Disposable Fiancé: It doesn't take long for Deidre to decide to cheat on her fiancé and, by the end of the movie, she's dumped him entirely. Although, it is implied partway through that she might have been stringing him along simply because he's rich.
- Informed Judaism: For all practical purposes, Bobby. Bobby occasionally insists on a particular Jewish tradition, but it's made obvious that his "conversion" has more to do with headlines than any actual interest in the religion. His rabbi doesn't come off much better.
- Interrupted Suicide: Twice, on Charlie's part.
- The Oner: Apparently the "signature shot" of Levy, the producer. He manages two of them and they both succeed on the very first take.
- Stunt Double/Talent Double: In-Universe. After 126 failed takes where she throws the grenade "like a girl", we see a shot of Fiona throwing her the grenade in proper action film manner. Then, "she" turns around and it's a bearded man in a wig pulled in so they could move on to the next take.
- Where da White Women At?: The studio vetoes sex scenes between Bobby and Fiona's characters because "it still makes some people uncomfortable".
