This movie is generally being regarded as one of the better Chuck
Norrir flicks. I don't really have any other material to compare it to
but I can still see why some people would feel that way about this
movie. It's a genuinely good '80's genre flick, with an healthy amount
of cheese sprinkled over it.
This is actually being a movie in which Norris gets to do some real
acting. He isn't just constantly kicking and blasting people away but
he is playing a real compelling and likable character as well.
The story is a bit all over the place though, I admit to that. At times
I had no idea what was going on already but on the other hand, I also
couldn't really care about it anyway. It's just a movie you have to
take for what it is and don't think too much about its story or overall
credibility.
It's just being one of those movies I won't mind watching when it catch
it somewhere on TV, late at night, when I have nothing better to do.
It's definitely being an entertaining enough genre flick, though I'm
the first to admit that this is truly far from a great movie.
It's an obviously cheaply done film, without any true mind blowing
action or explosions in it but still I don't feel that the lovers of
action flicks would mind this all very much. There are still plenty of
moments to compensate, such as a couple of formulaic chase sequences
and shootouts. And I must say; Norris handles all of the action quite
well and he certainly has the right charisma, which is required for
these type of roles and this sort of movies.
A good movie to enjoy, if you won't be thinking too much about its
story or what is all going on in it.
Don't ask me why but when I was younger I would often watch this movie and the first one; "Stakeout". Of those two movies this is the one that has always stayed most in my mind.
Basically this movie is just great entertainment. Like all those type of movies from that period there isn't much to the story and the movie is all about its characters and actors playing them. Compare it to the 'Lethal Weapon' movies, minus all of the action.
This movie does have some fine characters and actors portraying them. Even better is the chemistry they all have. Richard Dreyfuss form Emilio Estevez a great 'buddy' cop duo and Rosie O'Donnell is also a fine addition to the two, basically since she is such a fine comedy actress. It also sort of makes you wonder why Richard Dreyfuss hasn't appeared in more comedy roles. He obviously has the talent and certainly the right timing for it. Guess he better wants to be remembered as a 'serious' actor and who can really blame him for that. The movie further more features Dennis Farina, Miguel Ferrer and Madeleine Stowe.
The movie is filled with some great comedy moments. that mostly, again, work out due to the characters and actors of the movie. The movie has some guaranteed laughs and make this a perfect typical 'no worries' movie. Just sit back and enjoy watching it!
It also shows that John Badham is actually a fine genre director! The timing is great and the pace, editing and positioning all make sure that the comedy in the movie works out even better.
It's too bad that the story just mostly distracts from the movie and its humor. It's just not anything solid, interesting or something that hasn't been done before. But then again, this is all quite typical for the genre and time period it was made in. Basically if you enjoyed one or more of the 'Lethal Weapons' movies, you'll surely enjoy this movie as well.
Guess the movie could had impressed some more by putting in some more and bigger action. The movie now feels quite simple and cheaply made at times, which at times becomes distracting but overall doesn't take away any of the fun of the movie.
(Review originally written at 11 March 2007) I absolutely loved this movie when it first came out. It has an amazing cast, a pleasant light way of storytelling and a cleverly written story, featuring some great stereotypical gangster-type of characters. So, ever wondered what would happen if gangster interfered with producing Hollywood movies? See "Get Shorty" if your curious about the result. It's an unusual original story about tough gangster put in an unnatural environment, who thinks that are making movies is the same as any other criminal activity. The movie is cleverly written with many different characters, that all follow one and the same plot line. All characters have different motivations but they are all cleverly connected to each other. The many characters often mix and meet each other in the events, which also causes all of their motivations to mix. The movie is really cleverly written and executed. It perhaps sounds like a complicated and hard movie to follow but it really is a light, great written and pleasant one to watch. The movie also works because of the many fine characters and of course the actors that portray them. Basically every character in the movie is deliciously stereotypical, from the Hollywood-producer to the stunt guy and from the successful acclaimed Hollywood actor to the mobster boss. The movie is well cast with actors that are obviously not cast because of their comical talents but purely because of their acting skills. The cast is one to kill for. John Travolta of course knows how to play a cool and likable gangster. Gene Hackman also plays one of his most fun roles as low-budget Hollywood producer, who thinks that he is going to make it big time. Danny DeVito is great as an Hollywood-actor and Dennis Farina, Delroy Lindo, Miguel Sandoval provide the good gangster parts of the movie. David Paymer also does what he can do best; playing a guy with a hat. The movie is filled with many more well known actors in small roles, such as Bette Midler and James Gandolfini and even small cameo appearances such as Harvey Keitel makes. Also mainly due to the movie its professional cast, this is not an hilarious type of movie but more the sort of movie that has a constant pleasant and light atmosphere that will surely put a smile on your face. The comedy is more of the subtle kind, that everybody should be able to appreciate. Nothing in the movie ever feels forced, no matter how crazy and mixed up the movie and its situations ever get. As far as the '90's go; this movie is about as cool as they could get. This movie was the definition of cool in the '90's, at the time of its release. Of course times have changed now but the movie still has an overall cool atmosphere and pleasant way of storytelling. It's a light fun movie to watch and re-watch over and over again. 8/10 Watch trailer
(Review originally written at 31 December 2006) This movie is excellent quality entertainment. It's cleverly written, with lots of side-plots and characters that all add to the fun and comedy of the movie. It's definitely true that the movie side-plots and character do tend to make the movie its plot unnecessary difficult to follow at times but all is forgiven really, since it are mostly that same side-plots and its characters in it that makes this movie perfectly good entertainment to watch. The movie is very well written and has a fun story, in which bounty hunter Jack Walsh (Robert De Niro) has to get a former mafia accountant (Charles Grodin) to L.A., to the bail bonder (Joe Pantoliano), the accountant jumped bail from. During that travel, Jack and the accountant are being chased themselves as well, by the Mafia, the F.B.I., another bounty hunter and a couple of other characters that cross their path. Sounds complicated? Don't worry! This movie also works well and entertaining with your brain switched off. This is thanks to the fun characters and actors that portray them, the good comical sequences and excellent written dialog. In essence "Midnight Run" is another mismatched buddy movie, like so many were made of, back in the '80's. This movie is better and definitely more entertaining than most of those movies due to the fact that the comedy feels non-forced and the story itself seems more clever and well written. The power of this movie is also in its casting. Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin are great together, mainly due to the fact that they are so different and really don't match. It makes the humor and interaction, also the more serious one, work out very well. Yaphet Kotto is also great in his role. He plays his character in a non-comedy way but his character, through it's seriousness, becomes very hilarious. I mean just the subtle thing, like the way he slams the door when he enters a room, is brilliant. Dennis Farina yet again plays a typical gangster role, like he can do best. Joe Pantoliano is also entertaining in an early role. The movie is well directed. Lots is happening in this movie, also with many different side-plots but the movie never strays away from its main plot. It makes the movie coherent and constant to watch, with a good quick pace. Too bad that with "Gigli" director Martin Brest threw away most of his credit as director. The movie is actually quite simple made. It doesn't feature an awful lot of action or complicated sequences. It makes "Midnight Run" a fun 'little movie' that offers some great entertainment. With all sequences shot on location, standard camera-work and a simple musical score. Fun, well made movie. 8/10 Watch trailer
Lots of things are going on in this movie but the movie itself provides very few laughs and overall nothing refreshing or memorable.
It's very obvious that the writers and director tried to make a movie in the same style as the successful British movies; "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch.". Of course there is nothing wrong with impersonating a movie its successful and refreshing style- and way of storytelling but in this particular case they took the style and storytelling to an horrible level.
Main problem is that the movie is too obvious. It tries to obvious and desperately to connect every story-line and character in the movie to each other. Everything feels forced and therefor none of the characters and comical situations really work out. Also a very major problem with this movie is that it simply isn't a funny one. Although the movie is somewhat fun and entertaining to watch, the humor in it never works out. Maybe it's because the way and style of American humor, in which everything is over-the-top and everything is highly unlikely, simply don't work out in this typical case of British storytelling. The movie is nowhere as subtle and its characters are nowhere as likable. Everything feel over-the-top and forced.
The story is just so ridicules and totally unbelievable that it becomes terribly uninteresting to follow. It also is probably somewhat due to the story, that most of the characters don't really work out.
Lots of crazy characters (too many) pop up in the movie and problem with them all is that they just aren't funny. They are being played by some good, well known actors in the movie but none of them makes an huge impression, due to the fact that there are simply too many characters are introduced in the movie that are all being tried to be given an own personality, likable level and a level of comedy. It all feels so forced. Every time a new character pops up in the movie, you just know that they are going to try to make him look as crazy and funny as possible. And this is not only the case with its characters but also in every single sequence. Every sequence has to be funny and has to have one or more jokes in it. It all is done way too obvious and forced, with as a result that the movie gets incredibly annoying to watch at times.
All of the good actors are simply wasted in this movie. Tom Sizemore, Stanley Tucci, DJ Qualls etc. they all deserve better than this. And who's bright idea was it to cast Tim Allen as the main lead? He is like the worst possible choice they could had made. He felt totally out of place in a comedy like this one and he certainly wasn't good enough to carry the entire movie. The movie is filled with some more strange casting choices that all feel terribly out of place.
Barry Sonnenfeld comedies are often lacking in good humor, consistency and likable and believable characters. This movie really is no exception. His movies often have an awkward sense of humor that has both its hits and misses. The way his movies are created make it really seem like the creators seriously thought they were making something brilliant but the end result always feels lacking. We as the viewer are the victim of this overconfident way of movie making.
The movie gets even more annoying to watch thanks to the musical score by James Newton Howard. It really is one of the most annoying musical score I have heard, the last couple of years.
I don't know, I guess the movie is still somewhat fun and entertaining but the movie has too many obvious and forced elements in it to call this movie completely a successful one, as pure entertainment. Instead it's a more annoying than funny movie to watch.
This is top-class entertainment. The movie is brilliantly constructed and has its own unique style. Both the story and characters are over-the-top and therefor also extremely fun.
This is a movie were basically is very little wrong with. It's some perfect mindless entertainment but with a complicated storyline. So it's still a sort of movie with a story, which you have to pay a lot of attention to, while watching. The movie is made in the same style as the previous Guy Ritchie movie, "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels". There are lots of similarities between these two movies, so if you liked "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" you'll most likely also really like this movie as well.
Main difference with "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" though, is that this movie has a 'bigger' cast with some more well known names in it. Jason Statham who made his debut in "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" plays the main character in this movie. Brad Pitt plays a very fun role and fits surprisingly well into the typical British storyline and atmosphere of the movie. Also well known actors like Benicio Del Toro and Dennis Farina fit in very well into the story and the movie in general. But perhaps the biggest positive surprise of the movie was Vinnie Jones. He had been given quite some dialog in this movie and he shows that he really can act. Most movies he plays in, he is given very little dialog, a shame because judging by just this movie, he is a very talented actor.
Maybe the movie becomes a bit too complex at times, which is mainly due to the very many characters that play a prominent role in the story. It perhaps gets a bit too much at times but overall it doesn't make the movie any less fun to watch, just more (too much) complicated.
The movie has some very fun and original moments in the story, even though the movie is a bit too similar to "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" at times. Which is also the main reason why I still regard "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" as a better movie. It came first and therefor it's more original and refreshing. Basically "Snatch." is just more of the same. Not that more of the same is a bad thing in this case but it's just of course not as refreshing and original as with "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" was the case.
If you like a well constructed movie with a solid and complex story told from multiple points of views this is a sort of movie that you'll love. Also highly recommendable if you liked "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels", of course. I don't mind seeing more movies like this being made.
