Description

Bill and Stan are mistaken for murderers while on vacation. Bill's family sends his cousin, Vinny Gambini, to defend them in his first case as a lawyer. Vinny's girlfriend, Mona Lisa Vito, joins him to help win the case because of a promise he made to her that he would marry her when he won his first case. Marisa Tomei won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in this film. ... Read more

Reviews (92)

You Can Still Call Me Gambini...
My Cousin Vinny is one of the funniest flicks ever. Take Joe Pesci, the hilarious little Italian fella and put him with the beautiful Marisa Tomei, and you got a great combo and a laugh-riot movie. Pesci, is Vinny, Brooklyn-born lawyer, who ain't the perfect lawyer--but has a lot of heart. His wife-to-be, Mona Lisa Vito, helps out Vin when he's down... and they are both down--wayyyy down south in Alabama, defending his wrongfully accused murder suspect cousin (played by Karate Kid, Ralph Macchio in a great role), and his buddy. Italians and non-Italians will love this Pesci flick--it ranks right up there with GoodFellas & Casino anyday. Tomei won an Oscar, and why not, she's dead-on balls accurate as a New Yawker--and damn cute too! Great video. Buy it today, I guarentee you a thousand laughs.

South Brooklyn meets The South
Subtly employing the city mouse/country mouse theme, MY COUSIN VINNY is a light-hearted courtroom comedy. While it occasionally stoops to some stereotyping, the movie doesn't do so mean-spiritedly. In any event, both sides get equal skewering.

Vinny Gambini, brilliantly portrayed by Joe Pesci, is a Brooklyn boy who has finally passed the Bar (after repeated failures) and now finds himself defending his nephew and his nephew's friend against murder charges in the Bible Belt. Along with his too beautiful fiancee, played by Academy Award Winner Marissa Tomei, Pesci investigates the southern style of life, as he fathoms southern courtroom procedures and tries to get some sleep. The resulting clash of cultures is sometimes predictable, but honestly, is very inventive for the most part.

The comedy of the court room scenes is heightened by the late Fred Gwynne who plays the presiding judge. His by-the-book habits and short-fused temper are a perfect foil to Vinny's laconic style. It is their interaction that feeds most of the cultural clashing. But there is also a clash of the sexes that underlies the film, as Vinny stubbornly refuses the help of his fiancee. This confrontation is also highlighted in the courtroom when the DA refuses to believe that she could possibly be considered an expert in automechanics, even though her brothers, her father, her uncles, and just about everyone else in her family are expert mechanics. (The DA becomes convinced in a wonderful cross-interview scene.)

MY COUSIN VINNY was both critically well-received and a huge box-office success. There's a reason for that: it is a well-written, well-directed and perfectly acted comedy that stands up well even after repeated viewings. See it for yourself and you'll understand why, too.

My Cousin Vinny (1992)
In 1992, My Cousin Vinny was the one movie that made everybody laugh until their sides split. I've been watching the film ever since it was released and all I did was laugh my rear-end off. Twelve years have gone by since the film was released and I'm still laughing today. Any actor or actress can get a rise out of you if they knew the right way to do it, but nobody can get a rise of you the way Joe Pesci does in this film; nobody can do it they way Marisa Tomei does in this film.

When two college buddies by the names of Bill (played by Ralph Macchio) and Stan (Mitchell Whitford) are driving down the roads of Beecham County, Alabama, they are suddenly arrested for the murder of a grocery store clerk, but what the police of Alabama don't know is that Bill and Stan are completely innocent. Unable to afford a public attorney, Bill turns to his cousin, Vincent Gambini (played by Joe Pesci), an ex-auto-mechanic turned lawyer from Brooklyn, New York, who just past his bar exam after failing it the first five times and knows absolutely nothing about law. By his side is his beautiful fiancee, Lisa Vito (played by Marisa Tomei, in her Oscar-winning role), who is an out-of-work hairdresser that knows every damn thing there is to know about cars. The court is led by Judge Chamberlain Haller (played by the late Fred Gwyne), who has absolutely no patience for any kind of misbehavior in his courtroom. Seems as though Vinny has now finally realized his no longer in New York and is now in a state where no one gets away with any kind of behavior or crime and has finally met his match. Can Vinny pull his cousin out of this mess without screwing up the case? Watch My Cousin Vinny as he desperately tries to save his little cousin while he gives you non-stop laughter along the way.

Northern Lawyer meets Southern Justice - unexpected results!
Joe Pesci and Marisa Tormei are both an absolute scream in this movie. The sparks fly between Pesci and girlfriend Tormei, as well as between Pesci and Fred Gwynne's Chamberlain Holler, an Alabama Judge. I had dreaded seeing it - the television ads almost made me cringe as I anticipated a film which would bash southern rednecks. What I had NOT anticipated was that a story could be told about a couple of New Yorkers falsely charged and locked up in an Alabama jail that could be resolved in a way that justice could be served and the southerners would be portrayed in a way that was not at all stereotypical. I can think of no other plot that has as one of its essential elements a comparison of the amount of time required to properly cook grits. "No self-respecting southerner would make instant grits" a character proclaims from the witness stand during the trial that is the centerpiece of this witty screenplay, and the other southerners in the film's jury nod their heads in understanding. Fred Gwynne is light-years away from Herman Munster as the wise southern judge who is out for justice, but not to be trifled with. Ralph Macchio and Mitchell Whitfield have little to do other than look worried that Ralph's Cousin Vinny isn't going to come through and save the day. At less than 10 bucks, I'd buy this DVD if only to watch Tormei's hilarious response when Pesci tells her that he has been invited to go deer hunting with the Lane Smith's District Attorney.

Mike Hint
i think that this movie was one of the best movies i have ever seen. Joe Pesci was the right person for this movie he played a great and convincing roll. I like the way that the writer of the movie made Joe Pesci not know what he is doing so he had to learn so his cousin didnt go to jail. I loved the twists and turns that made you think. All in all this was a great movie and i would reccomend you to see this. ... Read more

Reviews (138)

A solid comedy and a substantial DVD
Super Troopers presents itself as an odd goofball comedy that has only one real purpose- to make you laugh. Thankfully, the movie fulfills this promise, and how.

Generally, movies scripted by comedy troupes can be trusted to entertain. A look at Monty Python and the Holy Grail or the Kids in the Hall's Brain Candy should validate this point. Broken Lizard (the fledgling troupe behind Super Troopers) continue this tradition of hilarious skits centered around a simple plot.

The basic premise of the film involves Vermont Highway Patrol troopers who, due to the lack of crime, find creative ways of alleviating their boredom- mainly, messing with pulled-over drivers (such as the should-be-famous "meow" scene) and brawling with the local police force.

The jokes constantly remain fresh, and the film even manages to defy the greatest of comedy film curses by never getting boring. Super Troopers is also loaded with some great gags and one-liners not appropriate enough for advertising. (Such as any scene involving the Germans, each one of them greatly funny.)

The DVD is, while not great, definately good. A substantial amount of extras are included containing several extended scenes, and alternate ending, outtakes, trailers, and shameless promotions. (The outtakes aren't what you think they are, and, I'll admit, are a little boring, but stick through it because the Farva Puking segment is priceless.)

Also included are two commentary tracks featuring members of Broken Lizard, the standard scene selections, and some rather impressive menus. (On the main menu, just watch for 30-40 seconds for the butterfly- you'll thank me.)

To sum up, Super Troopers is exactly what it tries to show itself as- nothing groundbreaking or innovational, but still an incredibly smart, and most importantly, fun comedy.

This Entertaining Low Budget Comedy is a Hit.
In a Small Vermont town, A Bunch of Slackers Police Highway Patrolmen (Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter & Erik Stolhanske) decide to pull off Pranks an Unsuspecting People on the Highway, since it's their last week on the Job. But when they find the Opportunity to solve a Real Crime that involves Drugs and Murder. These inept Highway Patrolmen have their last chance to save their Jobs before another Vermont's Patrol Jerks take it over.

Directed by Jay Chandrasekhar (Club Dread) made a low-brow, highly funny comedy. It's shows that Chandrasekhar wanted to make a smart Police Academy comedy with doses of Farrelly Brothers humour and it's works. This independent comedy did well in theaters in the winter of 2002 to find better success on Video. While the lead cast are Unknowns, the film also starts in Supporting Roles are:Brian Cox, Daniel Van Bargen and Marisa Coughlan. DVD has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) transfer and an terrific-Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. DVD has two commentaries by the director, cast/writers of the film. DVD also has Deleted Scenes with/without Commentaries by the director and cast/writes, featurette and trailers. Do not miss this hilarious comedy that becomes a instant Cult Classic. Written by the Broken Lizard gang, which they are the five lead cast of the film. Lynda Carter from the TV's Wonder Woman fame has a Cameo here. Grade:A.

I lost my kidney because of this one
ok first of all if your going to review anything at all, than maybe you should get the name of the moive right. but i wont mention any name couph Hadi. With that out of the way we can begin to understand just why this movie was so great
1. they all pass for cops
2. It pokes fun at the cops of the real world and no one likes them.
3. last of all its just funny
No this movie will probably not change your life or make you think deep thoughts but its funny as hell. thats exactly what the purpose of the moive was right? to make us the crowd sitting in a theatre stuffing candy down our faces to bust a gut. dont take it for what its not is what it boils down to in the end.

The Louisville Smuggler
Although the type of comedy that is in this film went over my head the first time, I watched it again and again. And it just kept getting funnier. I really love this movie and plan on buying it soon. If you like silly humor, where you sometimes have to dig a little deeper for the jokes, definitely see this! It's worth it.

Can I get a liter of cola?
Super Troopers is one of the funniest movies I've seen, but it lacks something that would make it perfect. The jokes are funny enough and create plenty of fodder for repeated lines, but they're just a bit too spaced out, creating a real pacing problem that would be the downfall of any decent comedy. The funny parts are above and beyond any "decent comedy," though, thus earning Super Troopers a coveted spot in the land of excellent comedy films. Plus, it's got a great soundtrack. I'm looking forward to more work from the Broken Lizard guys (Club Dread was a tad disappointing, but if they're actually working on the project Jay was talking about in the Onion's AV Club a few months ago, they will completely redeem themselves). Check this one out if you like to laugh. ... Read more

Reviews (43)

Great movie, not-so-great DVD
Peter Sellers was one of the most gifted comic actors of the 1960s and 1970s; Inspector Clouseau was his most beloved role. Blake Edwards, the film's director and creator, was a master of both subtle humor and slapstick. For these reasons, The Return of the Pink Panther is a true classic for many of us. It's a movie that never fails to leave me in a great mood. However, as other reviewers have noted, there are some serious issues with the DVD. I purchased it (and am glad I did) because I didn't have a VHS copy of the film. To be honest, I don't know what advantage this particular DVD can offer versus a VHS, since there are no real extras here, and no choice between widescreen and full screen (and no anamorphic widescreen!). I sincerely hope that this film is reissued in the future, complete with outtakes and remastered sound, and treated with the respect it deserves.

More Important for what it accomplished
The best thing about this film is that it returned Peter Sellers to the role of Inspector Jacques Clouseau under Blake Edwards' direction after Alan Arkin's single portrayal in 1968's INSPECTOR CLOUSEAU directed by Bud Yorkin. More importantly it did not only return Sellers but it also instituted the Pink Panther and Sellers as Inspector Clouseau in a legitimate film series instead of just a few sporadic sequels and it launched a huge cinematic rebirth and phenomenon. Unfortunately this film seems to lack the magic of 1964's THE PINK PANTHER and the sophistication of A SHOT IN THE DARK. Christopher Plummer replaced David Niven as Sir Charles Lytton in this film. Plummer is good but it seems a shame since Niven reprised his role later in 1982's TRAIL OF THE PINK PANTHER and 1983's CURSE OF THE PINK PANTHER, which were made after Sellers' death (in 1980) in an attempt to revive the series without him. Catherine Schell as Claudine Litton lacked the charisma of earlier leading ladies Capucine and Elke Sommer. On the plus side, Sellers is brilliant as Clouseau as are Herbert Lom as Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus and Burt Kwouk as Kato back and featured prominently in the rest of all the subsequent Pink Panther films. Much needed and returning is a score composed by Henry Mancini a very integral component of this series. THE RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER has some very good comic sketches and a very good opening jewel heist but the script just doesn't seem to be a very cohesive force. However, better things were yet to come. As for the DVD, the quality is just average. For me, the picture quality is just too soft. The MGM prints of the other Pink Panther films on DVD are much crisper.

DA DUM DA DUM, DA DUM, DA DUM DA DUM DA DUM...
Has there ever been a more catchy theme than Mancini's "Pink Panther?" I can't think of any off hand, and in this third entry in the Clouseau series, the music and the animated panther are back in fine form.
Mainly a vehicle for the superb Peter Sellers, this sequel is tired in plot, and struggles for some of its laughs, but one cannot deny the superlative hijinks of Sellers as the impossibly inept Inspector Clouseau. He has so many brilliant moments, it's hard to think of them all, but Sellers is in top form. Christopher Plummer and Catherine Schell do okay, but Herbert Lom and Burt Kwouk as Dreyfuss and Kato are outstanding in their supporting roles. Lom's slow decline into mental illness is hilarious in its cartoonish way, and Kato's fights with Sellers are priceless.
It's an entertaining if inconsequential movie, but I had lots of fun watching it!!

Fair to middlin' sequel
The movie had a few humorous moments, but I found some of it tedious. Cato and Dreyfus are still a riot. though. Cato and Clouseau have their karate fights, culminating in Cato dressing as a Japanese waitress. Clouseau finally drives Dreyfus into the nuthouse after Dreyfuss repeatedly shoots himself with a cigarette lighter.

I still prefer "A Shot in the Dark" and think it is the best of the series. I did not care for the original "Pink Panther" as I found it unfunny.

Although the picture was not razor-sharp, it is not as bad as the one-star whiners would have you believe. With minimal extras, if you don't have high expectations, then the low-priced DVD may be worth your time.

Inspector Clouseau strikes again...

Peter Sellers is great as Inspector Clouseau, with his mispronunciations and bumbling, especially when teamed up with Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus (Herbert Lom), who hates him.

The wonderful David Niven, of course, is gone from the series, but is replaced by Christopher Plummer as Sir Charles Lytton (The Phantom).

Both Lom and Sellers are a great comedy team and provide a laugh a minute, as they try to catch a jewel thief in Lugash.

I suggest you see the whole pink panther series.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

... Read more

Amazon.com

Bumbling cop Washburn (Jimmy Fallon) is a terrible driver who loses his license and so recruits reluctant Belle (Queen Latifah) and her souped-up mega-cab after he stumbles onto a team of supermodel bank robbers. Several klutzy encounters and high-speed car chases ensue. If this sounds to you like the obvious result of a Hollywood pitch session ("Hey, let's pair some guy from Saturday Night Live with a tough-talking African-American and set them after babes on wheels!"), you're right; it doesn't mean, however, that you won't get in a few decent laughs before director Tim (Barbershop) Story's amiable time-killer falls into a steaming pile of would-be blockbuster buddy film cliches. The ever-ingratiating Latifah has long since proved her star charisma, and Fallon does an amusingly offhand parody of failed machismo. They're clearly having a good time together, and you could do worse than their company. There isn't a frame here that isn't cheaply recycled from some other lame action comedy, but if you grit your teeth for the very bumpy ride, you'll come out without too many scratches.--Steve Wiecking ... Read more

Reviews (54)

ha ha jay!!! This film is crap
I have a friend called Jason o' Byrne and he loves this film... i just wanted to say...Jay this film is REALLY BAD!!!

But the models are bleedin animal lookin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fast, Funny and enjoyable
I found this movie to be a good laugh even so it wasn't brilliant as some parts where just dam right stupid. But I think that Jimmy Fallon and Queen Latifah kept this film above water as they where a good team against crime. The storyline is pretty straight forward, Fallon is playing the role of a cop who is a terrible driver and ends up losing his licence by driving his car into a store window and killing a partite. City banks are being robbed around the streets of New York by 4 women who are super models. This is where queen Latifah comes into the picture, as she is a cab driver who helps Fallon out as he can't drive any more.

This film is not a Oscar winning but it's something easy to watch as there are a few laughs their and than. I found it to be pleasing to the point of saying its just OK. I thought Jimmy Fallon was a pretty funny guy as this was his first real movie. I am looking forward to seeing his new movie with Drew Barrymore in Fever Pitch.

Taxi runs outta gas real quick
Wow this is a stupid movie. Jimmy Fallon annoys the hell outta me, I don't like Jennifer Espositio either, and the super model thieves had cheesy dialogue. And the plot was stupid. Queen Latifah is super talented but she couldn't even save this movie. What were her, Henry Simmons, and Christian Kane thinking accepting the roles that they accepted? This movie ran on empty from start to finish. A big pile of garbage!

funny movie
this movie was great! Queen Latifa and Jimmy fallen should make more movies together. every funny. I gave it 3 stars cause i feel a few parts were slow. but overall a great movie.

PIECE OF GARBAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i would rather get a root canal without novicane than see this piece of cinematic garbage again! and i rated it 1 star because there is no zero or negative rating. ... Read more

Reviews (76)

A tokin' cult classic
For those of you who grew up in the 70's, Cheech & Chong where the Laurel & Hardy or Abbott & Costello of those times. Seeing this film in DVD is a joy, since I must have seen it on tape more than a 100 times, till it was unwatchable. Now, for the first time we can see the film in it's original panoramic (widescreen) format, and for those who saw it before on tape, you'll see all you've missed before. The copy is pristine clear, and it includes a load of deleted scenes, some actually funnier than what we saw on the original run of the film. Included on those missing scenes, is the infamous one featuring Harry Dean Stanton, who doesn't remember ever appearing in a Cheech & Chong film. Plus there is an audio commentary by Cheech himself and Lou Adler, the director, who prior to this, had never directed a film before. You'll be astonished to learn how much this film influenced other people, guys like Quentin Tarantino, for example, not to mention the numerous rock groups who grew up watching this guys and re-recorded their music. All in all, a real pleasure to discover this seminal gem from the 70's, given it's full use or advantage on DVD. If you saw this guys' films way back then, do yourself a favor, and get hold of this DVD. For those too young to remember them, but who heard of them from an older brother or "stoner" uncle, get hold of it and discover what kept us laughing during those daze, er, uh, days. Filmakers of today, take notice that films can be made without a million cuts per second and only with long continous shots.

Plot-Free Pot-Fest -- Big Whoop about Very Little!
Definitely DATED, this film has 70s "High Times" written all over it. These guys have not much more than "pot" on their brain. All jokes lead to the same subject...dope, man!

Cheech and Chong, already celebrated novelty song artists with several best-selling albums to their credit just had to take their "message" to the next level. "Up In Smoke" gave them plenty of exposure and secured a solid fandom. 25 years later, though, the laughs drop drastically on the dime-bag-scale.

When I was still in high school (and I didn't give in to the smoking of anything, then or now), I may have enjoyed this sort of nonsense more. As a middle aged intellectual, I can offer only a few tired smirks. Give me Laurel & Hardy instead!**

best stoner movie ever!
hello cheech and chong fans i may only be a teenager but i have been a fan for like 4 years now and this is the funniest movie i have ever seen might be the best comedy ever!.and if ypur going to order a cheech and chong movie get this one but if i were you and you had some money to spend buy all of them and all of there cd's.and im so glad chong is finaly out of prison and to all of you die hard c and c fans the new cheech and chong movie is going to start production in september chong and cheech were both on jay leno on july 9th so there back together for awhile. anyways dont get to high later.

THIS IS A PARODY, DON'T YOU PEOPLE GET IT?
This film does not advocate drug use, this film, and Cheech and Chong's act are parodies of people who do drugs. If anything it takes every stereo type of all kinds of drug users and makes fun of them. If you watch this movie again and think about what I have said you will actually think this film is even funnier than you did before. I have known most of these types of people and think this movie is halarious, one of the funniest films ever made and I do not do drugs.

ALL Pot and NO Plot makes this ONE DULL MOVIE!
Campy trip back to the smoky 70s. Definitely DATED, this film has "High Times" written all over it. These guys have not much more than "pot" on their brain. All jokes lead to the same subject...dope, man!

Cheech and Chong had already enjoyed celebrity as novelty song artists with several best-selling albums to their credit. This effort of "Smokin' Dope - The Movie" takes their "message" to the next level. "Up In Smoke" gave them plenty of exposure and secured a solid fandom. 25 years later, though, the laughs drop drastically on the dime-bag-scale.

When I was still in high school (and I didn't give in to the smoking of anything, then or now), I may have enjoyed this sort of nonsense more. As a middle aged intellectual, I can offer only a few tired smirks. Give me Laurel & Hardy instead!** ... Read more

Description

Two trigger-happy cops try to stop the distribution of mind-rotting Wilderness Girl cookies. Starring Emilio Estevez, Kathy Ireland and Samuel L. Jackson. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

A Typical Lampoon Movie!
Hilarious from start to finish, this movie lampoons pretty much any action movie which includes Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, Basic Instinct, Silence of the Lambs, and even Wayne's World. It tells the story of detectives Colt and Luger two miss-matched detectives that come together to solve the murdering of Luger's old partener. Colt and Luger are played hilariously by Emilio Estevez (Colt) and Samuel L. Jackson (Luger). Other hilarious preformances come from the two villians, Tim Curry and William Shatner, also from Jon Lovitz. The cameos are countless. They include Whoppi Goldberg, Bruce Willis, Charlie Sheen, Phil Hartman, Corey Feldman, Paul Gleason, F Murray Abraham, and Erik Estrada. You will have to watch the movie more than once to catch all of the jokes and puns.The movie pretty much mocks Lethal Weapon, with the buddy-cop theme. My favorite Lampoon movie, this is one you don't want to miss!

One of my favorite spoofs. Incredibly underrated!
I'm not a huge fan of slapstick spoofs. I love "Airplane!" and the "Naked Gun" films, but it's not my favorite genre.

Ironic, then, that I find most spoof movies enjoyable, at the very least, because they're all really, really stupid. There's more quality in "Airplane!" than, say, "Hot Shots!", but both films are enjoyable, because you have to do absolutely no thinking whatsoever. All you have to do is laugh a few times. And with the millions of jokes (okay, hundreds) per film, you're sure to find at least a handful of things worth laughing at.

"National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1" is one of my favorite spoof flicks. Why? It's stupid, silly, funny, and one of the most enjoyable films available to see. Yeah, it's stupid, like I already said. But it's loads of fun, too. And I don't care if critics bashed it when it came out -- it's still a very fun movie.

Everything gets lampooned in this: "Lethal Weapon" to "Die Hard" to "Silence of the Lambs" to "CHiPs." And, alongside "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"; "Austin Powers in Goldmember"; and "The Player," it has some of the most cameos/stars to date. Get this: Emilio Estevez, Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Curry, Jon Lovitz, William Shatner, Denis Leary, Erik Estrada, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Bill Nunn, Kathy Ireland, Corey Feldman, J.T. Walsh, Paul Gleason, F. Murray Abraham, Bruce Willis, Phil Hartman (R.I.P.), Whoopi Goldberg, Charlie Sheen (Emilio's half-brother)...am I missing anyone? Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and Joe Pesci would have completed this cast. I wonder if they rejected cameos.

Wes Luger (Jackson) has been assigned a new partner, the loose canon Jack Colt (Estevez), who lost his dog long ago and is now mentally unstable. Luger lost his partner (Goldberg), too, and the effects of the past often catch up with him, so far that he finds it impossible to fire a gun without shaking violently and spastic-like.

General Mortars (Shatner) is planning a devious scheme of running drugs through a Girl Scout cookie-type company, and Colt and Luger try to thwart his plan and save the day before it's too late. Meanwhile, they come to appreciate each other -- while lampooning everything in sight.

The most puzzling thing about "Loaded Weapon 1" is the fact that, if you look at most user comments on the Internet Movie Database, they're all quite positive. It has a low standing at 5.3 stars, yes, but the user reviews for the film are pretty decent. A lot of people found the film "funny for what it is." I do, too.

Spoofing a spoof is kinda pathetic, I'll admit. "Lethal Weapon" always was more tongue-in-cheek comedy than anything else. Even as a hard action film it was always winking at the other films of its genre. "Wayne's World" isn't exactly a drama of epic proportions, either, come to think of it. Even "Basic Instinct" is a hard film to spoof, if you take a moment to reflect -- it's never exactly horribly serious. Just sleazy. (I won't ruin how "Loaded Weapon 1" pokes fun at the famous Sharon Stone interrogation scene.)

Yet, in my honest opinion, "Loaded Weapon 1" does a pretty darn good job of spoofing everything in sight. Estevez is a good Riggs-type who pines for his lost dog (not a wife, mind you, but a dog). Jackson -- who's usually great -- is decent as the Murtaugh-type character, although he is shoved aside by the screenplay to make room for Estevez. (Whose brother was just as good in "Hot Shots!", although I think this is a funnier film.) Lovitz, hair bleached (impersonating Joe Pesci from the "Lethal Weapons"), comes across as an irritant sidekick who appears out of thin air only when the plot needs him -- which I suppose was the point. (Was "Loaded Weapon 1" assuming that Joe Pesci's Leo Getz character was an irritating co-star placed in the film as nothing more than an easy plot device? Probably.)

And in one of the simplest -- but also one of the most effective -- scenes, we get the famous bathroom bomb sequence from "Lethal Weapon 2" told in an entirely fresh perspective. Here's how it goes: The door to Jackson's house is wide open. Estevez walks in and calls him. "I'm up here!" is the response. Estevez walks up the stairs, gets to the bathroom, opens the door, sees Jackson on the toilet and says, "What are you doing?" Safe to say, he's doing exactly what it looks like. His blunt reply is one of the highlights of the film. (Let's face it, that scene from "LW2" was destined to get poked fun at some time or another -- I'm just glad it got spoofed in this.)

A hilarious spoof of "Lethal Weapon"
Emilio Estevez and Samuel L. Jackson are the Mel Gibson and Danny Glover of this film. There are spoof scenes from the Lethal Weapon trilogy and one from WAYNE'S WORLD. This filn was dircted by Gene Quintano who previously directed 1986's POLICE ACADEMY 3-Back In Training. This film reunites Quintano with Lance Kinsey. Kinsey was Lieutenant Proctor in many of the Police Academy sequels. Many people who have seen this film also saw THE BREAKFAST CLUB,THE MIGHTY DUCKS films,STAKEOUT,ANOTHER STAKEOUT(Estevez's other films),and PULP FICTION,one of Jackson's later films. Also many people who have seen this film also saw movies that Estevez's brother Charlie Sheen starred in.

Funny !
I first saw this movie was I was ~ 14 .
Now I'm 20 and I still love it - mostly because of Samuel Jackson and that guy with fantastic german (?) "aññent" .
"Where is the micGrofilm , mr. Colt ?" ....
If you like comedies and parodies - that's a great choice !

Great Comedy
John in his reveiw here has just said exactly what i was going to say! So I dont need to review this myself, he's already done it for me, word for word!

I will add however, if you happen to own this great comedy spoof/parody movie, you might be intrested to know there is a couple of eggs hidden on the DVD! If you go to the biographys and choose Samula L.Jacksons, as you flick through the pages, you will notice some of his movies have gold bars around them? You can select those bars, and click ok and watch the trailers to some of S.L.J's movies!

My words on this movie that John didnt add. If your into comedy spoofs like "naked gun" "airplane" "kentucky freid movie" "spy hard" "hot shots" "silence of the hams" and movies of that type of goofy parodying, then you will love this movie! See Johns reveiw for what movies get parodied ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Cheech & Chong are selling Ice Cream with "Herbs".
The flaw of this DVD is that the set-up screen where you choose Play Movie, Audio, Screen Ratio, etc, is blurry and the letters are red. The red bleeds in so you can not make out the letters or what the words are. The nice feature is the Aspect Ratio Selection where you get to choose full screen or widescreen, however it takes too long to flip back to set-up screen and there is no "play movie" to jump into. This Cheech & Chong film (the third as them in a starring role) is probably the most memorable of all films they have been in together. This time the guys have a new job driving a "Herbs" Ice Creams truck. This film is heavy on the marijuana. You'll even see a Gilla Monster er ah, a lizard that smokes a reefer. That Cheech, will he ever get a chance to make love? Memorable performance by Suzanne Kent as "Sidney, the Agent. No, it is NOT Lucie Arnaz. You're tokin' too much, watch the movie. Funniest Line In The Movie: "My Balls Itch" --Cheech Marin in a straight-jacket.
The next Cheech & Chong film is THINGS ARE TOUGH ALL OVER (1982). They also appeared in YELLOWBEARD (1983).

Would you like a Hamburger?
Nice Dreams might be either C & C's second or third best film. They have a movie that might seem weird in the first viewing, but it grows on you after a few viewings, each one getting funnier. And it's not just the funny sequences involving a pot garden, a lizard sergeant or mental patient animals. It's also the little things, like chats by Cheech and Chong about petty stuff that actually might make sense when you go with the flow (like the discussion on Hippie retirement homes).

But that's just an observation on the small things. Overall, Nice Dreams is a very hilarious film that has all the things you could want in a C & C movie, and while it doesn't quite match up to the brilliance of Up in Smoke, it does many cool things; one of which is bringing Pee-Wee Herman in the mix as the uproarious Hamburger dude. Love the save the whales song.

More like C&C
Nice Dreams comes in 2nd behind Up In Smoke, in my opinion. The innocent, goofy demeanor of Cheech and Chong are better portrayed in Nice Dreams than in Next Movie. One complaint I have, is they left Sgt. Stedanko out of the main plot. I think it added alot more humor to the story when he was an uptight, though incompetent, police Sargeant in hot pursuit of Cheech and Chong along with his numbskull officers. Though brain-dead things like Chong cashing a check for the Hamburger Dude with NON NEGOTIABLE stamped across the front made it worthwhile.

Cheech & Chong are selling ice cream with "Herbs".
The flaw of this DVD is that the set-up screen where you choose Play Movie, Audio, Screen Ratio, etc, is blurry and the letters are red. The red bleeds in so you can not make out the letters or what the words are. The nice feature is you get to choose full-screen or wide screen in the Aspect Ratio Screen, however it takes too long to flip back to the set-up screen and there is no "play movie" on the screen to click on to. This Cheech & Chong film (their third in a starring role) is probably the most memorable of all films they have been in together. This time the guys have a new job and they drive an Ice Cream truck. This film is heavy on the marijuana. You'll even see a Gilla Monster, er ah, a lizard smoke on a reefer. That Cheech, will he ever get a chance to make love? Memorable performance by Suzanne Kent as "Sidney, the Agent. No, it is NOT Lucie Arnaz. You're tokin' too much, watch the movie. Funniest Line in the film: "My balls itch"!--Cheech Marin in a straight-jacket.

Not a classic like Up in Smoke
Overall, this movie wasn't as good as Up in Smoke or Next Movie (my favorite C&C movie) but it's a classic compared to Still Smokin and Corsician Brothers (perhaps C&C's worst).
The first half hour started off good but then it's a see-saw battle of good and boring parts. If you're a C&C fan, then I would recommend this movie for you, and if you're a beginner, start with Up in Smoke or Next Movie. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

"Don't worry...He knows you're an idiot!"
HE in this case is NAPOLEON of CRIME,Professor James Moriarty. YOU is "the world's most famous consulting detective",SHERLOCK HOLMES. Speaking is Ben Kingsley essaying the role of CRIME DOCTOR,John Watson.The case is WITHOUT A CLUE. Directed by Thom Eberhardt,WAC is a deft, wacky satire on Conan-Doyle's genius master detective positing what if Dr. Watson was THE MAN;and Sherlock Holmes was master of CLUTZ. Parody works because humor is arch but neither ham-handed nor condescending. Michael Caine (usually epitome of cockney cool from Super spy Harry Palmer, to Super thug Jack Carter)is Clouseau Goofy without overshadowing Kingsley who plays a genuine hero sleuth against England's most nefarious MASTER CRIMINAL. This is a very funny movie with excellent production values and superb(Victorian)ambience. And there is genuine mystery to solve. THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN is sure to revive interest in THE PROFESSOR if not Sherlock. WITHOUT A CLUE may or may not(like Spielberg's YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES)help much with its satirizing of the first League of Extraordinary Crime Fighters. But Doctor Watson's cloning of a Sherlock of extraordinary ineptitude and rank(though charming)stupidity is OXYMORONIC episode of Holmsian mythology in a Major League of its own.(4 & 1/2 stars)

This is a great movie!
Sherlock Holmes has solved unnumbered cases for Scotland Yard, but it turns out that Dr. Watson (played by Ben Kingsley) has a secret - there is no Sherlock Holmes! Having hired Reginald Kincaid (Michael Caine) to play the part of Holmes, Watson now wants to get rid of the man, as he is "a liar, a drunkard and a womanizer." But, when the Chancellor of the Exchequer arrives with a case that threatens the very existence of the Empire, and will talk to no one but the great Sherlock Holmes, Watson has to take Kincaid back for just one more case, and it's a whopper! There is a deep mystery here, one with Professor Moriarty (Paul Freeman) at it's heart, and only Holmes...er, Watson can possibly unravel it. [Color, released in 1988, with a running time of 1:47.]

This is a great movie! Turning the Sherlock Holmes stories any which way but loose, Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley make a great duet, battling crime and each other. The movie succeeds in being outrageously funny, and yet absolutely gripping. The movie is clean, though Leslie Giles' secret is enough to make you squirm in front of little ones. Overall, though, my family and I loved this movie, and highly recommend it to you!

Very clever, a lot of fun!
What if Dr. Watson (Ben Kingsley) is the real detective and Sherlock Holmes is his fictional alter ego whose name he created and uses to protect his medical practice? And what if, when pressured to produce Holmes to the public, Watson hires an out-of-work actor to pretend to be Holmes (Michael Caine). All Holmes has to do is what Watson tells him to do as he, Watson, does all the sleuthing. This is the clever premise of this film -- all the more clever if you know that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a doctor who wrote the Holmes detective mysteries on the side. Of course, things start to spiral out of control when "Holmes" tries to solve the mysteries without Watson and "Holmes" makes up a lot of the famous mannerisms.

Lots of humor, a good mystery and very nice repartee between the two men as Watson becomes increasingly exasperated with his creation. (This has an almost "Remington Steele" like premise if any of you remember that 1980s TV show staring Pierce Brosnam.) A very under-rated film with a top notch cast.

I have not seen this film on the new DVD so can't comment on the quality of this DVD. I'm just reviewing the film itself.

What a delight!
Although I'm a lover of Sherlock Holmes movies, I almost missed this gem. Everything about this film was wonderful, particularly the tremendous performances by Caine and Kingsley. You can see they're having fun with it every scene, and I loved being along for the ride.

The script is intelligent and witty, without getting goofy or slapstick. The plot is hilarious yet holds together as a "mystery" (kind of...). It is totally devoid of the offensive language that plagues so many movies, making it a great family fun flick (but it's NOT at all juvenile).

I just wish they'd made a series of these films -- I didn't want it to end.

"I've got it! His real name is Arty-Morti!"
Without a Clue (1988) poses an interesting and humorous take on the Sherlock Holmes mythos created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The film asks what if the character of Sherlock Holmes was truly a fictional character created by Doctor Watson, and is played by an actor, with Watson being the actual mastermind behind solving the various cases and crimes?

In the film, Ben Kingsley plays Doctor Watson, the man behind the deductive and crime solving skills of his fictional character, Sherlock Holmes. For reasons that are revealed within the movie, Watson was not able to take credit for solving his first caper, so he invented the character of Sherlock Holmes, but soon found his creation was in great demand, so he hired an actor, Reginald Kincaid (Michael Caine) to play the part of the detective while Watson stayed in the background continuing to be the 'brains' of the operation. Only problem is Reginald Kincaid is a buffoonish, womanizing, gambling, drunkard, and unable to, as he put it, '...detect horse manure if he stepped in it.'

After a falling out, Doctor Watson fires Kincaid, and decides to go it alone as 'The Crime Doctor'. Guess what? The legend of Holmes has grown so large and become ensconced so deeply within the public psyche that no one takes Watson seriously, and even his publisher threatens to sue if Watson reveals the truth of the situation publicly. Not only that, but a rather important case involving the financial integrity of the British Empire has surfaced, one involving the nefarious Professor Moriarty, and Holmes is the only man for the job. Watson finds himself in the humbling position of bringing Kincaid back for what will be one last performance.

Kingsley and Caine play their parts perfectly, and are supported by a wonderful cast including Jeffery Jones as Inspector Lestrade, Paul Freeman as Moriarty, Lysette Anthony, and Peter Cook. The dialogue is witty, and even though the plot a bit thin in some areas, the film works wonderfully as a farcical tale with just the right amounts of slapstick and tongue in cheek humor. A completely professional job done by everyone all around. My favorite part of the film was the notion of Watson using Holmes to keep Inspector Lastrade busy tracking down pointless leads while Watson performed the real detection at the crime scene. I was laughing hard when Holmes was on all fours inspecting the pattern of a rug with the baffled inspector right next to him, trying to get the jump on the master detective.

I was a little disappointed in the release of this film on DVD, as I thought the picture and sound quality could have been better. Also, why is there only a full screen release available? Special features are virtually non-existent with the inclusion of a trailer for the film. MGM usually does a pretty good job with their releases, but they seemed to have dropped the ball here. Anyway, this is a great little film, and worth watching if only to see two fine actors at work

Cookieman108 ... Read more

Amazon.com

Although A Shot in the Dark is often cited as the best of the Pink Panther comedies starring Peter Sellers, the fifth film in the series--The Pink Panther Strikes Back--is a close runner-up. Combining a James Bond-ish plot with Sellers's trademark lunacy as Inspector Clouseau, the film finds Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Herbert Lom) driven insane by Clouseau's incompetence, threatening global destruction unless Clouseau is eliminated once and for all. Of course, the bumbling Clouseau leads a kind of charmed life, emerging relatively unscathed (and completely oblivious) from a phalanx of 26 unlucky assassins! Along the way, Sellers dons a variety of costumes and hilarious accents, and his improvisational style is given free reign. Karate showdowns with his valet, Cato (Bert Kwouk), once again keep Clouseau on his toes, and lovely Lesley-Anne Down plays a would-be assassin who finds Clouseau amorously irresistible. Highlights include the memorable "Does your dog bite?" scene between Clouseau and a goofy innkeeper, and a dental extraction scene in which Sellers and Lom reached the peak of their on-screen comedic antagonism. For good ol' fashioned slapstick comedy, they don't get much funnier than this. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (34)

The Bumbling Inspector Clouseau's Best Movie
This is the Pink Panther I remembered as a kid. Peter Sellers as the bumbling inspector Jacques Clouseau. Herbert Lom as Dreyfus, the former chief inspector that's been committed to a mental institute due to Clouseau's ineptitude. While there's no stolen diamond (as the previous "Pink Panther" movies usually had), this movie centers around the two main characters. A simple plot... Dreyfus wants to stop at nothing to rid the world of Clouseau. Memorable scenes: the opening scene at the mental institute with Dreyfus falling into the lake time and time again; Clouseau trying on his new hunchback disguise followed by an explosion; Clouseau disguised as a dentist working on Dreyfus' tooth; many failed attempts to get into Dreyfus' castle by Clouseau; and the apartment entry fight scene between Clouseau and his trusted Asian servant Cato. Memorable lines: "What kind of Bomb was it? ("The exploding kind"); "Does your dog bite? ("No") -the dog bites Clouseau- "I thought you said your dog doesn't bite?" ("That's not my dog"). Director Blake Edwards did a wonderful job guiding Sellers and then letting him go off on his own when needed while the camera was rolling. I can see where this movie was inspired by the James Bond series. As well as this movie proved to be a big inspiration to anything Austin Powers ever did. This movie has very few extras... a trailer, an 8-page booklet with some insight from the director, and your choice of full/wide screens. Picture is clear and sound is (only) average. Good movie overall and still fun to watch after all these years.

The funniest "Panther"
The inimitable Peter Sellers strikes again as Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau, in this fourth installment of the classic "Pink Panther" series, "The Pink Panther Strikes Again," directed by Blake Edwards. Given the fact that the assessment of comedy is intrinsically subjective, this film is arguably laugh for laugh and sight gag for sight gag the funniest of the five (followed closely by the second of the series, the hilarious farce, "A Shot In The Dark). In this one, former Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Herbert Lom) is about to be released from the mental hospital-- in which he has resided since being driven crazy by Clouseau-- when on the very afternoon of his hearing he is visited by none other than Clouseau himself, who has come to speak on behalf of his former boss. Suffice to say that by the time Clouseau is through "helping," he is driven from the premises by the relapsed, raving madman, Dreyfus. And it's only the beginning of the inept French Inspector's antics that, before it is over, will include a trip to the Ocktoberfest, encounters with a dozen hit-men from around the world, a beautiful Russian spy named Olga (Lesley-Anne Down), a surprise Egyptian spy (who will remain nameless) and a one-man assault on a castle. As Laurel and Hardy proved so many times before, for every action there is a reaction; a theorem of which proof is unequivocally provided here by the relationship between Sellers and Lom. This was the film in which Edwards and his stars not only further devised, but honed to perfection, their foolproof formula for laughs: After the "first wave" of hilarity provided by Sellers, it is followed up-- in just enough instances to be totally effective-- by Lom's reaction to 1.) Sellers directly (as in the first, classic scene at the mental hospital), or 2.) Lom's reaction to Seller's antics as they are related to him by a third party. It's a one-two punch that never fails and which, in effect, derives twice the fun from a single gag. And it's brilliant. But at the end of the day, it must be noted that there is one element above all else that accounts for the success of this film, and that, of course, is the Man himself, Peter Sellers. Sellers must be regarded as-- if not "the," then at least one of the-- funniest actors ever to grace the silver screen. There was no end to the ways he could make you laugh; from the subtlest expression-- an eye averted or perhaps the slight raising of an eyebrow-- to the broadest slapstick, it was all within his personal domain, and he was the Master. Physically, practically all he had to do to get a laugh was show up; consider the scene in which he arrives at the hospital to visit Dreyfus: As he saunters across the lawn of the vast grounds surrounding the buildings, a croquet mallet and ball lying to one side catches his eye; there is just the slightest hesitation in his step, the subtlest change of expression in his eyes and the merest inclination of the head. And there, in that briefest of moments upon the screen, you know-- beyond the shadow of a doubt-- what is about to transpire. And you're right; a moment later Clouseau has the mallet in his hand and his foot on the ball, and even as it's happening-- just as you knew it would in that split second before it did-- he has you on the floor laughing. That was the gift-- and the genius-- of Peter Sellers. Was every film he made a classic? A great film? Of course not; but you would be hard put to find a single performance of his, even in a bad film (Like 1970's "There's A Girl In My Soup"), that did not embody that unique spark that defined him. It was certainly alive in his portrayal of Clouseau (possibly the definitive Seller's character), and in retrospect, what a shame it seems that there were only five "Panther" movies ever made. But so it is, and shall ever be. The supporting cast includes Burt Kwouk (as the ever faithful and attacking manservant, Cato), Andre Maranne (Francois), Colin Blakely (Alec Drummond), Leonard Rossiter (Inspector Quinlan), Richard Vernon (Dr. Fassbender), Briony McRoberts (Margo) and Michael Robbins (Jarvis). A funny movie that showcases one of Cinema's truly unique and funny actors, "The Pink Panther Strikes Again" is a side-splitting, fun movie you can watch over and over and never grow tired of. The best of the series, it stands as a glowing tribute to the comedic genius of Peter Sellers.

"The Phone Is Ringing....Relax, I'll Get It."
This is my all time favorite Pink Panther film. I think that I like it the best of the series as is dwells so totally on Herbert Lom's madness, which is, of course, entirely caused by Clouseau. The opening scene of the film sets the pace, with the brilliant slapstick 'Dreyfus in the lake' segment (I am particularly fond of the role of the rake in that scene.)

The characterizations of Dreyfus and Clouseau are totally wonderful in this film. Watching Dreyfus descend into total madness is one of the all time greatest comic performances. Sellers as Clouseau is wonderful playing off of Lom, in such great segments as the 'hallucinatory dentist' and the 'hunchback and the bomber' scenes. This film is much less subtle than my other favorite from the series "A Shot in the Dark", but what it loses in subtlety, it gains in situational humor unrivalled in any other comedy ("Does your dog bite?"..."No."..."I thought you said your dog did not bite."..."That is not my dog.") Only Sellers could make these scenes work, and work they do, brilliantly so.

There are so many great scenes and lines that I couldn't possibly list them. Some of the best lines ever written for a comedy are in this film. To go with the brilliance of the script, the excellent direction from Blake Edwards, the always entertaining animated credits, the beautiful sets, the acting from everyone, led, of course, by Sellers and Lom, is letter perfect.

The DVD is an excellent transfer, and very pleasant to watch. The only real options are language and subtitle related, though there is an original trailer. I would have loved to have seen some outtakes as extras. Reportedly the cast frequently broke up laughing during the filming of this movie, and there is no wonder, given how funny the material is.

I first saw this in the theater when I was a kid. I loved it so much then that I went back several more times, and never tired of it. Now, almost thirty years later, I still never tire of this film. If you haven't seen "The Pink Panther Strikes Again", by all means do so at once. If you have, it's time to get reacquainted with a brilliant old friend!

Classic Clouseau
Unlike the other Panther films, which still mix in some of director Blake Edwards' skillful subtle comedy ala "Breakfast at Tiffany's," this Panther outing is strictly high caliber slapstick. The plot, which is far-fetched, exists simply as a framework to get star Peter Sellers out of one comic situation and into another. This is not a bad thing - some of the funniest comedies are the ones that have the skimpiest storytelling. I've seen all the Panther films many times, and this is the one that I always laugh the loudest at. It's hard not to enjoy Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau and how he unintentionally outwits his former superior Dreyfus (Herbert Lom). The DVD release contains both the widescreen and fullscreen versions of the film (though no real extras)and is a step up from the old VHS release. It's always nice to have this choice on a single disc. I honestly don't know what extras could be included as most of the outtakes were unfortunately recycled in the inferior "Trail of the Pink Panther." I recommend this DVD to anyone who enjoys a slapstick approach to comedy.

By Far the Best in the Series
Since there have been other reviewers here who have taken the time to write in detail why this movie was so good, I will just agree in saying that it is indeed an excellent film! It is by far the best in the entire Pink Panther series and will have you laughing the entire time. If you enjoy this film, be sure to check out the rest of the series. ... Read more

Reviews (63)

Special Edition worth the price
Most people who follow Eddie Murphy know about the quality of this movie from the point of view of the movie itself. This special edition is a very good version of the film. Both picture and sound are very good and the widescreen effect does not interfere for those who aren't purists (I am and prefer widescreen editions).

Colors are very crisp and the sound is clear and more than adequate.

The film itself is enjoyable and, while the story is not the greatest, the cast including Murphy make it work with enough suspense to make it interesting to the end. The suspense really comes more from the reaction to Axel Foley (Murphy's character) by the Beverly Hills force, especially the old chief than it does from the reason for his trip to Beverly Hills (Will he succeed in getting the BH force to support his actions? will the Chief relent and let Foley finish his investigation?).

The action is pretty standard as a cop show. However, Murphy's humor and reactions carry the movie and make it rise above the traditional cop genre. Great supporting cast in Ronnie Cox, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton. Foley's boss back in Detroit is great and deserves more screen time.

The DVD extras are good and add to the enjoyment.

Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Director: Martin Brest
Cast: Eddie Murphy, Lisa Eilbacher, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, Bronson Pinchot.
Running Time: 105 minutes.
Rated R for violence and Eddie Murphy-like language.

While the television show "Saturday Night Live" and "48 Hours" solidified Eddie Murhpy as a star, the Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer ("Armageddon", "The Rock") production "Beverly Hills Cop" proclaimed that he was a blockbuster film goliath that was here to stay. Using a hilarious script and some slapstick humor, the film became one of the most popular action-comedies to ever hit the big screen.

Murphy stars as the rogue Detroit city cop Axel Foley, who travels to Beverly Hills, California to investigate the mysterious murder of his best friend. While staying the gorgeous environment, the Bevery Hills police department assigns two goofball officers (played by Reinhold and Ashton in fine roles) to watch after Foley and make sure that he does not create any problems. With the help of an old friend (Eilbacher), Axel realizes that he is up against a rich and glamorous crook and the only way to get justice is to take matters into his own hands--no matter what Beverly Hills and the police department thinks about it.

Eddie Murphy is exceptionally funny in this feature, using many of his usual antics to get the clues that he needs and the things that he wants, but the shining star of the film is the quirky young detective Reinhold, looking up to Axel and doing what he knows is right, even if it is not normal police officer procedure. Director Martin Brest ("Scent of a Woman") and his explosive-friendly producers create an exciting, edge-of-your-seat romp that will have you giggling out loud the entire time. The Special Collector's Edition has many nice added features, including a commentary from Martin Brest, information about the excellent award-winning soundtrack, and exclusive interviews from the cast. Murphy at his absolute best.

an 80s classic that is a time capsule AND timeless
This is one of those simple movies that is so deceptively good, you don't realize how good it is. I have probably unintentionally seen this movie 30 times. Every single time it is on TV, I end up stopping whatever it is I was doing and end up watching it to the end, even though I know who the bad guys are and how it ends.

Murphy is Axel Foley, a Detroit police detective. His boss, Inspector Todd, is portrayed by real life Gilbert Hill, a semi-famous police detective in his own right. "Mad About You" creator and star Paul Riser has a small role as Foley's fellow detective. Todd is always threatening Foley with termination due to his costly methods of crime busting.

When his friend Mikey Tandino (James Russo) arrives from Beverly Hills to Detroit to visit with his childhood friend, Foley, Mikey gets murdered. Foley is hit on the head during the hit on his friend, but is otherwise unscathed.

Because of his relationship with Mikey, a guy with a lengthy record of minor petty thefts, Todd assigns another detective to the murder and orders Foley to stay away. Lacking confidence in the skills of the assigned detective, and determined to get justice for his friend, Foley takes a "vacation" and goes to Beverly Hills to see if there is a connection.

The plot is more than just some laughs and gun fire - you truly feel like you are part of Team Foley, investigating the case. Does the murder involve the German Bearer Bonds that Tandino had on him when he was murdered? Is it about U.S. Customs? Is it about cocaine? Is it about expensive art? There are so many different aspects interwoven, a first time viewer is really taken for a ride.

From the get-go, you know who the bad guys are - but will they be caught, and why did they kill Mikey? This film, released in 1984, seemed to recognize the unique nature of the 80s and rather than some dated film with neon socks and big hair, it seems to make itself into a time capsule. Foley's hair and clothing are timeless for any decade from the 70s to today, so it's almost like he's a time traveller, laughing at some of the styles, cars, & habits of the rich & famous in the 1980s in California.

The music is also excellent and fits the mood for each scene. The main theme, "Axel F," a techno-type of instrumental, was on Billboard's top 10 for weeks on end and is often heard as a polyphonic ring tone on today's phones. One of Murphy's all-time best - second only to his role as "Donkey" in the "Shrek" franchise.

Eddie Murphy has an inimitable laugh

Director: Martin Brest
Format: Color
Studio: Paramount Studio
Video Release Date: July 8, 1997

Cast:

Eddie Murphy ... Det. Axel Foley
Judge Reinhold ... Det. William 'Billy' Rosewood
John Ashton ... Det. Sgt. John Taggart
Lisa Eilbacher ... Jeannette 'Jenny' Summers
Ronny Cox ... Lt. Andrew Bogomil
Steven Berkoff ... Victor Maitland
James Russo ... Mikey Tandino
Jonathan Banks ... Zack, Maitland's Thug
Stephen Elliott ... Police Chief Hubbard
Gilbert R. Hill ... Insp. Douglas Todd
Art Kimbro ... Det. Foster
Joel Bailey ... Det. McCabe
Bronson Pinchot ... Serge
Paul Reiser ... Jeffrey
Michael Champion ... Casey
Frank Pesce ... Cigarette Buyer
Gene Borkan ... Cigarette Truck Driver
Michael Gregory ... Beverly Palms Hotel Manager
Alice Cadogan ... Beverly Palms Hotel Clerk
Philip Levien ... Donny
Karen Mayo-Chandler ... Maitland Receptionist
Gerald Berns ... Beverly Hills Cop #1
William Wallace ... Beverly Hills Cop #2
Israel Juarbe ... Room Service Waiter
Randy Vasquez ... Beverly Palms Hotel Bellhop
Damon Wayans ... Banana Man
Charles Adamson ... Warehouse Crate Opener #1
Chip Heller ... Warehouse Crate Opener #2
Rick Overton ... Bonded Warehouse Night Supervisor
Rex Ryon ... Bonded Warehouse Security Guard
Mike Pniewski ... Bonded Warehouse Clerk #1
Douglas Warhit ... Bonded Warehouse Clerk #2
Paul Drake ... Strip Club Holdup Man #1
Tom Everett ... Strip Club Holdup Man #2
Sally Kishbaugh ... Strip Club Waitress
Barry Shade ... Harrow Club Valet
Jack Heller ... Harrow Club Maitre D'
Michael Harrington ... Harrow Club Arresting Officer
David Wells ... Police Dispatcher
Scott Murphy ... Det. Owensby
Dennis Madden ... 1st Detroit Cop
John Achorn ... 2nd Detroit Cop
John Pettis ... 3rd Detroit Cop
Nicholas Shields ... Detroit Station Cop #1
Carl Weintraub ... Detroit Station Cop #2
Anthony De Fonte ... Detroit Station Cop #3
Darwyn Carson ... Barmaid
Mark E. Corry ... Pool Player
Thomas J. Hageboeck ... Maitland Body Guard
Martin Brest ... Hotel Check-out Clerk

Eddie Murphy has an infectious laugh, and his antics are hilarious. In this story, an old friend, just out of prison, shows up in Chicago, where Detective Axel Foley (Murphy) is a member of the police force. During their celebration of reunion, some thugs from California kill his friend, and so Foley takes off for Beverly Hills, against orders. to solve the crime.

This is a rollicking story, with truck chases, shootings, Murphy's dissimulations and antics--impersonating a customs agent, a Rolling Stone reporter, a flower shop delivery boy, and a light-in-the-loafers "friend" of the heavy, Victor Maitland (Steven Berkoff).

This is a fun movie that you will probably enjoy. It is rated "R" for language. The violence is not to explicit, and I would think no worse than most B Westerns.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and Freedopm...their care and maintenance
and other books

Movie That Put Eddie On the Map Wasn't a Fluke
He had already proven himself extremely talented on SNL and in a few movies (48 Hrs and Trading Places) but this was his 1st solo gig. This was the test to see if he could carry a movie without a veteran actor holding his hand every step of the way. He does a fantastic job. The movie itself is a bit formulaic and juvenile. However, it works because Murphy injects every scene with such humor, enthusiasm and presence. It's a tour de force and the official arrival of the best black comedian since Richard Pryor and one of the best, period. ... Read more

Description

Earl (Martin Lawrence) and Hank (Steve Zahn) can't seem toescape each other. They met on opposite sides of the law during aroutine traffic stop but now they've been thrown together to bust amillion dollar smuggling operation. As hare-brained as their plan maybe, these unlikely partners might just solve a crime... if they don't kill each other first. ... Read more

Reviews (51)

GET A GRIP PEOPLE!!!
As a white guy, I was not the least bit offended by this movie. I think most people out there simply didn't get it. Martin Lawrence was PURPOSELY playing a character who was over the top in his suspicion of white people, especially cops.

I don't understand why so many people are put off. Lawrence was hardly subtle in playing a black Rodney-Kingesque character who then has to team up with the white cop who allegedly abused him.

And Lawrence's character is put in his place later in the film when he finds that the Steve Zahn character has a black girlfriend. I admit that this was a little heavy-handed, but that's how this movie goes.

That said..it was not a great movie. it was very predictable in plot. I knew right away who the bad guys would turn out to be, and pretty much how the story would unfold.

There were some funny moments, but this was pretty standard "odd-couple" action comedy ala Lethal Weapon and Rush Hour, but not nearly as good as those movies.

Hilarious
The movie doesn't start off as Martin Lawarnce and Steve Zahn as partners. Hank Steve's character is a cop and Martin's characters gets his keys stuck in his car and Steve thinks Earl Martins character is stealing his car. Hank then trys to consult Earl but he won't bit. A bumble bee then stumbles in and Earl is alergic to bumble bee's and Hank trys to get it out and a local citezin records this incident. Then Earl charges Hank with assualt because he's black. You have got to watch this film. It is fu&^$&& funny!!!!WATCH IT!!!

Goofy and entertaining - but nothing special
In this goofy cop drama, Martin Lawrence plays Earl, a white-bashing, easily terrorized black man who sends Los Angeles cop Hank (Steve Zahn) to jail because of his hysterical and inaccurate testimony. When, six months later, the two find themselves unwittingly together as security guards protecting a warehouse during a heist, they team up to track down the bad guys. Lawrence is funny at first with his poor-oppressed-black-guy routine, but it gets tired - and even offensive - fast, mostly because Earl is such a buffoon; he seems too clownishly stupid to be much more than a stereotype. Hank is the straight man, and you can't help feeling sorry for him as he endures Earl's completely misguided riffs. Yeah, this film has some laughs, especially during the slapstick scenes, but they are either mild or mindless, fine as long as you don't expect uproarious comedy.

This film is definitely a rental, not a purchase. It is entertaining, humorous, but nothing you'll remember in a few days.

Good film,but flawed...
National Security was a good film,but had some flaws.The stunts and action secquences were satisfying,but if there had been more action in the film,the action would have been excellent.Another flaw is that Steve Zahn's acting was horrible as Hank Rafferty.Zahn wasn't convincable one bit.Terrible casting choice.Also,Martin Lawrence took up most of the movie with racist humor and dialogue and being afraid of bees.Overall,you should see this movie.Rating:9/10

Weak!
Weak performance by Martin Lawrence. If you saw him in Bad Boys, this movie looks bad. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Where is this going...
...you may ask yourself at the start of movie. A dinosaur skull is the object of many people's desires, but why it is so covented.. well, that's never explained. A man in impenetrable armor protects the skull from interloping secret agents (he's bad. We know he's bad because of the way he laughs - maniacally). Who does the Chinese government call in to help? A secret agent who is actually a butcher. Again, it's unclear if he's retired, under deep cover or being a butcher is just something he likes to do.

Welcome to the world of Stephen Chow.

Stephen Chow is well known in Hong Kong cinema fans as being the Lord of Satire - targets being Wuxia films, Iron Chef and here, 007 movies. I forget the term, but Stephen Chow's movies fall into a categorey of film loosely translated as "makes no sense." "From Beijing with Love" you know is going to be a rough ride when the silhouette girls attack Our Hero during the opening credits and he is forced to shoot them. The first time I watched "From Beijing with Love" (what do people outside of Austin, TX do to see good HK movies? We have a monthly showing at a local drafthouse! Poor souls who don't live here.), I counted no less than seven times when I almost lost control of my bladder from laughing. The plot is muddled, incomprehensible and too fun to accurately describe here without depriving the new viewer of some truly outrageous and funny moments.

I will say just one more thing: "Magic Box!!!"

Watch this movie. You will understand. It's boffo.

A funny movie!
Let's face it, it's a James Bond parody a la Naked Gun! It's not necessarily my cup of tea, but I spent a great time watching it. This is the kind of movie that is not too complicated and that is fun to watch with friends.

The main character is a butcher who is in reality a secret agent who is sent on a deadly mission after having been forgotten by his own employer for years (yes...years!!!). He is teamed-up with a beautiful secret agent who actually works in secret for the enemy (who is in fact his employer!). Like Leslie Nielsen in Naked Gun, he's not the brightest guy in the world and maybe the most naive. But he has an edge: his throwing knife... Wait 'till you see the first time he use it to understand...

You can expect lots of funny situations and reboundings in this movie, but don't expect an intelligent comedy that will be remembered in ten years from now.

...
From Beijing with Love is actually one of the best spy picture parodies I've seen. While it's not as great as Casino Royale, the first Austin Powers, or Our Man Flint, it offers a wealth of gags along the line of typical Leslie Nielsen movies. Actually, I prefer this to Naked Gun and Spy Hard... while the enthusiasm is apparent, the jokes seem to come naturally and not devoid of intelligence... less sledgehammer, more watergun... From Beijing with Love also seems a bit more fresh, recontextualizing and toning down the stale routine in the Nielsen movies and Austin Powers sequels.

I'd never venture that this is something everybody should see, or that it should be viewed over any number of other films, but for people who are looking for some light silly entertainment and have already exhasted the supply of it at the local video store, From Beijing with Love offers just that... I don't regret watching it, had a few laughs, but I probably should have rewatched Withnail and I or Dr. Strangelove instead.

This movie is Insane.
What in the world was Stephen Chow thinking? In the sense of James Bond spoofs this is one of the worst of its kind. but it is still incredibly funny. this is the funnel cake of movies...figure that out for yourself, bliddy

Fabulous Introduction & Parody!
This is the best introduction to Stephen Chow for non Asian viewers. The special effects are easily up to par w/ all the other James Bond movies..if not better. Plus, you have the ever funny and subversive wit of Mr Chow. This was the very first one I saw of his..and still in my top 5. Maybe it was because all these HK movie books said not to watch him. Well..,they were wrong..even us foreign devils can understand this one very easily. He is the most gifted actor,writer, & goofball there is. 5 Stars for this still stands. Buy this..you'll be glad you took a chance. ... Read more