Hollywood Homicide (Wide Screen) > Reviews > Hollywood Hoobliewhattie?????

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Advantages:	Fans of Two Stars Will No Doubt Want to Check it Out
Disadvantages:	Illogical, confusing plot and a bad script hurt it

Recommend to potential buyers:

no

Full review

This is one of those rare films that seemed to have a lot going for it, and that many people who first heard about it thought it would be the a great summer popcorn flick. Plus, the idea of combining actors Harrison Ford and Josh Harnett in the same movie, made one person say, "Is this going to be the film where mothers will go with their daughters to see???" LOL, at any rate, I picked this up on DVD to see what it was like, despite all the negative criticism that had been thrown at it...not to mention that it was a complete box-office failure.

Ford plays Joe Gavilan, a veteren Hollywood detective who is also juggling a second job in real estate. Hartnett is K.C. Caldin, a rookie Hollywood detective who is also juggling a second job as a yoga instructor; however, he is also thinking of ending his cop career in favor of acting (he's studying for a part in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE). They are, in predictable buddy-cop movie fashion, hooked up to solve a murder in the world of hip-hop recording, and their number one suspect happens to be a record producer (Isaiah Washington). Like most films of this nature, Gavilan and Caldin bicker and joke around with each other, while also trying to make themselves out to be better than the other. Sound familiar? You got it.

The first half of HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE is so slow, pretentious, and tiresome---but it soon makes a sudden turn, becomes a lot better and by the end, it seems to (barely) redeem itself. The film is directed with a considerable amount of energy by Ron Shelton, who wrote and directed BULL DURHAM and WHITE MEN CAN'T JUMP. He struck gold earlier in the year when he directed the Kurt Russell drama DARK BLUE, about the days leading up to the L.A. Riots. Here, he tries to incorporate humor, action and drama into one crazy film, and with only a moderate amount of success. The main problem is the script, which recalls so many action-comedies/buddy-cop movies (i.e. STAKEOUT, LETHAL WEAPON) before that it is too familiar and cliched. (He co-wrote with Robert Souza, a one-time LA cop, who served as a tech advisor on DARK BLUE.)

What really brings the film to life is the interesting cast; while Ford and Hartnett have practically no chemistry, they are still quite enjoyable in their roles. Lena Olin is sexy as Ford's girlfriend, who works as a Psychic Phone Advisor and who likes to blindfold Ford before they make love (don't ask!). Among the musicians in the cast are rap stars Master P, Kurupt, and Dre (all not bad, considering the fact they are not actors), Gladys Knight, and Dwight Yoakem. There are also amusing cameos by Eric Idle (you have to be quick to catch him), Robert Wagner, and Lou Diamond Phillips.

It's lucky for the film that it picks up at full speed after ann ill-concieved first hour, which starts with a truly funny sequence where our heroes are interrogated by an Internal Affairs officer (Bruce Greenwood, who played JFK in THIRTEEN DAYS), and then culminating in a terrific car chase through the streets of Beverly Hills...which goes on for almost a half-hour!! While it not only kept me on the edge of your seat, but it also made me laugh hysterically at times. That entire chase is really what makes this film worth watching...though the scene where Ford eats a donut is worth the price of the rental alone.

I enjoyed the film for the most part, though it could have been much better; I think I might have enjoyed it more than I should, to be honest with you. A decent rental, though I wouldn't buy it. Oh well, I'm just now looking forward to Ford's next film...INDIANA JONES 4...which is currently in production right now. Hope you all liked my review, and I look forward to reading your comments!!! :)))