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Ray Tango (Stallone's character) is portrayed as wealthy and intelligent; while Gabe Cash, his soon-to-be-partner, (Russell) is seen as the scruffy, cocky one of the two. (Did I just say 'cocky'? That's two references to the male sex organ in the last two paragraphs. Slightly weird.) Both ... Read review
Production Year: 2003 - Action/Adventure - Director: Jonathon Mostow - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Claire Danes, Kristinna Loken, David Andrews
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Ray Tango (Stallone's character) is portrayed as wealthy and intelligent; while Gabe Cash, his soon-to-be-partner, (Russell) is seen as the scruffy, cocky one of the two. (Did I just say 'cocky'? That's two references to the male sex organ in the last two paragraphs. Slightly weird.) Both cops are well-respected by the LAPD for bringing down some of the city's biggest criminals, yet they still compete with one another regularly ... ...so many homosexual innuendos in Tango & Cash that the shaft and balls image becomes implanted into your mind for quite some time after watching. But I am trying to keep my in-depth analysis of the gay subtext for a separate article; otherwise I may be here all night discussing scrotums and penises – something I really don’t want to do (sorry, gay friends).
Back to the plot, and, of course, the "couple" manage to escape from ... more
"Who the Hell do you think you are?" screams an LA County Deputy at Sylvester Stallone in the opening scene of Andrei Konchalovsky's buddy-cop action-comedy. "He thinks he's Rambo!" another Deputy intervenes. "Rambo," however, "is a pussy," and Sly doesn't want to be a pussy.
In case you were somehow unaware that Stallone played the one man wrecking machine, John Rambo, at his prime in the 1980s, you would have missed the joke here. For everyone else, the sight of Stallone wearing glasses and an Armani suit, acting a dick by poking fun at his main source of income (besides Rocky) is quite hilarious. Well, I thought so anyway...
Ray Tango (Stallone's character) is portrayed as wealthy and intelligent; while Gabe Cash, his soon-to-be-partner, (Russell) is seen as the scruffy, cocky one of the two. (Did I just say 'cocky'? That's two references to the male sex organ in the last two paragraphs. Slightly weird.) Both cops are well-respected by the LAPD for bringing down some of the city's biggest criminals, yet they still compete with one another regularly to see who gets the biggest news headline of the week.
After exchanging various insults and wisecracks, the pair are soon set up for murder by criminal mastermind Yves Perret (Jack Palance) and sent to prison. Here, they are tortured by the criminal inmates that they put behind bars years earlier, and, worse, they have to put up with one another's company in the shower. Actually I'll rephrase that: These guys love seeing each others' naked bodies in the shower, so much so that the running gag throughout the film involves the size of one another's manhood.
As you may have already noticed, there has been a lot of talk about the male genitalia in this review already. That's probably because there are so many homosexual innuendos in Tango & Cash that the shaft and balls image becomes implanted into your mind for quite some time after watching. But I am trying to keep my in-depth analysis of the gay subtext for a separate article; otherwise I may be here all night discussing scrotums and penises – something I really don’t want to do (sorry, gay friends).
Back to the plot, and, of course, the "couple" manage to escape from prison, take revenge on Perret and clear their names all rather quickly -- and all rather predictable, eh?
Yes, but Andrei Konchalovsky's film does have some appealing aspects (and no, I'm not talking about Sly Stallone's penis. Jeez) The dialogue, for one -- as idiotic as it is -- is entertaining. Stallone and Russell have a good amount of on-screen chemistry, bouncing insults off one another, which keeps the film moving along at a frenetic pace. Some might say the actors look as if they're really having ball. (Oh dear.)
With plenty of over-the-top action sequences, you could hardly blame them, either. Tango & Cash is a mindless macho flick with some impressive stunt work: There's plenty of big explosions, blazing guns and good old-fashioned fist fights, all which are accompanied by a catchy score from Harold Faltermeyer (Beverley Hills Cop).
Of course, the easiest thing the bad guy Perret could've done was shoot Tango and Cash each in the head to make things easier for himself -- but then we wouldn't have had a movie. For the majority of people looking for some substance here, that wouldn't have been any great loss. On the flip side, however, Tango & Cash is enough of an macho action-fantasy that it will entertain any man with a big pair of balls between his legs.
Hell, no use trying to avoid the subject of male genitalia anymore -- TANGO & CASH IS THE GAYEST MOVIE EVER MADE. There, I said it. Happy now?
Advantages: A very early version of Dumb & Dumber Disadvantages: None
Tango and Cash stars Stallone Sylvester and Kurt Russell. The story is your everyday run of the mill action/comedy. Two cops get framed by the crimelords they put away and end up in a maximum security prison full of criminals that they put behind. a few badly choreographed fights and a ridiculous prison break out by the stars sets them on their way to finding out who set them up and eventually to get revenge. Funny in places but let down by bad script ... ...looks ready to kill Stallone, the two stars do not appear to bond the way other characters in this genre do. This probably spawned in my view the Lethal Weapon films. Also on a side note you get to see a young Teri Hatcher playing Stallones sister ( she's an exotic dancer ) ...
SaimAhmed 29.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Tango And Cash (DVD)
Advantages: Russell and Stallone work well on-screen Disadvantages: Plot, too short
This film put together two of the biggest action stars of the day.....and that's about it. Following on from the 48 Hours mould, this mismatched cop flick is certainly action-packed and contains some good one liners, but suffers from attempting to borrow off too many other films [the Bond rip-off of LAPD armourer (hmm...) is absolutely ridiculous] and a complete lack of subtlety.
Kurt Russell (Cash) and Sylvester Stallone (Tango) actually have a ... ...ventures are constantly vetoed by LA's two top cops: so he has them set up for murder. So follows one of those annoyingly quick action films (which also includes an early appearance by Teri Hatcher) where contrived scene follows contrived scene until the main contrived scene arrives, then everyone has a chuckle and end of.
I would probably watch this if it's on TV, but I wouldn't recommend buying it. A better film of this genus would be 48 Hours, ...
browneye 11.12.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Tango And Cash (DVD)
Advantages: Cheap to buy on video and DVD Disadvantages: A little lame in places
...stars as LA cop Ray Tango while Kurt Russell is Gabe Cash, his hated partner. The two get framed for a crime they didn't do, by a criminal who wants them out of the way. They end up in prison together and then break out to get the man who put them there. It's an unlikely but fun scenario. There are some violent scenes but that's typical of an action film like this.
Terri Hatcher co-stars as Tango's sister and of course, there's a touch of romance ... ...it up as an international criminal.
The acting isn't the greatest in the world and the plot and general background are predictable but it's still a fun movie. There are some great one-liners as well, especially from a cantankerous Sylvester Stallone. The two main characters are likeable and the film doesn't take itself too seriously. Stallone and Russell had generally only done straight action films at this point so it was a little bit different ...
Mel27 01.06.2005 (02.06.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Tango And Cash (DVD)
Advantages: Funny, a bit of action Disadvantages: Doesn't really stand out
I've read some other opinions on this film and they seemed to be a little harsh. It is definately not a classic, but is still entertaining and better than 90% of movies out there.
Sly Stallone and Kurt Russel play the two best cops in, I think its LA. They both get framed by this bloke(a little vague i know), who wants no police hassle whilst working on his latest crime.
The film contains some great wit and nice action scenes. I don't care what ...
SimonGii 07.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Tango And Cash (DVD)
Two big-headed cops must bury their emnity in order to work together when they are framed for murder by a ruthless international crimelord.
Release details
Studio(s)
WARNER HOME VIDEO; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Release date
26/04/1999
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
D 011951
Barcode
7321900119511
Languages
Main Language
English
Technical information
Special Features
Interactive Menus, Scene Access, Production Notes
Aspect Ratio
2.35 Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1
Professional reviews
Review
...The director plays it bright and hard....Stallone gives a quick, lively, likable performance... (Los Angeles Times, 01/04/2009)
DVD Description
Tango and Cash are two L.A. narcotics cops that go together like caviar and French fries. Dressed in three-piece suits and glasses, Tango (Sylvester Stallone) is the suave policeman; in his nine-dollar shirts and jeans, Cash (Kurt Russell) is Tango's salt-of-the-earth rival on the force. Each has spent his days and nights cracking down on drug dealers, to the fury of crime boss Yves Perret (Jack Palance). When Perret and his gang frame the two cops and have them sent to prison, it turns out that Tango and Cash don't get along any better behind bars than they did in the station house (they trade insults, and protest having to shower together). But when the ruling underground goons of the penitentiary torture them, Tango and Cash join forces to overthrow the prison menace, and, in the process, escape. Once free, they pursue Perret and attempt to destroy his cartel for good--that is, when Cash isn't busy romancing Tango's sister, Kiki (Teri Hatcher), further straining the pair's already tense working partnership. Atypically directed by Russian filmmaker Andrei Konchalovsky (collaborator with arthouse cinema legend Andrei Tarkovsky and older brother of director Nikita Mikhalkov), TANGO & CASH remains one of the unsung action-comedy buddy films of the 1980s.
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