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| Starsky & Hutch
Directed By: Todd
Phillips Plot
Summary - Review 1 - Review
2 - CURRENT REVIEWS
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| Set in the 1970s in a metropolis called "Bay City," this is the tale of two police detective partners, Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson (Wilson), and Dave Starsky (Stiller), who always seem to get the toughest cases from their boss, Captain Dobey, rely on omniscient street informer Huggy Bear (Dogg) and race to the scene of the crimes in their souped-up 1974 Ford Torino hot rod, telling the story of their first big case (as a prequel to the TV show), which involved a former college campus drug dealer (Vaughn) who went on to become a white collar criminal (Electra plays Hutch's girlfriend). [TRAILERS] Who would have imagined, that of all the films to be based on decades-old TV sitcoms, “Starsky and Hutch” we be among the most lively and entertaining? About the crime-fighting duo of Dave Starsky (Ben Stiller) and Ken Hutchinson (Owen Wilson), the ultimate odd-couple pairing between the reserved, pragmatic Starsky and the care-free, wild-cannon Hutchinson, the television series became a cult classic in large part due to the sexual chemistry between the two lead characters. Much as people cite marijuana references in “Scooby Doo,” there has been speculation of more than just professional camaraderie between Starsky and Hutch. Screenwriters John O’Brien, Todd Phillips and Scot Armstrong are wise in their approach to the movie, creating a story that encourages the chemistry between their leads rather than an absurd, over-the-top production that would have devoured the characters. As many television shows grace the big screen, they seem to stand outside of their source material, creating a “big movie” scenario that has little feel for what made the show a hit. “Starsky and Hutch,” the movie, celebrates everything that was silly, corny, but loveable about the series. Reese Feldman (Vince Vaughn) is a drug tycoon who has found a way to render cocaine undetectable to police canines and police analysis. The ramifications of such an innovation are obvious: It can be transported without detection. But Feldman’s murder of a former business associate, which we witness during the film’s opening credits, eventually leads Starsky and Hutch into the thick of the things, as they follow the trail of a corpse to the doors of Feldman’s home. Of course, they would get nowhere without the help of Huggy Bear, a smooth-talking informant of the streets played hilariously by Snoop Dogg. Any discussion of the film must first start with its casting. As Starsky and Hutch, Stiller and Wilson are nothing short of perfect. Stiller, who has for ages been typecast as a male character who makes mistakes and is abused for his transgressions, breaks out of that rut, playing Starsky as a straight-shooting man so sure of himself that his arrogance is a hilarious counterpart to his ineptitude. Wilson brings a surfer-dude’s mentality to Hutch, serving as the relaxed, mellow foil to Starsky’s anal tendencies. Together, they are the humorous ends of the two extremes, butting heads with an endearing, hilarious chemistry. Never is this disparity funnier than in two of the film’s later scenes. In the first, their roles become reversed, as Starsky accidentally ingests cocaine at a dance club and morphs from prude cop to wired disco dancer. In the second, as Feldman attempts to make a getaway by boat, Hutch convinces Starsky to live on the edge, take a risk, and drive his boat off a pier and onto the yacht. These scenes by themselves are not all that hilarious, but mix in Stiller and Owen’s back and forth, and you have something irresistible and fun. But apart from the two leads is a supporting cast that fills in the film wonderfully. Vaughn, as Feldman, is the same sarcastic, boorish, wise-cracking character that he always is. But here, outside his typical buddy-comedy scenario, Vaughn creates a most memorable and unusual villain. And Snoop, as Bear, brings some smooth style and attitude to a part that gives him almost nothing to work with. While most comedies stall between bits, “Starsky and Hutch” stays afloat thanks to its parade of supporting characters. Heck, even Will Ferrell (“Elf”) makes a brief appearance. Sitting back, and judging this film as a whole, I must marvel at how well everything gels. The casting is great, the characters funny, the story fresh, and many of the laughs come as genuine surprises. There is an energy behind Stiller and Owen’s chemistry that excites us, and plenty of subtle suggestions about the pair’s romantic interests (soundtrack selections, shower scenes, Village People-esqe disguises) that are hilarious for those who know to look. Above all, however, is the film’s willingness to laugh at itself. This is not fine art, but pop culture fun, and for once the filmmakers seem in on the joke.  Check out Reviews, Commentary, and More at Zertinet.com |
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