Partners in Crime

The film is worth watching primarily because of the beauty of the father (Rutger Hauer) - daughter (Sarah Ashley) relationship. Touching scenes take place between the two characters, showing the true love between a parent who raises his child alone, without a mother. This puts the film in the category of Melodrama. The Crime or Thriller category is a bit softer, well, that's how the script is written. In my humble opinion, an experienced police detective (Hauer) and an equally experienced FBI agent (ex-wife played by the charming Paulina Porizkova), seconded by two more FBI agents, would have realized from the very beginning who the perpetrator could be, more precisely, immediately after the moment when Gene Reardon (Hauer) and Lloyd Dyer (Andrew Dolan) searched, just the two of them, the lockers in the changing rooms. That's how it is in the movies! And, from my own experience, it's not easy to make a perfect film. The important thing is to make one worthy of being watched.

"Partners in Crime" is a surprisingly good little movie. Okay, you know who the villain is in the first half hour, but the story still contains enough surprises to be interesting. Rutger Hauer (who's one of my favorite actors even in bad movies) is very good as a small town detective who's reunited with his ex-wife, a successful FBI agent. He has great scenes with the actress who plays the ex-wife and with the young girl who plays his daughter from a subsequent marriage. For a film that's marketed as a B-movie action flick, there is actually a great deal of character development and some very good performances. If you're bored with everything in the new releases section at the video store, try this one.

I bought this movie the other day for the sole reason that I like Rutger Hauer, I always have since "the Hitcher". The problem is that I always compare him to that movie and he's never done anything that comes near that one again. However, I bought this and watched it, Rutger Hauer is the only this about this movie that's good And he's just doing his job, nothing out of the ordinary.

The plot is quite dull and nothing new. Then they spoil it further by throwing in an ex wife of his... I wish they would concentrate on the actual crime instead, it would be much better. But as I said, Rutger does his job well but not great. This is only for Fans of Rutger Hauer. 5/10

Movie-Man

This enjoyable film reminds me of a more pedestrian version of Last of the Dog Men, at least in feel. The landscape is compelling and the performances all around are quite good. The director has an easy hand which works well even with the mystery and pseudo-action sequences. Good job by the young girl that plays Hauer's daughter. Too often these child roles fall into the maudlin, but she comes across convincingly here.

The highlight isn't the none-too-convoluted plot, but rather the interaction between the two leads. You need to suspend disbelief for some of the story line elements, but the reward is a fun film that was made with obvious care. And it is quite refreshing to see Hauer with some decent material to work with. He may play a good villain, but is at his finest when exploring the layers of a troubled good guy.

This one plays like a Made-for-TV Movie with an Uninspired Look and So-So Story. The Acting is Fine with an Exceptional and Truly Believable Performance from Sarah Ashley as Rutger Hauer's Daughter.

The Plot Trots along and is not as Interesting as the Character Relationships and things never Accelerate until the final Scenes. There aren't enough Red Herrings to make it Intriguing, and the lack of Suspects is Unforgivable and anyone would be hard pressed to think that the Frame is anything but, and herein lacks the Suspense and Mystery.

Not a Bad Movie but is so Lackadaisical it hardly ever moves Beyond its Mediocrity. For Rutger Hauer Fans or those wanting a Smooth, Bloodless, and Unchallenging Who-Done-It.