Off Beat

Happy-go-lucky Joe Gower (Judge Reinhold) is a rollerskating New York City librarian. His idiocy causes trouble for his policeman best friend Abe Washington (Cleavant Derricks). Abe is forced to tryout for a police charity performance as punishment. He sends in Gower to impersonate him. Instead of quickly failing out of the tryout, Gower falls for policewoman Rachel Wareham (Meg Tilly) and joins the charity troupe. Also joining the group is Rachel's angry ex Pete Peterson (Joe Mantegna). Gower impersonating a police officer eventually causes problems.

This is trying to be wacky funny but there is a disconnect with the subject matter. It sucks the comedy right out of the movie. First, Gower is a bit annoying. If he's a girl, Gower could play it off as a dumb blonde. The first scene is his idiocy allowing a criminal to escape. It's a little quirky but really bad if you think about it. Then there is the impersonating police. That's not a good thing. It doesn't help that he's so nonchalant about it. It's really infuriating. I usually like Judge but not here. Why is he wearing the uniform in public? Why would Abe continue to allow him to borrow his uniform? Every time he dismisses Abe's concern is like a knife jabbing in my ear. Wouldn't other cops notice that he doesn't have a gun? Him buying a gun does not help. I expected the idiot to shoot himself or worst someone else. How do you convict a car thief with only an anonymous note? This is not a movie fit for thinking deeply. The more I think about it, the less I like this.

Meek librarian (Judge Reinhold) assumes the identity of his pal (Clevant Derricks) who happens to be a police officer. The charade leads to some very mild comedy. With such a fine cast, this should have been a far better film. Unfortunately the talent of Joe Mantegna, John Turturro, Meg Tilly, Harvey Keitel, Mike Starr, Fred Gwynne, and Anthony Zerbe is badly wasted. Reinhold sandwiched between Mantegna and Tilly in the front seat of a speeding police car, while they calmly discuss their failed relationship, is the best scene. Fred Gwynne in a small part as the mayor is great, but that's about it. How could such an interesting cast wind up in such a dull comedy? - MERK

I don't usually previously see the IMDB's rating of the picture about to watch, it somehow shall affect my own assessment, turns out that unequivocable I'd accessed the IMDB's site to clarify if I'd already watched it, well I didn't, however I saw the low rating, so in the possession of this info, here I go to see it expecting the worst, along the movie this odd feeling is changing slowing, then I've figure out why OFF BEAT had received so lowest rating.

In my opinion because a neuralgic point whereof the movie touches, in manhood of the viewers, aside the offering is about a couple cops affair, behind it has a dancing contest sponsored by Police department, it sounds a g.a,y picture, it wasn't whatsoever, just implies a hint in some sequences, actually in the eighties it was so normally on those comic productions aiming for mocking of the characters in some outrageous situations, as expose along the movie.

Judge Reinhold had garnered good reviews after BEVERLY HILLS COP was high above at its period of time, Meg Tilly neither, the casting is fabulous even some actors in a shortest appearance as Fred Gwynne, Anthony Zerbe, Harvey Keitel, John Turturro Austin Pendleton, in other hand Joe Mantegna, Cleavant Derricks has enough space in the plot, it has many funny moments to share, all them bounded in a G.a.y. Mannerism, such thing made great damages on the ratings, although it were its best moments.

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First watch: 2024 / How many: 1 / Source: Youtube / Rating: 7.

NOT a cop movie. All those wanting to see a cop movie walk on by.

This is one heack of a charming, SLOWburning romantic comedy though, with lots of tongue in cheek jokes.

The good: excellent supporting actors, among which Harvey Keitel and John Turturro, who truly act brilliantly! Hilarious.

More good: Judge Rheinhold. I have been a fan of this actor from his early acting days (Beverly Hills Cop). Judge Rheinhold doesnt have to say anything to be funny, he simply has to look puzzled. And puzzled he is in this mixed up story.

The story: Judge Rheinhold is a total looser working a dead end job in a basement in a library. BUT he has got a cop friend, whose identity he takes over, with hilarious (and romantic) results.

Lots of charming tongue in cheek jokes (not laugh out loud funny). Lots of budding romance. One heck of a lovely romantic "cop" comedy.

Definitely a forgotten eighties gem. I have been looking for years for this very movie. I couldnt find it anywhere. And to my surprise it can be seen for free on Youtube! What a joy!

I've just seen this movie, and no offence, but it was a major letdown. I remember this drive in movie playing at the time when Judge Reinhold was well makin' a name for himself in the mid 80/late 80 phase. Why the reason, for seeing it now? A relation of mine, gave me a few bags of VHS'S and this time, like last, I picked out more a minority. I only got a few laughs, mainly in the early part, the cop chase, quite funny, a highpoint, but annoying too. Meg Tilly does look hot here, in dance wear, and her punching out fellow cop, (Top Gun's shouting captain, James Tolkan) was a grand moment. As a favor, for stuffing up an undercover operation, involving his best friend, a cop, run down, unfulfilled librarian, Joey Gower (Reinhold) charades as his buddy, playing the role, where he attends these full cop rehearsals for a stage show, but inadvertently falls in love with Tilly, where complications and that, arise as you can probably guess. The film has a lot of stale scenes, one lengthy scene, I thought was gonna gonna go for the rest of the movie, where Reinhold gets caught in a bank robbery, where actors, Harvey Keitel ans Victor Argo (the robbers) are the comic relief. So many good actors are wasted in this forgettable film, it kind of pi..ed me off, to be honest. This is just one of those eighties, pretty week comedies, where a few actors should of been locked up for their time in this, ninety plus minutes, I could of been doing many other productive things.