Fatal Beauty

Yet another cop who doesn't always "play by the rules". Not a bad movie, it just seems like such a superfluous one, full of cliche characters and excessive violence. As you watch you keep thinking you've seen it all done before - and better. It doesn't have the gravitas of "French Connection" or "Bullitt", nor does it have the subversive wit of "Lethal Weapon" or "Beverly Hills Cop".

Alas, the combo of Whoopi Goldberg and Sam Elliott just does not work.

You won't miss much if you skip this one.

This film is fantastic, containing action, comedy and drama. Typical 80's style (i.e: Beverley Hill Cop style). Its good to see a comedian based actress playing parts both funny and serious. If you are a Whoopi Goldberg fan, you will not be disappointed.

Alongside Whoopi, Sam Elliott (Mask, Road House) plays a good guy on the wrong side and the chemistry between him and Whoopi shows very well. What makes a good film is when two different style actors/actresses bounce off each other in a positive way.

Also includes the brilliant actor Brad Dourif (Child's Play). Never fails to play an excellent bad guy.

Not going to give much away in this review as you can tell, because the movie speaks for itself... However, if you enjoy a good action film with a side of humour, without all the 'star wars' special effects... Fatal Beauty should be on your list!

I do love what Whoopi Goldberg does with her character Rizzoli as an undercover narcotics cop. But the term Fatal Beauty is for a certain deadly designer drug that she is tracking down the source of. Nevertheless Whoopi proves to be quite fatal to any number of the characters in the film.

But this film suffers from a really muddled script and the distinct possibility that the several bad guys who want this shipment of this nasty Fatal Beauty stuff are imbibing a bit too much of it themselves. Whoopi's target is Harris Yulin a big New Orleans contractor who is deep in the narcotics trade unofficially. But Yulin himself has troubles in his own ranks.

Sam Elliott's character as Yulin's bodyguard and enforcer is also a mystery. I couldn't figure out what his function is as he keeps saving Goldberg.

Whoopi is fun to watch especially slugging it out with rich society woman Jennifer Warren. But the film is just too murky.

"Fatal Beauty" may indeed be a crime/comedy/action flick, but for those who have not seen it, there is a serious underlying message that comes over loud and clear about the potential consequences of taking illegal narcotics. There are no underlying messages in the aforementioned Eddie Murphy films. The most moving part of the film is when Whoopi (Rita Razzoli), gives Sam Elliott (Mike Marshak), her reasons for her dedication in fighting the good fight against the targeted crime boss. If you have not seen the film I will not spoil it here by telling you her reason. See the film for yourself.

Then we have Sam Elliott, who is an excellent if unwilling partner, to begin with. He is actually head of security for the crime boss (Harris Yulin), tasked with keeping Rita from coming to harm and siding with Rita in two well staged gunfights. I also have to mention Rubin Blades, who actually does a good job, playing the role of Rita's somewhat put upon cop partner. All in all, it's one of my favorite films in this field.

Overall rating: 7 out of 10.

Rita Rizzoli (Whoopi Goldberg) is going to put the drug king out of business who is producing a deadly drug that's killing people off at an alarming rate. The drug king's top security man, Mike Marshak (Sam Elliott), takes a shine to Rita, although we aren't sure why. I spent the entire film thinking he might be an undercover cop -not so. Had it been any other actor besides Elliott I think this flaw might have prevented the film from being believable. But Elliott, and his cool, understated style just swept me away with his obvious attraction to Rita. There are some very moving moments, some frighteningly real back alley scenes of drug dealings and shootout after shootout. I didn't know what to expect with this film, and was hoping Whoopi would sail with it. She did!