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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

Joe Gower (Judge Reinhold) is a likable librarian who's currently in a bit of a slump with his girlfriend having left him and being passed over once again for promotion. Joe's best friend Officer Abe Washington (Cleavant Derricks) is assigned to a dance program for charity that will be done entirely with police officers, and not wanting to deal with it calls in a favor from Joe to take his place after Joe inadvertently blew a sting operation. Joe takes on the persona of "A. Washington" and meets another cop, Rachel Wareham with whom he falls in love.

Off Beat was one of three comedies Judge Reinhold released in 1986 alongside comedy classic Ruthless People and other comedy Head Office with both Head Office and Off Beat going mostly ignored at the box office. Written by Mark Medoff, better known for more serious minded content like Children of a Lesser God, the movie was marketed as a more zany madcap hijinx comedy in line with films such as Stripes or Police Academy when it was a much more lowkey character based comedy with a romance element. The movie did get solid responses back in the day including from Roger Ebert who declared it one of the year's best comedies, but other reception seemed to have been colder and the film failed to recoup its $10 million budget petering out at $4 million. Off Beat is one of the more obscure films in Reinhold's filmography and has been mostly neglected from further home video releases or releases on digital storefronts and that's a shame because while Off Beat isn't perfect, it's a likable film with solid leads that's quite enjoyable.

Reinhold is undeniably what makes this movie. With his likable good natured simplicity he's really the perfect fit for this lovable underdog and the sequences of him dancing alongside harder edged cops Such as Joe Mantegna who make their disdain for dancing quite clear. Meg Tilly makes a nice counterpart to Reinhold and the two have believable chemistry that helps sell the core romance in the film. The movie also has a nice set of supporting actors including an early turn by John Turtoro as Reninhold's rival Pepper, Penn Jillette has fun playing Reinhold's Travis Bickle esque co-worker Norman who spouts nonsensical tirades about mailing explosives to TV stations for cancelling Family Feud of all things, and even Harvey Keitel makes an appearance as one of a pair of robbers in the climax that are played almost how you'd expect in a serious crime thriller making them a welcome point of comic contrast to the farcical nature of the material. Not every bit works as Mantegna's character feels like he's setup to be more important than he actually ends up being and some of the material surrounding Cleavant Derricks' Abe Washington character doesn't hold much water even when accounting for "comedic logic", but the movie is so likable and good natured I find it easy to recommend.

Off Beat has been unfairly forgotten and the fact that it's not available on digital storefront or current home media is disappointing. I've seen other failed comedy films from around this time that are disgustingly easy to get access to (Hot to Trot and First Family certainly come to mind) but this movie despite not being a comedy classic really should've been given more of a chance. It's not a laugh riot by any stretch, but it's a nice little movie with likable characters and a solid enough execution of a high concept.

I just wonder what movie David Dein was watching. David have you ever heard of the suspension of disbelief? It was not a true story. Meg Tilly who (not whom)is usually wonderful was just as wonderful here, as was Judge Reinhold, John Turturro, Harvey Keitel (and his partner) and Penn Gillette. Cleavant Derricks was outstanding and worth the price of admission all by himself. the only criticism i can muster is for the usually reliable Joe Mantegna. It seems that comedy is not his forte. He seemed to be overacting in the extreme. All in all this is a very amusing movie, with some clever plot twists and some interesting characters. It is not "The Godfather" but it is very pleasant, clever and amusing and well worth your time.

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!