Loose Cannons

I thought that these two actors would make a good film together...I was sorely mistaken. The jokes were bad, Hackman's acting (if it can indeed be called that) is forced, and Aykroyd is flat-out embarrassing. I wanted to cry, but I couldn't; I was asleep. Nothing worked in this movie.

I'm 15. I first remember seeing this film along time ago when I was about 8 or 9 years old. Now after renting from the video store I had a chance to view it again.

Gene Hackman plays Mac, a cop who is reluctantly partnered with Ellis (Dan Aykroyd) to solve a series of grisly murders. Ellis also happens to have Multiple Personality Disorder and when faced with violence he begins to go into these alternate personalities, mostly characters from popular television shows. Back to the story, the killer behind the murders is a German named Von Metz (Robert Prosky) who has employed a group of bloodthirsty hitmen to kill anyone who has viewed a snuff film that contains the death of Hitler at the hands of Von Metz. Now Von Metz, if he can get the film off the black market, will almost certainly be elected as chancellor of West Germany.

Now a lot of people have dissed this movie for numerous reasons; I only agree with a few of them. Yes, I think Dan Aykroyd's character could have been pulled off by somebody better, like Robin Williams. This movie isn't really all that violent, yes people get shot a lot, but that is about it, even though many people say it is. Also many people say this movie isn't really that funny, I found myself laughing quite a few times.

I give it a 6/10

Gene Hackman.

Poor old Gene Hackman.

We just lost him here recently and this is one of the few movies of his that I haven't seen.

It's because of him it's only rated as high as it is.

That and the late director Bob Clark.

Because Dan Aykroyd, who I love dearly, almost singlehandedly destroyed this entire movie.

His character is so obnoxious.

So over the top.

So ridiculous.

I highly doubt that guy could continue to be in law enforcement investigations with that behavior, that instability.

But I know this is a comedy. So, I get it. But he's just not funny.

David Alan Grier is in this.

You forget how long he's been around.

And Tobin Bell too.

Wow. The dude from Saw.

I know Bob Clark made some stinkers. Especially, sadly, towards the end of his career and his life cut tragically short.

But this movie just isn't very good.

It should've been.

With Hackman and Aykroyd and the direction of Clark.

It should've been gold.

It's not.

I consider this film a guilty pleasure. Yes, it's terrible, and my inner film critic tells me I should absolutely hate it, but hey, it's like one of those comedians such as George Carlin whose sole purposes are to offend and make you laugh. This movie did both for me. I absolutely hate stupid comedies without a brain, but actually, there seem to have been some brains behind this film. The prolific science fiction screenwriter and short story author Richard Matheson - one of my favorites - worked on the script with his author son, so there was obviously more behind this than all the other absolutely awful mainstream "comedies" of the '80s. I think I know what they were getting at - they had a bunch of really wild, unrelated ideas, and decided to put them all into one movie. What other movie can you think of with Neo-Nazis, a cop-buddy formula, Colombian drug dealer torture, Isreali agents, a long-lost porno film starring Adolf Hitler, S&M, and multiple-personality disorder all in one movie, and a comedy at that?! I give them credit for the balls they had in putting all that stuff together. Heck, they were probably making things up as they went along. A lot of it is actually quite funny. Also, believe it or not, director Bob Clark has a very good eye for detail. This is a movie all the critics were destined to love to hate, considering the pedigree of the cast, producer Aaron Spelling (The Love Boat, Charlie's Angels) and director Bob Clark ("A Christmas Story", "Porkies", and "Turk 182"). But if you approach this in the right mindset - as a trashy drive-in-type movie with a bigger budget that's both intentionally and unintentionally funny - you may enjoy it.

Both my son Jack and I very much enjoy this film. The critics have given this film a bad review but we don't care. Gene Hackman's presence as always lifts the film and Dan Aykroyd makes a good foil; a sort of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Not over violent with some good jokes. Ronny Cox, always watchable. Paul Koslo makes a good heavy. Come on critics, lighten up!!