Running Scared (1986)

One of my all time favorites.

Dreadfully Boring

A Brilliant Conflict

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

When I'm watching it this is my favorite movie. If I'm watching, 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum', that's my favorite. The rest of the time I'm torn. This is one of the flicks I'd give an 11 if I could. It has very nice eye candy, good action, a great cast, excellent tunes AND the funny is the sh*t. Not sh*t sh*t, good sh*t. This is a must see for fans of buddy cop flicks. It is simply outstanding and I can watch it every year.

If the multi-hyphenated 80s buddy-cop action-comedy Running Scared is to be believed being a lowly paid cop charged with keeping the peace in a scungy, rundown area is one of the biggest laughs possible. A shootout with drug dealers is simply an opportunity for frivolity and mirth, and a heavily armed criminal hell bent on ending your existence is merely a chance to crack wise and enjoy each others company.Even a family funeral is a non-stop chucklefest… Danny (Billy Crystal) and Ray (Gregory Hines) are the opposite of the usual 'mismatched' partners (think Mel and Danny, Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, Arnie and anybody), they are so very 'matched' that they don't chat as much as riff. They're so close they even 'clink' donuts.But all good things must (nearly) end, so after a career mis-step the duo are forced into vacation (I told you nearly being killed every day is fun, they don't want to leave!), and they head South from the snowy, drab ghettos to sunny Miami beach.A few days, several margaritas and some scantily clad beach babes later and Danny and Ray decide that perhaps booze filled sex-fests might just trump sludge-covered death traps, and they decide to retire from the force and buy a bar in Miami.But first they decide to do the right thing and head back from vacation to hand in their notice personally, giving them one last chance at the local drug kingpin – and their nemesis – Gonzales (Jimmy Smits). Come on they couldn't retire without taking down Gonzalez could they? Running Scared is lighter than Paris Hilton's head, and some of the jokes are as well worn as the contents of her pants. But that aside Crystal and Hines barely pause for breath between japes, never letting up regardless of their circumstance.The film definitely emphasises the 'action' in action-comedy, but that said the shootouts and chases heat up in the latter stages of the film. Running Scared also boasts a few classic lines and a couple of memorable images in between the yuk-yuks. While it isn't an all-time classic as a film, it must have made for a good 2 minute trailer in the late 80s.Final Rating – 6 / 10. A decent, albeit forgettable buddy-cop effort with wall to wall jokes that fly by alongside the bullets aimed at the indefatigable ever cheery duo.

Very funny cop/buddy movie that owes a lot to the inspired teaming of Gregory Hines and Billy Crystal. The script may not be much, but it has enough in it to keep the audience interested, while director Peter Hyams keeps the action and, more importantly, the comedy, rolling at a good pace. For it is the comedy that makes this picture.Hines and Crystal are in great form. They play off each other wonderfully, and their comic timing is perfect as they deliver some hilarious lines. Situation after situation will have you in stitches in this film. Writers Gary De Vore and Jimmy Huston certainly have a sharp sense of humour.Tuesday, July 7, 1992 - Video

This was one of the first "R"-rated movies I was "allowed" to see, thus I have a special fondness for it. However, the on-screen chemistry of Hines and Crystal transcends such sentimentality and makes this a gem. While the writing may be weak in some respects, these two consummate professionals overcame it. The supporting cast is outstanding, though I still see "Nick Tortelli" in the Captain. Furthermore, it's wonderful to see how far Jimmy Smits has come as an actor, though his role here is fun to watch.It is shameful Hines and Crystal did not do anything else together of any notoriety.