Running Scared (1986)

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1. 

   VonStupp

   Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines, in my opinion, surprisingly make a very believable pair of veteran Chicago cops who have been working together for 15+ years. Watching Running Scared again after so many years, I sat down preparing for the worst, but Crystal and Hines have great witty repartee without bumbling or acting slapsticky, forcing the comedy over the top, but instead, effortlessly bantering as if they have been doing it for years.
   
   The investigation, as this is a buddy cop movie, is pretty straight forward, as Crystal and Hines attempt to bust drug king pin Jimmy Smits. There is a great opening salvo which really cements the tone for the rest of the movie and establishes the kind of characters you will be spending time with. A great comic appearance by Joe Pantoliano as the rat informant and a bust gone wrong, lead to Running Scared’s hook. While the two buddy cops live, breathe, and eat the police life, they are forced into a tropical vacation (complete with a great Michael McDonald song), their life priorities change, and it results in their possible retirement. Suffice to say, Crystal and Hines suffer work anxiety and they have to find out what it truly means to be a cop and avoid being killed in the process.
   
   There are terrific gags throughout the movie, a top-notch car chase featuring a priest, a nun, and cars on the Chicago elevated train line, and a great final shootout. Double-crosses and bad guys are prolific in the story as well as great Chicago locales in nearly every scene. One thing that pulled me out of the movie was Billy Crystal’s voice imitations that were obviously placed in the story because audiences would have expected it of Crystal at the time, but these moments were generally unnecessary. Despite that one niggling flaw, I really had a great time watching this movie and recommend it to anyone who enjoys 80’s buddy cop comedies. 9 years 3 months ago
2. 

   Ralf

   How isn't this one more popular? A comedy much in the vein of Beverly Hills Cop or 48 Hrs., but much-much funnier than those two films. The chemistry between Gregory Hines and Billy Crystal is spectacular, which is baffling considering they had apparently never met before filming began. Almost every joke works. Their bickering and bantering is priceless. A movie laden with hilarity, along with some good shoot-outs and car chases to boot. 10 years 9 months ago
3. 

   Earring72

   Forgettable action buddy comedy. Low on story and predictable but great pairing and chemistry between Crystal and Hines and some funny moments and nice action. 1 week ago

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