It’s funny to think that after almost twenty years almost no one cares that this movie is actually based on a popular seventies television show. Starsky And Hutch is a dumb but highly entertaining buddy cop action comedy with a great cast. We’ve got Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson playing the lead roles with a lot of familiar faces in supporting roles. I mean, Vince Vaughn is the main bad guy while Snoop Dogg plays the role of Huggy Bear the Snitch. You already know the formula for this type of movie. A bit of humorous banter, and a few chase scenes followed by a couple of shootouts and cool stunts. And before you know it, the movie is over and you’re looking for more of the same.
Starsky and Hutch is not just a buddy cop movie but it’s also a movie set in the seventies. So, you can expect a lot of love for that fascinating decade. If you’re feeling nostalgic about the seventies, this is the movie that’s going to scratch that itch. The fashion, cars, music and pretty much everything else is going to transport you back to the disco era. A time when things were done differently. The movie sits comfortably between a parody and a tribute. It’s not quite The Other Guys, MacGruber or Black Dynamite nor it is The Nice Guys. All three of these movies are great choices to watch by the way but more about that later.
Moving on, with a budget of $60 million they could go nuts with the production values and stunts. The soundtrack is excellent and the cinematography is juicy. And the car park is going to knock you out cold if you’re a car guy/girl. Of course, the star of the show is the car Starsky and Hutch drive, a 1976 Ford Gran Torino looking slick as fuck. On top of all of that, the energy between Stiller and Wilson was wild. They were playing off each other coming off as true friends and partners. Something they perfected a couple of years earlier in Zoolander. The pacing is excellent and the atmosphere is lively.
The streets of Bay City, California just got a little less dangerous. Starsky and Hutch, two unusual police officers got their men and put them behind bars. However, those same streets are about to become much more dangerous and deadly even. An evil drug kingpin Feldman just developed a new kind of cocaine with the help of his chemist. And there are only two men who can stop him and his evil plans.
If I asked you what Starsky and Hutch was about a week from now I bet you couldn’t remember. I mean, they’re cops, there are bad guys, a lot of cocaine, cool cars and that’s about it. And that’s alright, this is one of those forgettable movies we all watch from time to time. I find them to be relaxing, a pure escapism experience complete with the time travel aspect. Finally, if you’re looking for movies like Starsky and Hutch, check out The Dukes of Hazard and CHIPS. I also have to add Free Fire to that shortlist although it’s not a buddy cop movie. However, it’s exciting, and original and takes place during the seventies over the course of one wild night.
Director: Todd Phillips
Writers: William Blinn, Stevie Long, John O’Brien
Cast: Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Snoop Dogg, Jason Bateman, Fred Williamson
Fun Facts: There was supposed to be a scene with shurikens (ninja or throwing stars) in the movie but it was thrown out. If a movie features a scene with them it automatically receives 18+ rating in the UK.
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IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335438/
