Starsky & Hutch Review
by Laura Clifford (laura AT reelingreviews DOT com)March 5th, 2004
STARSKY & HUTCH
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'Arch your back and look back over your shoulder mean, like a dragon.' Big Earl
Dave Starsky (Ben Stiller, "Along Came Polly") is a straight arrow cop who believes in delivering on the job in return for his good salary. Ken Hutchinson (Owen Wilson, "The Big Bounce") is a laid back party animal who thinks his low pay justifies shady side jobs (like robbery). Disgusted by Starsky's expensive antics recovering a stolen purse containing six dollars, Captain Dobey (Fred Williamson, "Original Gangstas") gives him an unlikely partner. With the aid of snitch Huggy Bear (Snoop Dogg, "Malibu's Most Wanted"), the duo who seem to succeed in spite of themselves are "Starsky & Hutch."
I never really watched the 1970's "Starsky & Hutch" television series, so I cannot attest to the movie's referential veracity. What I can say is that director Todd Phillips ("Old School") has a flair for silly guy humor, Stiller and Wilson's opposing approaches to comedy are perfectly paralleled in their casting here and the 70's come alive again via fondue, AMC Pacers and Barry Manilow. "Starsky & Hutch" isn't an out and out laugh riot, but it is enough fun to leave a smile on your face.
After discovering a body floating in the bay (which Hutch wants to nudge out to sea), the duo begin an investigation which will lead them to wealthy Bay City businessman Reese Feldman (Vince Vaughn, "Old School") who is about to pull off the biggest drug deal in the city's history. He's developed a 'New Coke,' an undetectable cocaine that tastes sweet. In order to pin Feldman to the crime, Starsky and Hutch go undercover as "Easy Rider's" Billy and Wyatt to meet Big Earl (Will Ferrell, "Elf"), wire Huggy as Feldman's faux caddy, appear as mimes for Reese's daughter's Bat Mitzvah and, most distressingly, force themselves to date cheerleaders Holly (Amy Smart, "The Butterfly Effect") and Staci (Carmen Electra, "My Boss's Daughter") who may have information.
Stiller's wired intensity combusts paired with Wilson's stoner charm, most hilariously when exaggerated by Starsky's accidental ingestion of cocaine during a double date. When he flames out, Hutch is left with double the pleasure. Stiller's physical ability to flail around while still holding his body like a clenched fist perfectly serves his nerdy dancing, jogging, criminal chasing and propensity for accidentally shooting harmless animals. Starsky's 1974 red and white Ford Gran Torino is a muscle car metaphor for his own pent up energy. Wilson's good looks and 'What me worry?' vibe are catnip to the ladies and gasoline to fuel Stiller's fire. His comfort with whatever's going on about him heightens the hilarity - watch his eyes drop and hold on a disrobing woman while Stiller agonizes averting his gaze. Wilson also gets a hippie dippie musical number, accompanying himself on guitar for David Soul's 1977 #1 hit "Don't Give Up On Us, Baby," which he may or may not be addressing to Starsky.
Vaughn uses the same brand of daring deadpan that he brought to "Old School's" anarchy, replacing that character's underlying friendly affection with lethal determination and still making it comical. Will Ferrell's surprise appearance has major payoffs when his jailed Big Earl makes the most unusual kinds of demands in return for information (stick around for the closing credit outtakes for more). Snoop Dogg is a natural parading around in the over the top pimp duds of the era's Blaxploitation flicks, but he's even funnier when stripped down to his skivvies and gartered socks getting a full sized microphone taped to his chest. In a tiny bit, Dan Finnerty ("Old School") explores all the cheese of a tuxedoed Bat Mitzvah Singer for hire, adding loads of atmosphere. Unfortunately the talented Juliette Lewis ("Cold Creek Manor") is reduced to the 'other woman' bimbo role and cameos by Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul do little but check off the good sport requirement.
Screenwriters John O'Brien ("Cradle 2 the Grave"), Todd Phillips ("Old School") and Scot Armstrong ("Old School") give new meaning to the phrase good cop/bad cop with their affectionate jab at "Starsky & Hutch" and Stiller and Wilson are a perfectly mismatched pair.
B-
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