Starsky & Hutch Review
by Homer Yen (homer_yen AT yahoo DOT com)March 11th, 2004
"Starsky & Hutch" - Bay City Rollers
When you think about comedic stars Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson, you probably couldn't name three films that either of these two starred in. It is less likely that you even knew that this duo has starred, in fact, in five films together thus far. Could it be that their Hollywood projects don't stand out in your mind? They certainly are amiable funnymen. I think of them as flowers in a vase sitting on a windowsill. You smile when you see them, although perhaps, you wouldn't notice their absence either.
Now, here they are in their sixth collaboration. And, while their new film, "Starsky & Hutch" may fade as quickly as the short-term memory of an 80-year old, it may linger in your minds longer than their other offerings. In fact, this buddy-cop film is surprisingly funny and better than you'd expect.
Hollywood buddy-cop films should be about the partnership and less about the action. Again, surprisingly, here we are not inundated with explosions or gunfire. The film is rather clutter-free. And one of the final action sequences really gets its bang for the buck because it seems like something that moviegoers have longed to see.
Stiller (playing Starsky) and Wilson (playing Hutch), two cops that fight crime in the fictitious location of Bay City, have the familiar and formulaic partnership. Yet, their chemistry together is undeniable and there is a certain ease about them that translates into a very genial performance. Stiller plays up the uptight persona for a few good laughs. His desire to be a standout officer causes him to frequently go too far. Even a stolen purse with $7 in it will incite Starsky to start shooting.
He needs a partner to temper his zeal and is assigned the laid back, sleepy-eyed Hutch. His detective work is a total contrast in style. In fact, when a dead body floats into their jurisdiction, Hutch's recommendation is to push it back into the river and hope that it drifts into someone else's domain. That's pretty funny.
This discovery starts off the plot that involves a massive cocaine shipment and an evil philanthropist (Vince Vaughn). Our crimefighting duo follows a series of leads, however, that most investigators would deem questionable. But these two blunder forward into humiliating and funny situations. They will even crash a Bot Mitzvah on a whim.
Vaughn and the supporting players add much color. Our villain is deliciously rude. His mistress (Juliette Lewis) is the perfect opportunistic moll. Will Ferrell has a strange cameo as a jailbird who gives information in exchange for sexually-laced favors. Most vibrant is the informant, Huggy Bear (Snoop Dogg). His too-cool attitude steals the show and glitters like the jewelry that adorns him. We wished that he had a more prominent role.
"Starsky & Hutch" is an able buddy-comedy. It has its sophomoric moments. It has its share of silly antics. But for the uninitiated, it's kick-back entertaining and goofy fun.
Grade: B
S: 1 out of 3
L: 1 out of 3
V: 2 out of 3
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