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Starsky And Hutch (2004) Certificate 15

Starsky And Hutch
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Rated 3.0 stars
Average rating
(59%)
 
Starring: Ben Stiller | Owen Wilson | Vince Vaughn | Carmen Electra | Amy Smart | Jason Bateman | Paul Michael Glaser | David Soul | Snoop Dogg | Will Ferrell
Director: Todd Phillips
Studio: WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time: 101 mins
Collections: 100 Cops & Robbers
Genres: Action/Adventure | Comedy
Languages: English
Released: July 19, 2004

Detective David Starsky is the most dedicated undercover cop working the mean streets of Bay City, California. Maniacally devoted to his job, when he's on duty no crime goes unpunished--and he's always on duty. And that's a good thing, because he has some metaphorically big shoes to fill: his mother was a legend on the force, one of the best cops in the history of Bay City. But while his mom stuck with the same partner throughout her entire career, due to his extremely zealous brand of police work, Starsky burns through partners faster than his beloved Gran Torino goes through spark plugs. Detective Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson is having career issues of his own--he's a good cop, but his hazardously laidback personality and desire for a quick buck don't always get the job done. He has excellent instincts, he just needs a little bit of focus to keep him on the admittedly less profitable side of the law. Exasperated Bay City Police Captain Dobey has found the perfect solution for two of his biggest problems: pair up Starsky and Hutch and put them out on the streets. As soon as the two mismatched crime fighters unhappily begin their first day on the beat as a team, a "floater" turns up on the Bay City coastline. With the help of Hutch's dynamite, street-savvy informant Huggy Bear, the two begin to unravel the mysterious murder case. Investigating their first clue, the boys meet Staci and Holly, Bay City Cheerleaders who are more than eager to help--in any way they can. All signs seem to point at wealthy businessman Reese Feldman, but Starsky and Hutch just can't seem to make a case against him. Unbeknownst to them, Feldman has cooked up a plan to foil the DEA and is plotting the biggest and most lucrative drug deal of his career. The unlikely duo will use their canniest undercover skills, hardcore street smarts and striking good looks to solve the crime and make sure the criminal does the time.

Radio Times

Word on the street is that, by cleverly respecting his source material while simultaneously skewering some much-loved clichés, co-writer/director Todd Phillips (Old School) nails the big screen version of TV cop show Starsky and Hutch. The casting of Ben Stiller as by-the-book detective David Starsky and Owen Wilson as laid-back chancer Ken “Hutch” Hutchinson couldn't be better. Both are clearly having enormous fun in this hugely entertaining buddy movie that neatly captures the 1970s film-making style and adds some hilarious homoeroticism to their relationship. Grudgingly paired up, the mismatched duo learn to rely on each other while bringing a drugs lord (Vince Vaughn) to justice for peddling a cocaine variant that even sniffer dogs can't detect. Rap star Snoop Dogg delivers a great Huggy Bear and Will Ferrell is sidesplitting in a cameo as a dragon-obsessed convict. But it's Phillips's eye for the disco decade's details and the show's kitsch iconography that ensures a good time is had by old fans and newcomers alike.

Highest rated reviews

51 out of 62 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 3.0 stars
Starsky and Hutch

Alex Kelly from London, England., 7th July, 2004

If you are looking for the type of movie that will make you laugh see this, if you are the type of person who wants a good plot, acting and script than don't. Despite the one liners in the movie, there is little else to be said for it. Ben Stiller (Starsky) and Owen Wilson (Hutch) are average, yet the roles they play are well suited to them. Basically, the two cops discover a drug ring yet all their attempts to shut it down fail, mainly due to the leader who is a cunning devil. I won't give the rest away as it is rather formulaic and any hint may well spoil the rest of the movie. However, if you happen to be a die-hard fan of the original TV series, then you are best to avoid this one. There are little, if no, references to the original series. Yet for people who have been unfortunate to have missed out on the seeing the original, then I would suggest this one. I was unsure as to why Carmen Electra was cast in this movie, apart from being the typical cheerleader, she didn?t really help the film as her acting skills are limited to say the least. There are many action set pieces that sometimes go slightly over the top, but always seem to have some sort of witty punch line about a dead body(!). The true star has to be Huggy Bear (Snoop Dog). Whenever he is on screen he steals the show and really knows how to deliver one-liners, I would see this movie more or his acting than anyone else?s. Out of ten I would give it 6, but it did make me laugh!

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9 out of 12 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 4.0 stars
Very Funny

More Anonymous that the next guy from Worcester, England, 26th January, 2005

First Saw this at the flicks. And thought it was good.... rented it and thought it was even better. Plus it has funny Special Features which are, for once, worth watching. Never watched any of the T.V program and quite frankly don't really want too. Stiller was at his best and I guess Owen Wilson, who is only any good as a side kick, was resonable as well. Worth renting, unless you are blind.

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9 out of 13 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 1.0 stars
Not like the original!!!!

philip cass from prescot, 17th October, 2004

i must admit to being around when the original series was on tv and this is not at all like that,why turn a famtastic series into a c**p movie do not watch it is not funny and is very similar to zoolander even down to the dance off very bland.

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8 out of 11 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 1.0 stars
..so so very bad..

Mike Conyard from Gosport, Hampshire, 9th June, 2005

if people dressed up in seventies gear is enough to keep you lauging for an hour and a half, then this one's for you... if you have a sense of humour, avoid..

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Most recent reviews

Rated 3.0 stars
Has its moments

TwoFatFeet from , 3rd March, 2010

This film struggles with a bit of an identity crisis, not quite knowing what it is trying to be. Whether you enjoy it depends not so much on how familar you are with the original tv series, but more on how prepared you are to judge it on its own merits. While the original series is quite ripe for parody, it is also quite immune to it because it wasn't among the more serious examples of the genre in the first place. Also I had only a vague recollection of it from my childhood and hadn't seen it since, so while I recall the (ahem) 'fashions', the characters and of course the car, I wasn't sufficiently able to compare the two to appreciate the parody element. This may have helped as, from what I can make out, the parody isn't sharp enough to carry the film. Also I gather the purists may not appreciate how the characteristics of the two leads seem to have been switched, with Starsky now by-the-book and Hutch the playboy. That may of course have been to do with the stars playing to their strengths, and they are one aspect of the film which certainly doesn't disappoint. With this in mind, approaching the film with only the bare minimum of prior knowledge may leave you at something of a disadvantage - background exposition is not particularly thorough - but this still has some very entertaining moments. Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson are rarely less than superb together, and there is also notable support from Will Ferrell who is usually far better than the films he is in. Some nice touches include Hutch singing a David Soul song, Starsky resurrecting Paul Michael Glaser's legendary cardigans and a fantastic cameo from the original leads. So all in all, don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed.

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Rated 3.0 stars
Loved the series disappointed by film

DavieLad from , 22nd February, 2010

To be fair, I had already made my mind up before I watched this film, having heard others talk about how disappointing it was. Tried to enjoy it, really did but just could not get into it at all. Luckily, switched on to a Satellite channel to get my fix of the real thing - not some pretend offering. I think I still want a Ford Tornino with the white stripe along the side.

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Rated 1.0 stars
Sutch a waste ( see what I've done with the spelling!!)

SillyBoy from , 1st May, 2009

I had really high hopes for this film with those two at the helm, and so was really disappointed by what I actually got. It's possible that I missed the best bit at the end, but I found the first half to be so dull that I was asleep before th credits were rolling. However, my suspicion is that sleep was actually the best use of the time. I just never felt that the film got going at any speed. neither of the two principle actors really seemed to put in a good performance (I think that Stiller's actually on a bit of a downward slope since Meet the Parents), and Snoop Dogg was in the film, but I feel that he'd be better off sticking to the music (at which he's equally hit and miss).

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Rated 5.0 stars
Hilarious!

A Customer from Wakefield, 28th April, 2009

Hilarious film full of light hearted silliness- brilliant!

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