Featured Movies
Partners
48 Hrs.
Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy star in Walter Hill's fast and furious cop comedy. Murphy is the motor-mouthed crook who helps cynical cop Nolte avenge the death of the latter's former associates
Unlikely though it may have seemed at the time, this no-frills action-comedy effectively set the tone for dozens of lesser 80s buddy movies. With its mismatched macho duo, its ferocious dialogue and skeletal plot it makes no claims for sophistication. What it does boast, however, is an explosive performance by Eddie Murphy (making his movie debut) and a cheerful disregard for anything approaching political correctness. Simply plotted, no-nonsense San Francisco cop Jack Cates (Nolte) wants to avenge the death of two of his partners. Going it alone, he arranges for gang member Reggie Hammond (Murphy) to be released from jail for 48 hours in order to help him track the killers. Not surprisingly, tension between the pair is high to begin with, and is further exacerbated by the fact that Reggie has half a million dollars hidden in the boot of his car. Sharp of mind and mouth, Murphy is irresistibly charismatic throughout and his performance goes a long way in establishing the persona that would serve him so well for the next 15 years. Whether steaming into a redneck bar, scrapping with Cates in an alley or getting himself laid, he brings to the part an impressive mix of wit and unpredictability. Effectively the stooge here, Nolte has less to do, but both handle the graphic action and vivid violence with a high degree of energy and style. Verdict Fast-paced, frill-free action entertainment of the first order. Efficiently written and acted, it belongs, however, to Murphy and his highly charismatic performance leaves an otherwise capable cast flailing in his wake. |
