Music
Store

S&H are paired up for the first time and take on a homicide that stems from Vince Vaughn killing a lackey. Vaughn has created an "undetectable" powder cocaine. Undetectable to police dogs, the audience is led to believe, but nothing is really ever made of that.

Of course S&H wisecrack their way throughout, with Stiller playing the straight-laced, by-the-book cop; and Wilson the loose, rule-breaker.

About the funniest things in the movie are Wilson playing guitar and singing, "Don't Give Up on Us Baby." But I think most of the audience was too young to remember that Soul sang the song during a short-lived singing career.

An attempt to jump the white on red car onto Vaughn's yacht, and a stuntman wrecking the car in a deleted scene at the end were the best parts of this movie.

A disturbing element of this movie was the violence to animals. In one scene an iguana's tail is shot off and in another, a pony is shot and killed. Both accidentally by Stiller. Yeah, hilarious. Violence to animals is always a knee-slapper.

Soul and Glasser show up briefly at the end for an obligatory bow. Soul's not aging very well.

Save your money and see something else. This movie was a was waste.


A NOSTALGIC SPOOF OF A ONE TIME POPULAR TELEVISION SERIES...   October 19, 2004
 10 out of 14 found this review helpful

This is a silly but somewhat funny spoof based on that seventies something television series by the same name, which starred Paul Michael Glaser (Starsky) and David Soul (Hutch) in the lead roles. In this film, Ben Stiller plays David Starsky and Owen Wilson plays Ken Hutchinson (Hutch), a pair of cops in the free wheeling, psychedelic haze of the nineteen seventies. Both are viewed as problem children by their superior officer and, consequently, are teamed up as partners. The film is really about how Starsky and Hutch met and became partners, something the television series never addressed.

Ben Stiller is his usually wacky self as the straight arrow, by the book Starsky, while Owen Wilson positively shines as the laid back, irrepressible Hutch. Owen Wilson's natural comedic gifts allow him to effortlessly steal every scene in which he is featured. He is positively infectious! Snoop Dogg does a good job of reprising the role of Huggy Bear, the street informant that keeps Starsky and Hutch in the loop in terms of criminal activity afoot. Snoop Dogg infuses the role with a sort of natural cool and is funny in his own way, though not as endearing as the original Huggy Bear was in the television series. Still, he makes the role his own, as do Stiller and Wilson with theirs.

The movie has a silly plot involving cocaine dealer/business man Reese Feldman, played by Vince Vaughn, who injects the character with just the right amount of sleaze. It appears that Feldman has just come up with a new cocaine that will fool any drug sniffing canine. It is left up to Starsky and Hutch to stop his nefarious scheme, but not without getting themselves involved in some nutty situations along the way. Look for Justin Bateman in the small role of Friday, Feldman's sidekick. Will Ferrell has a small, but pivotal, role as Big Earl, a guy with a dragon fetish who has some information that Starsky and Hutch need badly enough to...well, see the film. Carmen Electra, Amy Smart, and Juliette Lewis round out the cast and provide the babe factor.

The film is a retro look at the nineteen seventies from its fashions to its music. Look for cameo appearances by Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul. To my surprise, Glaser looks a whole lot better than David Soul, who appears not to have aged well. As to the overall rating of this film, I realize that this film may have limited appeal. Those who liked the Starsky and Hutch television series or who are fans of Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson will probably enjoy this goofy, spoofy, sophomoric little film.




If you're going to do something -- do it right.   March 31, 2005
 7 out of 10 found this review helpful

I'm not a purist who can't abide a satire of a classic TV show -- I loved the irreverent Brady Bunch movies -- but I found little to laugh at in this lame outing.

The Brady Bunch movies were funny because they captured the essence of the show and then infused the satire. This movie captures the look and feel of the 70s, but Stiller and Wilson are NOT playing Starsky and Hutch. They are playing Stiller and Wilson in Starsky and Hutch clothing.

Starsky was not an uptight, humorless stiff as played by Stiller and Hutch was not a crooked, bribe-taking cop as played by Wilson!

I'm not an indignant fan who says "How dare they!" Just a fan of the old show -- I was a high school girl during its intial run and their posters adorned my bedroom wall -- who feels that if you're going to parody S&H, get it right and don't simply use the premise as a vehicle for Stiller and Wilson's familiar schtick.

Not recommended.


Much More Enjoyable Than Anchorman & Dodgeball   July 22, 2004
 6 out of 8 found this review helpful

MOVIE: After seing the dissapointments that were Dodgeball and Anchorman I decided to give Ben Stiller and the gang one more chance. Boy am I glad I did. This movie was a truly funny movie that did not force the audience to laugh by doing crazy things. Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson really clicked in this movie and that really helped the experience. The movie is not a parody, it's not making fun of the 70's like Anchorman is. This is just a funny spin on a classic tv show, and sure you'll find a little spoof on things here and there.. It's not as over the top as Zoolander, which was a very vivid parody on the modeling world. This was a good comedy that I really enjoyed. I really hate comparing it to Dodgeball and Anchorman but I have to because all the cast members are in each of these movies except for Owen Wilson. I actually found Will Ferrel funnier in here than I did in Anchorman. Never will this movie force you to laugh nor will it have crazy things that have no reference whatsoever. So, if you need to wash that bad taste of Dodgeball and Anchorman out of your mouth then this is the movie to do it with. Great to own, a must to rent.

VIDEO: The video turned out great for this kind of movie. There are a lot of bright colors in this movie and every thing was sharp and crisp. Ususally red is a nightmare for movies because it blurs very easily, but Starsky's car was so very shiny on my HDTV.

AUDIO: The standard 5.1 mix does the job, and actually will surpass your expectations. It certainly surpassed mine.

PACKAGING / EXTRAS: Oh my! Another single disc release from Warner in an Armary case. Maybe they got rid of those cheap snapper cases for good, but there is no insert. The extras are a bit wimpy as well. You have a commentary by the director, a funny take on making of documentaries, a look at Snoop Dog's character, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and a trailer. You will breeze through these in one day. Thankfully the movie was enjoyable.

MOVIE SCORE: (* * * *)
DVD SCORE: (7 / 10)


Star Studed Starsky and Hutch is Full of Laughs   August 19, 2004
 6 out of 7 found this review helpful

I never saw any of the old Starsky and Hutch television show and I'm not sure I ever want to, but the movie was very funny. After viewing the trailer I wasn't sure what to expect, but because of the long list of quality actors I gave it a chance and I'm glad that I did. Owen Wilson, Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, and Will Farrell were as funny as ever. This is a movie I can watch time after time and keep on laughing like it was the first time I've seen it. Don't miss this hilarious comedy.