"The Hard Way" (1991)

Rating: R (adult situations/language, violence)

Genre: Action & Adventure, Comedy

Directed By: John Badham

Written By: Lem Dobbs, Daniel Pyne, Jeff Reno, Michael Kozoll, Ron Osborn

Runtime: 111 minutes
Studio: MCA Universal Home Video

Summary: 
In an attempt to raise his credibility as an actor and to land a role as a tough ‘cop’ on a new show, Hollywood action star Nick Lang (Michael J. Fox) works a deal with New York City Police Captain. Brix (Delroy Lindo), who by chance is one of his fans. Nick will be paired with detective Lt. John Moss (James Woods) and learn how to act like a real cop. But when Nick drives John crazy with questions and imitating him, he gets in the way of John's pursuit of a serial killer (Stephen Lang).

Review: 

This movie is good! I like it. There are some laughs to be had. The scene when Nick wakes up to realise he’s been handcuffed to the bed after John reached his tether was quite amusing. A later conversation between them at a bar in which Nick impersonates a woman or pretends to be gay is amusing too. I laughed.

In my opinion neither character is very likable. Nick is outlandishly annoying, while Josh is so closed-minded and up himself. In a weird way, they’re not as different to each other as they may think! 

Michael J Fox is flying it as usual, always a man to get a laugh out of people. James Woods portrayed Josh well too. Together they make one of the better buddy-cop partnerships.

I actually watched the film 2014 “The Ride Along” starring Kevin Hart and Ice Cube. For all intent and purpose, it may as well have had the same plot as The Hard Way. Same idea down to the ground. Kevin Hart is the annoying guy who tags along with the too cool for school ‘cop’ Ice Cube, annoying the hell out of him for the entire movie until he realised maybe this guy isn’t so bad – Just in the same way that Michael J Fox’s Nick was glued to the hips of James Woods’ Josh for the film. Both Josh and Ice Cube’s characters even stage a fake shooting causality to try and get rid of them and both Nick and Kevin Hart’s character overhear the other ‘cops’ at the station laughing about it. Same story different film.

I think this is a good movie. There’s not a lot to it but it’s got a nice energy. I would recommend it if you want an action that gives you a few laughs! 

Final Rating: 3/5 Stars 

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