Starsky & Hutch ««
PG-13, 101m. 2004
Cast & Credits: Ben Stiller (David Starsky), Owen Wilson (Ken Hutchinson), Snoop Dogg (Huggy Bear), Fred Williamson (Captain Doby), Vince Vaughn), Juliette Lewis (Kitty), Jason Bateman (Kevin), Amy Smart (Holly), Carmen Electra (Staci). Screenplay by John O’Brien, Todd Phillips and Scot Armstrong based on characters created by William Blinn. Directed by Todd Phillips.
Were it not for the fact Starsky & Hutch is based on what was nothing more than a mediocre television show about two Bay City detectives, I find there would be no reason whatsoever to make, much less see another formulaic buddy cop/film called Starsky & Hutch.
The movie appeals to two crowds. Those who remember or were fans of and faithfully watched the 1970’s police drama that starred David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser that ran for four seasons (1975-1979). The other is for those who are fans of Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson who reprise the roles played by their television counterparts with Stiller playing the serious-minded, tough talking, curly-haired Detective Dave Starsky, originally played by Glaser. While Wilson plays Soul’s character, the tall, blond haired, easy going partner Detective Hutchison (Hutch).
I remember the TV show but never once saw a single episode during its four-season run. The most I have seen of the series was probably maybe ten minutes of an episode or two during rerun syndication back in the days when I suffered from insomnia a couple years ago thanks to my weekend night job where I wound up flipping through channels at 4:30 a.m. in the morning. I am sorry to say I wouldn’t be able to tell you what any of those episodes were about as I was probably too busy wiping whatever sleep was left from my eyes before flipping the channel to something else.
I would need the help of www.imdb.com or Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh’s 8th edition of The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable and TV Shows to tell you what exactly was the series’ premise (which is in fact, what I needed to help write this review). Without access to such materials, the most I could tell you that I remember about the show is the two detectives drove around busting criminals in a red 1974 Ford Torino. Thanks to such information though, I can now tell you that in addition to the vehicle they rode in, the detectives in every episode relied upon a local pimp to help nab the suspects named Huggy Bear.
Both that 1974 Ford Torino and the Huggy Bear character are seen in the movie version and perhaps rightfully so as it would likely be an insult to the fans, if there are even any out there, that is. In the film, the Huggy Bear character is played by Snoop Dogg. He surrounds himself with bodyguards who dress like either members of the Black Panthers or mob enforcers and often feeds Stiller’s Starsky and Wilson’s Hutch information on who’s behind the distribution of a new brand of cocaine that tastes like flour and can’t be detected by drug sniffing dogs.
I could tell watching the film that filmmakers were in love with the 1970’s era. The characters sport long ugly sideburns and fake moustaches, curly hair and wigs and multicolored suits. In addition to that is a great musical soundtrack which includes a compilation of 1970s rock and disco songs from such groups as The Carpenters, Barry Manilow, Chicago and Eric Clapton.
My guess is since the television series was not all that memorable in my opinion that must be the reason why screenwriters John O’Brien, Todd Phillips and Scot Armstrong made this big screen update into a comedy often laced with unfunny gay jokes. I will not doubt there were probably moments on the TV show where two detectives screwed up when it came to finding the bad guy. I don’t believe, however, that either of them ever fired their weapons into a closed garage without first checking to make sure what was inside was actually a druglord’s (Vince Vaughn) stash of cocaine instead of a live pony that was supposed to be a birthday present like the Stiller and Wilson characters do here.
That’s not to say Stiller and Wilson don’t provide a few comedic moments as when Stiller’s character flies off the handle throwing chairs against the wall in the interrogation room trying to scare the suspects. The role is perfect for him because I can never take him seriously anyway. His natural talent is in comedy so it’s funny seeing him play an action character; something he is not. I especially liked the scene when the two attempt to nab a suspect in Chinatown. They are outnumbered by knife-wielding, eight-year-old kid who’s an expert in acrobatics.
As it stands, Starsky & Hutch, the movie is the junk equivalent of the kind of silly, unbelievable detective shows network television has often churned out in the past that earn high ratings and last for more than one season. The film is a 60-minute television pilot extended into an overlong 105-minute movie. It didn’t take me long watching it where I was bored enough wishing this WAS a TV show where a remote was nearby so I can switch stations like I did on more than a few of those sleepless nights a few years back.
There are no television remotes in a dark theater full of people however. The most I got my hands on as my eyes gazed up at the big screen was the cup of leftover ice from the large coke I gulped down a couple hours earlier.
©2/21/04
PG-13, 101m. 2004
Cast & Credits: Ben Stiller (David Starsky), Owen Wilson (Ken Hutchinson), Snoop Dogg (Huggy Bear), Fred Williamson (Captain Doby), Vince Vaughn), Juliette Lewis (Kitty), Jason Bateman (Kevin), Amy Smart (Holly), Carmen Electra (Staci). Screenplay by John O’Brien, Todd Phillips and Scot Armstrong based on characters created by William Blinn. Directed by Todd Phillips.
The movie appeals to two crowds. Those who remember or were fans of and faithfully watched the 1970’s police drama that starred David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser that ran for four seasons (1975-1979). The other is for those who are fans of Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson who reprise the roles played by their television counterparts with Stiller playing the serious-minded, tough talking, curly-haired Detective Dave Starsky, originally played by Glaser. While Wilson plays Soul’s character, the tall, blond haired, easy going partner Detective Hutchison (Hutch).
I remember the TV show but never once saw a single episode during its four-season run. The most I have seen of the series was probably maybe ten minutes of an episode or two during rerun syndication back in the days when I suffered from insomnia a couple years ago thanks to my weekend night job where I wound up flipping through channels at 4:30 a.m. in the morning. I am sorry to say I wouldn’t be able to tell you what any of those episodes were about as I was probably too busy wiping whatever sleep was left from my eyes before flipping the channel to something else.
I would need the help of www.imdb.com or Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh’s 8th edition of The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable and TV Shows to tell you what exactly was the series’ premise (which is in fact, what I needed to help write this review). Without access to such materials, the most I could tell you that I remember about the show is the two detectives drove around busting criminals in a red 1974 Ford Torino. Thanks to such information though, I can now tell you that in addition to the vehicle they rode in, the detectives in every episode relied upon a local pimp to help nab the suspects named Huggy Bear.
Both that 1974 Ford Torino and the Huggy Bear character are seen in the movie version and perhaps rightfully so as it would likely be an insult to the fans, if there are even any out there, that is. In the film, the Huggy Bear character is played by Snoop Dogg. He surrounds himself with bodyguards who dress like either members of the Black Panthers or mob enforcers and often feeds Stiller’s Starsky and Wilson’s Hutch information on who’s behind the distribution of a new brand of cocaine that tastes like flour and can’t be detected by drug sniffing dogs.
I could tell watching the film that filmmakers were in love with the 1970’s era. The characters sport long ugly sideburns and fake moustaches, curly hair and wigs and multicolored suits. In addition to that is a great musical soundtrack which includes a compilation of 1970s rock and disco songs from such groups as The Carpenters, Barry Manilow, Chicago and Eric Clapton.
My guess is since the television series was not all that memorable in my opinion that must be the reason why screenwriters John O’Brien, Todd Phillips and Scot Armstrong made this big screen update into a comedy often laced with unfunny gay jokes. I will not doubt there were probably moments on the TV show where two detectives screwed up when it came to finding the bad guy. I don’t believe, however, that either of them ever fired their weapons into a closed garage without first checking to make sure what was inside was actually a druglord’s (Vince Vaughn) stash of cocaine instead of a live pony that was supposed to be a birthday present like the Stiller and Wilson characters do here.
That’s not to say Stiller and Wilson don’t provide a few comedic moments as when Stiller’s character flies off the handle throwing chairs against the wall in the interrogation room trying to scare the suspects. The role is perfect for him because I can never take him seriously anyway. His natural talent is in comedy so it’s funny seeing him play an action character; something he is not. I especially liked the scene when the two attempt to nab a suspect in Chinatown. They are outnumbered by knife-wielding, eight-year-old kid who’s an expert in acrobatics.
As it stands, Starsky & Hutch, the movie is the junk equivalent of the kind of silly, unbelievable detective shows network television has often churned out in the past that earn high ratings and last for more than one season. The film is a 60-minute television pilot extended into an overlong 105-minute movie. It didn’t take me long watching it where I was bored enough wishing this WAS a TV show where a remote was nearby so I can switch stations like I did on more than a few of those sleepless nights a few years back.
There are no television remotes in a dark theater full of people however. The most I got my hands on as my eyes gazed up at the big screen was the cup of leftover ice from the large coke I gulped down a couple hours earlier.
©2/21/04
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