I recall having massive expectations for this movie back in 1993 and after watching it with friends, we came out...well, shell-shocked.
Fast forward, 2020 and I popped in the blu-ray again. Though not perfect, this is one of those movies that loves movies...specifically action movies and has the insight to parody itself. Most notably because writer Shane Black who was responsible for late 80's early 90's action flicks like "Lethal Weapon" or "The Last Boy Scout." Two movie I wore out my VHS tapes on.
Helmed by action maestro John McTiernan, I kept wondering what could possibly go wrong?
Probably because the kid, Danny Madigan (Austin O'Brien) is pretty obnoxious. (as some other reviewers had mentioned). He's supposedly a film fan and spends a great deal of time nagging Jack about the tropes of action movies. This is like someone poking you in the chest throughout the movie. He's shrill and unpleasant and now we're left to spend hours with him. It's worse than babysitting (same reason why I hated "Scream"). This meta comedy works well, if you're a fan, and if you can ignore this kid, the rest is really entertaining. You get funny one-liners and silly humor. A lot of inside jokes about buddy cop movies but also you get a lot of great cameos (Robert Patrick and Sharon Stone as the most notable).
To me the blend of action comedy probably could've worked better if not everything was thrown at the screen. Maybe an example of too much of a good thing. Though, McTiernan is a genius as juggling all the storylines and pace, it still sags heavy due to the inability to drop great jokes (the video store is a GREAT moment, but it probably could've been trimmed in writing). Which is what I think this movie sort of lacked. A fine tuned focus. It's fun in so many parts, and goofy and I'm aboard, but then they throw in these odd moments (pulling a hair from her head) which drags things out too long. It does feel, and has been confirmed, things were being written as it went along. No final script means a LOT of problems (also a very short post production schedule). Also, when they do get to Danny's "real world" you feel the heaviest part of the movie because the fun seemed to be over.
I would never call this the disaster that the 90's labeled it. If anything, it is a time capsule to the action genre of its day. A perfect collection of pop culture history, if you take the time to watch.
Fast forward, 2020 and I popped in the blu-ray again. Though not perfect, this is one of those movies that loves movies...specifically action movies and has the insight to parody itself. Most notably because writer Shane Black who was responsible for late 80's early 90's action flicks like "Lethal Weapon" or "The Last Boy Scout." Two movie I wore out my VHS tapes on.
Helmed by action maestro John McTiernan, I kept wondering what could possibly go wrong?
Probably because the kid, Danny Madigan (Austin O'Brien) is pretty obnoxious. (as some other reviewers had mentioned). He's supposedly a film fan and spends a great deal of time nagging Jack about the tropes of action movies. This is like someone poking you in the chest throughout the movie. He's shrill and unpleasant and now we're left to spend hours with him. It's worse than babysitting (same reason why I hated "Scream"). This meta comedy works well, if you're a fan, and if you can ignore this kid, the rest is really entertaining. You get funny one-liners and silly humor. A lot of inside jokes about buddy cop movies but also you get a lot of great cameos (Robert Patrick and Sharon Stone as the most notable).
To me the blend of action comedy probably could've worked better if not everything was thrown at the screen. Maybe an example of too much of a good thing. Though, McTiernan is a genius as juggling all the storylines and pace, it still sags heavy due to the inability to drop great jokes (the video store is a GREAT moment, but it probably could've been trimmed in writing). Which is what I think this movie sort of lacked. A fine tuned focus. It's fun in so many parts, and goofy and I'm aboard, but then they throw in these odd moments (pulling a hair from her head) which drags things out too long. It does feel, and has been confirmed, things were being written as it went along. No final script means a LOT of problems (also a very short post production schedule). Also, when they do get to Danny's "real world" you feel the heaviest part of the movie because the fun seemed to be over.
I would never call this the disaster that the 90's labeled it. If anything, it is a time capsule to the action genre of its day. A perfect collection of pop culture history, if you take the time to watch.