Eddie Murphy as a Detroit detective who heads west to avenge the murder of a pal. It’s a satisfying star vehicle of the old school, in which the undisguised plot mechanics of the scenario serve only to allow Murphy to do his thing—razzing uptight, white-bread authority figures—and do it often. The film is overloaded with commercial elements, but director Martin Brest (Going in Style) does his best to find personal variations, teasing some pleasing silent-comedy rhythms out of the opening chase and inserting some affectionate Laurel-and-Hardy byplay between two supporting cops (Judge Reinhold and John Ashton) during the climactic shoot-out. It’s one of the few star comedies of the early 80s to allot some humor and personality to the minor characters. With Lisa Eilbacher, Ronny Cox, and Steven Berkoff.
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