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Starsky & Hutch - 3/5/04 - PG-13 - 101m
Ben Stiller - Starsky
Owen Wilson - Hutch
Snoop Dogg - Huggy Bear
Director: Todd Phillips
Written by: Stevie Long & John O'Brien
Studio: Warner Bros.
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JEF
Well, this unfortunately is yet another red light. Seems like a string of red light movies for me lately that I hope is broken soon!
Storyline: Yes, believe it or not there was a storyline… Adapted from the 1970’s classic TV show by the same name, we’re introduced to the two new actors – Starsky (Ben Stiller) and Hutch (Owen Wilson). They are teamed up to be partners by their Captain Doby (Fred Williamson) to investigate a body that has washed up upon the shore. Which leads them on an investigation that involves undercover work (from Bikers, to Mimes) to chasing after the head crook Reese Feldman (Vince Vaughn) who always seems to be one step ahead of Starsky and Hutch.
It was such a long time ago, and I barely remember anything from the original TV series, but I was a fan of the show as a kid. I loved the car (still do) and even had hand painted one of my own matchbox cars to look like the classic red Ford Gran Torino with the white stripe. But a fast car is not much to base a movie on. I can’t quite tell you what I disliked about the movie other than it was just blah. Owen Wilson did a pretty good job, but again, he has fallen into the same sort of mild mannered sort of character that he plays in most of his movies. I happen to like his character(s) but I think he’s falling into that category of Jack Nicholson, where he seems to play the same roll over and over, just with a different name. Ben Stiller, I think was the weakest link in this movie. Just something about his lines, and mannerisms that just didn’t cut it. I’m starting to build up a list of “red light” films that happen to include Ben Stiller. I don’t know if it’s him now, or just the types of movies he’s choosing to be in.
I did like seeing Snoop Dogg playing the role of Huggy Bear, but I seem to remember Huggy Bear from the original show as being afraid of Starsky and Hutch, and now in the 2004 version he’s a gang leader who seems to call the shots instead of the other way around. I didn’t get the feeling that he was under a threat from S&H in order to be the informant that he was supposed to be.
I was actually a bit surprised that the movie was going to attempt to have a real storyline to follow. I went in, expecting a spoof style film, but instead it was just like watching a 2-hour movie from the original 1970’s story. Which I don’t think really warrants a 2-hour movie.
I want to mention too that I was a little disappointed in Juliette Lewis’ decision to take a part in this movie to play the “ditzy girlfriend” role. She is very talented, and can act, and I felt she should have taken a pass on this one. But, I was glad to see Jason Bateman making a comeback on both TV and now this movie (even though it was a minor role). Vince Vaughn who I usually like (except in the movie “Made”) was just sort of mediocre. I think he can be a funny character, but this role just didn’t do him justice.
So, after all is said and done, unless you want to see a movie that might let you re-live a part of your childhood, or loved the car, I would say to skip this one. MAYBE it might be worth a rental if there is nothing else on the shelves.
Jef
PS> As I was losing interest in the movie, my mind started to wander, and I was trying to recall all the Ben Stiller movies where he either kills or harms an animal…
Meet the Parents – the cat
Along Came Polly – the ferret
Starsky and Hutch – the pony
Something about Mary – the dog
I’m detecting a pattern here…
Starsky and Hutch
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