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Craig Younkin
Movie Review
Hollywood Homicide
By Craig Younkin Published June 8, 2003
US Release: June 13, 2003
Directed by: Ron Shelton
Starring: Harrison Ford , Josh Hartnett , Keith David , Lena Olin
PG-13
Running Time: 116 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $30,013,000
Directed by: Ron Shelton
Starring: Harrison Ford , Josh Hartnett , Keith David , Lena Olin
PG-13
Running Time: 116 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $30,013,000
B
May not be the most coherent movie, but it is funny and it is one heck of a good time
Harrison Ford has really never struck me as a funny guy; but that is why Hollywood Homicide is such an incredible surprise.
Both Ford and co-star Josh Hartnett aren't really comic actors, but damned if I'm not ready to stand in line already for the sequel to this often hilarious and action packed buddy comedy.
Homicide is actually a pretty original idea from Ron Shelton (who has made such classics as White Men Can't Jump and Bull Durham) about cops who moonlight in other jobs to keep their Hollywood pads. The concept is much better than the actual plot, which is pretty muddled and incoherent, but nonetheless Shelton manages to squeeze laughs out of it, mainly by knowing the strengths of his actors.
Harrison Ford plays Detective Joe Gavilan, a cop who is also a real estate broker on the side. As a cop, he is one of the toughest; as a broker, he is one of the most desperate. He has all of his hopes tied up into this one dump that nobody wants on Mount Olympus and is desperately trying to find a buyer, or another house in which to sell. His partner K.C Calden (Josh Hartnett) has a second job as a yoga instructor, but is looking to branch out into acting. Both are brought in to investigate the murder of a rap group that took place in a nightclub.
Later we find that their murderers have also turned up dead and that the former producer of the rap group is behind both hits ? although the reason is less than logical. There is also a subplot about an Internal affairs investigation into Detective Gavilan's personal life that tries to creep its way into the main story ? just not in anyway that makes sense. Dwight Yoakum (Panic Room) also appears as a bad guy with his own agenda but that isn't really described either.
But Homicide gets much better when dealing with the concept of cops with double jobs. Some of the best bits come when K.C and Joe are rehearsing "A Street Car Named Desire" with K.C as Stanley and Joe as Stella, or when Joe is trying to close a deal on a house during a high speed chase. There are also a few really funny lines here and Ford in particular really makes them work; he shows that his usual gruffness can be funny, and also that he can break out into high spirited looseness at any given turn as well.
In addition to comedy, Shelton has a knack for creating some fun chase sequences, especially in the exciting closing act. Hollywood Homicide may not be the most coherent movie, but it is funny and it is one heck of a good time.
Both Ford and co-star Josh Hartnett aren't really comic actors, but damned if I'm not ready to stand in line already for the sequel to this often hilarious and action packed buddy comedy.
Homicide is actually a pretty original idea from Ron Shelton (who has made such classics as White Men Can't Jump and Bull Durham) about cops who moonlight in other jobs to keep their Hollywood pads. The concept is much better than the actual plot, which is pretty muddled and incoherent, but nonetheless Shelton manages to squeeze laughs out of it, mainly by knowing the strengths of his actors.
Harrison Ford plays Detective Joe Gavilan, a cop who is also a real estate broker on the side. As a cop, he is one of the toughest; as a broker, he is one of the most desperate. He has all of his hopes tied up into this one dump that nobody wants on Mount Olympus and is desperately trying to find a buyer, or another house in which to sell. His partner K.C Calden (Josh Hartnett) has a second job as a yoga instructor, but is looking to branch out into acting. Both are brought in to investigate the murder of a rap group that took place in a nightclub.
Later we find that their murderers have also turned up dead and that the former producer of the rap group is behind both hits ? although the reason is less than logical. There is also a subplot about an Internal affairs investigation into Detective Gavilan's personal life that tries to creep its way into the main story ? just not in anyway that makes sense. Dwight Yoakum (Panic Room) also appears as a bad guy with his own agenda but that isn't really described either.
But Homicide gets much better when dealing with the concept of cops with double jobs. Some of the best bits come when K.C and Joe are rehearsing "A Street Car Named Desire" with K.C as Stanley and Joe as Stella, or when Joe is trying to close a deal on a house during a high speed chase. There are also a few really funny lines here and Ford in particular really makes them work; he shows that his usual gruffness can be funny, and also that he can break out into high spirited looseness at any given turn as well.
In addition to comedy, Shelton has a knack for creating some fun chase sequences, especially in the exciting closing act. Hollywood Homicide may not be the most coherent movie, but it is funny and it is one heck of a good time.
Craig's Grade: B
Craig's Overall Grading: 340 graded movies
| A | 10.9% | |
| B | 41.8% | |
| C | 31.8% | |
| D | 15.3% | |
| F | 0.3% |
'Hollywood Homicide' Articles
- Gareth's review B-
June 13, 2003 Despite the flaws, the overall experience is a good summer afternoon movie -- Gareth Von Kallenbach
