Loose Cannons (1990)

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Some movies you want to see just because you want to see how bad they are and that is the reason why I wanted to see "Loose Cannons". This movie was strange as a comedy because the jokes just weren't funny. Also as a cop-buddy movie it doesn't work due to the chemistry between it's lead actors. Gene Hackman and Dan Aykroyd play off each other like two actors who needed the money. The premise was oddly interesting which concerned a piece of Hitler memorabilia and Aykroyd as a schizo cop trying to come to grips with his demons (aka his other personalities). What could have been an inspiring premise for something unique and twisted in the cop-buddy genre instead gets bogged down by generic action sequences, lame jokes and slapdash direction.

The only remarkable aspect of this threadbare, puerile movie is the talent level associated with it. Richard Matheson had a hand in the screenplay, and Gene Hackman and Dan Aykroyd both said yes to a film that, frankly, should never have been released in its presented form. Without knowing the history of the preproduction, the assumption would be that there had to be a major change to the script between initial conception and the final product. Otherwise, it is hard to see Hackman or Aykroyd accepting on the basic premise of making cheap laughs out of a psychiatric illness – bearing in mind this was long before the days of "Me, Myself and Irene." The darker elements of the plot certainly call for a much more serious approach, which could have worked with a better actor. In reality, it's hard to chuckle as Aykroyd goons about as Butch Cassidy, various Star Trek characters, and Road Runner, to name but a few.These personalities manifest under severe duress, and such a plot device would be more believable if the character was a civilian caught up in the cops & robbers chase. Instead – incredibly - not only is Aykroyd a cop, he was never cut out for the rigors of police work and was given the job as a favor from his uncle, a senior police detective. Really, which career cops do that kind of thing? Worse still, Aykroyd is brought out of convalescence by the same uncle, who is apparently so desperate to crack a case that he will endanger the welfare of a family member with a very serious psychiatric illness, and risk the loss of his job for gross misconduct. Suspending disbelief even in the name of broad comedy can only go so far.The movie sets the tone right at the beginning with a crass scene that introduces Hackman as a detective on a disturbance-of-the-peace call to an apartment building. Why a couple of detectives are sent out on a routine call is never adequately explained. Aykroyd's gooning is often plainly embarrassing – leaping around in the street during a car chase, doing a flying monkey/Wicked Witch skit from "The Wizard of Oz" comes painfully to mind. The bad guys might as well be made from cardboard, which would explain how such ruthless villains can just stand there holding their guns as Aykroyd-as-Road-Runner steamrolls over them. Beep-beep! It's all extremely low-grade stuff, and deserves to be avoided, even by fans of the main actors, especially as Hackman is only here to make up the numbers. There is an attempt at empathy for Aykroyd's character with some serious talk about his condition, but Aykroyd simply isn't a gifted-enough actor to pull this off. Dom DeLuise is along for the ride and he does what little is asked of him. In fact, his character is very easy for the audience to identify with, as he rolls his eyes and groans at Aykroyd's antics throughout the movie.

How could Gene Hackman be part of this project and still remain dignified throughout the entire movie? Dan Aykroyd has at least done much worse (remember Doctor Detroit) but we kind of expect Hackman to be above this kind of sleazy action/comedy. I guess he thought that he could do Eddie Murphy one better who was at that time the king of action comedy.(Warning: Spoilers) The plot involving the Germans trying to make a Fourth Reich is very tired indeed and they are such an easy target. Check out what happens when Robert Prosky does his "best" Hitler imitation at the end of the movie and look at the screen behind him. Then remember his first scene he's in and it's exactly like you predicted but hoped it wouldn't turn out. I can remember seeing Prosky on Hill Street Blues where he was absolutely great and then seeing him here and saying: "What a tool!"And let's not forget the human blimp Dom DeLuise. Maybe he was funny in the early part of his career but to see him wheeze his way through a part that is miscasting to the max makes you feel nauseous. Ronny Cox of Beverly Hills Cop fame tries a southern accent which makes him sound like a very bad imitation of Billy Bob Thornton.The thing that is funny about this below average film is how many famous people who make perfect fools of themselves and Dan Aykroyd should feel kind of embarrassed to make schizophrenia look annoying instead of a disease. Like Roger Ebert has mentioned: "Any material can be funny if executed the right way." but this is definitely wrong.

It was a torture to stay until the end, but I did it so that I could be objective. This film is unbelievably idiot, pointless, cliche and un-funny. Two great actors, Gene Hackman and Dan Aykroyd spoil in 2 hours what they had built in all their career. There is nothing in this movie worth mentioning, except the fact that it is so awful. The worst parts are by far where this bomb tries to be funny. A total failure. Reaching the so bad it's good category, but it doesn't make it, so I guess not even the MST3K guys would like this one.