Starsky & Hutch (15) Review

Overall Rating

Nice job of recreating the 70's vibe throughout the movie. Owen Wilson and Snoop Dogg are the best parts of this film.

Ben Stiller does not play a good or realistic version of "Starsky". It takes him about 15 minutes into the film to start acting even close to the character.

Starsky & Hutch Review: Once in a while a director/screenwriter comes along that just "gets it". In this case, it is Todd Phillips. Not since Ivan Reitman (Animal House, Stripes, Ghostbusters), has someone put together three outstanding comedies which appeal across generations. Todd's other films include "Road Trip", and "Old School". He actually was able to get Ivan Reitman to executive produce on his films, and I'm sure that helped - but the "freshness" that is in the films is all Todd, I'm sure. The only negative I have against Todd, is that he is borrowing a page from Adam Sandler's book. Once Sandler hit it big with "Happy Gilmore", he started recycling actors into all of his future movies. That is a dangerous thing to do, as not all of Sandler's actors are "good" actors, and the audience can get tired of seeing the same people all of the time. Can someone please tell me how the PATHETIC "Mr. Deeds" did over 100 million at the box office?

Here are some of the repeat actors that you will see in this film: 1)Vince Vaughn, 2)Snoop Dogg, 3)Will Ferrell, 4)Juliette Lewis, 5)Amy Smart, 6)the guy who was the wedding singer in "Old School", and 7)one of the black fraternity brothers in "Road Trip". Luckily, most of these actors are good, and it does not take away from this film. I truly hope Todd uses some fresh faces in his future films.

The original series "Starsky & Hutch" was not a comedy. It was a drama, with some comedy thrown in. This film is a comedy, there can be no doubt about that. In fact, after the first 20 minutes, I thought that the real "Starsky" should sue "Ben Stiller" for defamation of character. He was playing "Starsky" as this total loser. While David Soul was cool as "Hutch", in this film "Owen Wilson" plays the character as super cool.

On a side note, both Snoop Dogg and Carmen Electra are in this film. It is very interesting that both of them are at a higher level of popularity now, than they have ever been before. Their peak seemed to be 10 to 15 years ago, when he was in his "Gin and Juice" video, wearing a Pittsburgh Penguins jersey, and she was quitting dancing as backup for Prince. He couldn't be cooler, and she couldn't be hotter - right here, right now.

Starsky and Hutch find a dead body in the river, and spend the movie figuring out who he is, and what crimes he may have been involved in. Turns out he worked for Vince's character who is a drug dealer, but who everyone thinks is a legitimate business man. Vince's assistant is played by none other than Jason Bateman. Another classic, "what rock did he crawl out from under"?

In one of the early scenes, S & H need to interview a local cheerleader as she was the dead man's girlfriend. She is played by Hugh Hefner's ex girlfriend and ex PMOY, Brande Roderick. This is one of the funniest scenes in the movie, as S & H, try to interview her as she is undressing in the locker room. She is all casual about it, but the more clothes that she takes off, the less S & H seem to be able to speak, let alone ask questions.

The best character in this entire movie is Snoop Dogg's version of "Huggy Bear". It's like he was born for the role. He is a local crime lord, that gives "Hutch" tips once in a while of deals "going down". He has this pimp cane with a fist on the top of it. People that need to speak with him, kiss the fist, after the meeting is over. At one point he plays a golf caddy to do some undercover work on Vince Vaughn. Vince notices that Snoop can't even give him the clubs he asks for, and says "what good are you"? Snoop picks up some grass and gives a discertation about what kind it is, and the fact that he should use the club he gave him, as this grass provides a superior roll. After hitting a great approach shot, Vince says "You sure know a lot about golf". Snoop replies, "I know even more about grass". Classic!

This movie is true 70's. Just to see the classic red Gran Tarino with the white swoosh on it, is worth the price of admission to this movie. From the muscle cars, to the fashion, and especially the music. A nice job of authenticity, all around. You even get a cameo from the real "S & H". Paul Michael Glaser looks the same, but it looks like David Soul has not aged as well.

Much like "Road Trip", and "Old School", this film has too many funny parts to count. It isn't as good as the other two in my opinion, but still rates an 8/10.

Members' Comments on80smetal4ever's Review

• Bojangles on 14th Jul 2004

  Whoa you wrote soo much, it was a very professional review like Ebert and Roeper, ya it was long and it explaines a lot.