Dragnet (1987)
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Movie Reviews of Dragnet (1987)
Movie Review: Luke warm at best.
Summary: 3 Stars
Dan Ackroyd is Sgt. Joe Friday of the LAPD. His partner has retired and is replaced by Pep Streebeck (Tom Hanks). Together they lead the investigation of a series of crimes committed by a criminal organization that leaves a calling card bearing the acronym P.A.G.A.N. at each scene. Friday is a man who plays by the book, and he has memorized each line in it. Streebeck is the Yin to Friday's Yang. The personalities clash and the result is comedy.
In the movie, Joe Friday is actually the nephew of the Joe Friday popularized and memorialized in the original TV show by the same name.
Dan Ackroyd plays the part well, though was not overly impressive. I really began to think about the fact that some of his earlier work was so impressive (e.g. Ghostbusters, Blues Brothers) that parts like this were really beneath is potential.
Tom Hanks gave me somewhat of the same impression. This was the young, loveable Tom Hanks. He was the care-free bachelor with the wild side. He was the guy who, unfortunately, no parts are written for today (though that is not terrible from the perspective that there is probably no one who could ever replicate the young Tom Hanks). He had the sharp wit and quick comebacks that were timed perfectly with Ackroyd as Joe Friday, but Friday was the main character. Ackroyd was the lead and Hanks had to play support.
The first half of the movie was fun. Not necessarily funny, but fun. It was the fun 80s movie that made me nostalgic for the movies I loved growing up and have a permanent place in my DVD collection. Those movies are silly comedies that are not really all that funny in today's society, but the jokes are a familiar and comfortable reminder. If the movies have a link to your past, they are great. If you try to apply 1987 jokes to a fresh 2006 audience, the results will not be favorable. And the results of my watching Dragnet were not favorable for what I believe to be that reason. For my time, I would rather watch those movies I hold dear than be reminded of them by a sub-par Dan Ackroyd performance in a movie that keeps a young Tom Hanks tied up in the yard.
I watched Dragnet on a recommendation that came up during discussion around the Top 5 Tom Hanks movies. Dragnet does not make my top 5.
Movie Review: What is it with these movies?
Summary: 3 Stars
These movies are NEARLY always the same. Lethal Weapon is a prime example. It's cliched up to the hilt, bad hair, bad lines you know the story. Dragnet I totally expected to be the same. I read the blurb (twice), but still wasn't utterly convinced. To save time, I watched this.
Dragnet is one of those movies that has you smiling throughout. Whether it's Tom Hanks ganglyness, or Dan Aykroyd's deadpan expression even when saying the most ridiculous sentences, or spotting an actress who was in Baywatch (hey, normally I spot some random who's been in Friends!), you just end up smiling. How Dan Aykroyd managed to keep a straight face, I don't know. I would have found it impossible.
The story's pretty predictable, and much like every other cop movie out there, if it hadn't been for the two lead actors. Tom plays the hippy-ish character, with bad hair, bad clothes, and sleeps with his colleagues. Dan is Mr Strait-Laced, still sees his mother constantly, and would never dream of doing anything that is illegal. Major clash of personalities when these two meet.
What else can I say about Dragnet that hasn't been said already? There isn't really much else. Apart from Christopher Plummer manages to steal every scene, with a twinkle in his eye, a character very different from Captain Von Trapp in the Sound Of Music. I haven't seen the original TV series, so can't really comment on that, but all I can say is that if you haven't seen this movie yet, it's a definite must see. If you can pick it up for cheap in the bargain bins, then do so. It's a good cheery movie, and both actors manage to play their roles perfectly.
Movie Review: Just The Facts, And Maybe A Little Humor If You Got Some
Summary: 3 Stars
Let's face it: Dragnet is by no means a good movie. Just look at the ridiculous plot that after all these years, I still can't find the reasoning behind. It's just an excuse to get Tom Hanks & Dan Akyroyd into goat leggings. Still, this is one of Dan Aykroyd's best film roles, and young Tom Hanks is a lot of fun as well. Aykroyd has the perfect voice for the narration, and he does a stupendous job playing the deadpan seriousness and dedication of Joe Friday, while still cracking some classic jokes. Yes, this movie is proof that Dan Akyroyd once had a career, and was once very funny. Tom Hanks is of course Tom Hanks, but still rather funny in that Tom Hanks way, going from not serious, to serious, to funny, to cracking wise. Plus, you have Harry Morgan who everybody loves, and that still catchy theme. Sure, you could have taken out all the crappy 80s-ness of it all, including that god-awful "rap" over the credits, but hey, you pay a price to see a good Aykroyd.
Overall, everything relating to the main duo is very good. Everything not relating to them is very bad. Watch it once, watch it twice, just soak in your Aykroyd appropriately, and take just the comedy facts: The only two things that separate humans and animals are our ability to use cutlery, and the ability to resist our primal urges.
Movie Review: A Gem In Its Own Right: Dragnet Is As Bad As It is Good
Summary: 3 Stars
The formula for laughs in this one is basically the old cliche of basically a good-cop bad-cop(Friday good and Strebek bad) relationship with a bunch of funny twists. Aykroyd is funny as the by-the-book-cop Friday spouting penal code from memory and Hanks is funny as the flashy hip officer that probably never read the book to begin with. That contrast sure is not original(It's black and white, too obvious) but in this case the laughs mount when these two of L.A's finest meet up with the Virgin Connie Swayle, the well respected T.V reverend, and the porn distribution engineer(Long distance pimp). Friday and Strebek are challenged with the task of uncovering the vile scheme of the T.V reverend who wants to both fight the porn industry and control it to his benefit at the same time. The concept is very hilarious but in some parts it drags a bit.(The grandmother scene was not funny.) The way the fight against PAGAN(The reverend's secret cult) ends is the funniest part of the entire movie. The punchline at the end of the movie, like Amazon said in their review, is a combustable laugher.(Not in their words, of course) Trust me, you will laugh harder at that than any other part of this flick.Movie Review: This is the City of Los Angeles...
Summary: 3 Stars
Any fan of Dan Akroyd's or Tom Hank's style comedy will love it. Anyone that likes movies like "Beverly Hills Cop", "Police Academy", or "Naked Gun" should like it. Even fans of serious police movies or shows will probably get a kick out of it.Joe Friday, played by Dan Akroyd, is serious about his work, even if his partner Pep Streebek, played by Tom Hanks, is not. Akroyd does a great job of emulating the original Dragnet Friday's inflections and no nonsense style. A cameo by Harry Morgan is fitting since he played in the original TV show.
The duo must uncover the leadership and plans of a satanic cult that is playing havoc with the city of Los Angeles. In their search they encounter a smut magazine king, a religious leader, the mayor, and a bevy of pin-up girls. Several sight gags and Akroyd's performance make this DVD worth owning.
Not much in the extras department. It would have been better if it included a making of feature and/or commentary by Dan Akroyd and Tom Hanks. I would have given it four stars then.