 Movie
Reviews
with Evelyn Gough
Starsky and Hutch
Directed by Todd Phillips
 Starsky and Hutch - meet Starsky and Hutch.
Ok, so I wasn't old enough to appreciate the original Starsky and Hutch television series which starred David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser but I do know all the words to "Afternoon Delight" which I think qualifies me as a genuine 70s retro chick.
And as such I was in my element at this big screen version of the 70s crime buster series. This film is a total hoot! It's two stars, Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson, have already proven they work wonderfully together and as cops Starsky (Stiller) and Hutch (Wilson) they get to partner up again and lucky us, we get to go along for the ride.
It's the early 70s and big hair, disco music and cool V8 cars are very much the go. (Ah those were the days...)
As a proud member of the Bay City police force Starsky (Stiller) lives to uphold the law but in the process burns though more partners than his 1974 Ford Gran Torino burns through tyres. His frustrated boss, Captain Doby (Fred Williamson) decides to team him up with the precinct's other trouble maker Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson (Wilson). Hutch is the diametric opposite to Starsky. He's not opposed to "bending" the law if it suits his needs and he counts among his friends some rather dodgy characters like the super cool "urban informant" (aka "snitch") Huggy Bear (a fab performance by Snoop Dogg).
Investigating a suspicious death soon leads our two heroes to big time bad dude Reese Feldman (Vince Vaughn). The word on the street is the drug dealer is about to import a huge quantity of altered cocaine that is undetectable to drug sniffer dogs.
Can Starsky and Hutch solve the crime and catch the bad guys before they kill each other?
As I've said before, comedy is very much a matter of personal taste but for me this film really worked. And when I wasn't laughing I was singing along to the groovy 70s soundtrack.
I have to admit I was getting a little tired of Ben Stiller but he's excellent as the uptight Starsky and the rest of the cast are also terrific. Watch out for the original stars David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser. There's a nice homage paid to them.
Even if you don't remember the 70s you're sure to have a good time watching Starsky and Hutch. I sure did.
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