Monday Morning Poll: Your Favorite Buddy Cop Films
Filed under: Action, Comedy, Drama, Fandom, DIY/Filmmaking, Monday Morning Poll
It took six years for Brett Ratner to convince Chris Tucker to return to the big screen for another go-round with Jackie Chan, and as Rush Hour 3 heads to theaters this weekend, I decided to take a look back at some of my favorite 'Buddy Cop" films, as well as ask you for yours. While a lot of people normally associate "Buddy Cop" films with lots of humor, that's not always the case. One of my favorite "Buddy Cop" films of all time -- believe it or not -- is Se7en. There you have your classic "One guy's about to retire, but has to work with the new, unpredictable recruit on one last case" set-up, but it heads in a very dark and disturbing direction. And talk about an ending -- probably one of the most memorable of any "Buddy Cop" movie in history.
But seeing as most "Buddy Cop" films are action-comedies, the majority of our favorites fall into that category. Edgar Wright's Hot Fuzz (which was, essentially, a genre parody) ranks right up with there with my favorite "Buddy Cop" flicks of all time. Not only does it poke fun at a genre we've grown to love over the years, but it's so freaking clever in the way it merges two genres (the classic British murder mystery and the high-octane action flick) into one hilarious, non-stop good time. Of course, I can't mention the "Buddy Cop" genre without giving props to Lethal Weapon, 48 Hrs. and Beverly Hills Cop (which some claim is not a "Buddy Cop" film and more of an Eddie Murphy vehicle, but I beg to differ). How does the Rush Hour franchise stack up against these gems? Not very well, in my opinion (partly because Tucker's idea of comedy is simply to talk REAL loud), but the box office was very kind to the first two installments -- so what do I know? I'll be seeing the third one later this afternoon, but until then ...
... I ask you: What are your favorite "Buddy Cop" films, and why?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-06-2007 @ 11:49AM
kevjohn said...
I may be alone on this one, but I always loved "Running Scared," the Billy Crystal/Gregory Hines film. It's right up there with "48 Hours" for me.
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8-06-2007 @ 11:54AM
Jonathan Lapper said...
Well, since you brought up Se7en which is clearly not an action comedy there's also The French Connection another non-comedy that has two cops working well together (Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider)that also leads in a dark direction.
But since the "Buddy-Cop" movie really started in earnest in the eighties I'll try to include one that pre-dates them and although lacking in the overall influence of "Buddy-Cop" movies like 48 Hours it is definately the godfather of "Buddy-Cop" flicks, Freebie and the Bean taking the freewheeling buddy style popularized by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and transferring it to cops.
And speaking of James Caan (The Bean) he also did a sci-fi "Buddy-Cop" film, Alien Nation buddying with Mandy Patinkin, not a great movie but a good pairing of the two actors.
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8-06-2007 @ 11:57AM
Jonathan Lapper said...
Kevjohn,
"Running Scared" was huge when it was released and a sequel was quickly trotted out so I don't think you're alone.
Jonathan Lapper
http://cinemastyles.blogspot.com
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8-06-2007 @ 2:44PM
SM1L3Z said...
Now how are you going tomention hott fuzz and not mention bad boys i mean its not one of the greatest but it is great
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8-06-2007 @ 12:45PM
Joseph J. Finn said...
Does Midnight Run count? I know I might be stretching the definition a bit, but that's a good one.
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8-06-2007 @ 12:45PM
Matt said...
"Last Boy Scout," even though, technically, neither Willis or Wayans are cops.
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8-06-2007 @ 7:29PM
Todd G. said...
48 Hours: Eddie Murphy the wackie nutjob helping the stoic ultra-serious Nolte, love when they separate the characters so defined
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8-06-2007 @ 11:49PM
liya said...
Does Training Day count? They weren't exactly buddies, but that aspect gave an interesting twist to the interracial, veteran/rookie formula that buddy cop movies often have.
If not, then I agree with Seven, or Se7en, or whatever.
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8-07-2007 @ 1:10PM
Akbar Fazil said...
Let me throw in another vote for Running Scared.
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8-07-2007 @ 6:38PM
J8675309 said...
Hot Fuzz, duh.
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8-07-2007 @ 9:00PM
Gordy said...
The top franchise is Lethal Weapon, followed closely by Beverly Hills Cop.
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