Red Heat

Walter Hill – 1988 – USA

Having almost single-handedly invented the cop-buddy action-comedy with 48 Hours (1982), Walter Hill is entitled to wade into the same waters again if he wants to, especially considering how frustrating it must be to see so many others ripping him off left and right.  Yes, Red Heat may not be terribly original, but it has a solid directness and simplicity to it that is comforting; undoubtedly the result of Hill’s confidence with the material.  Much depends upon your interest-level in seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger doing typical Schwarzenegger things; i.e. emoting little while punching and shooting stuff.  Jim Belushi as his comically mismatched partner is a little out of his depth in a role that might’ve been better played by a heavy-hitter more in Schwarzenegger’s league.  The film also lacks a memorable villain on a par with James Remar in 48 Hours or David Patrick Kelly in Hill’s The Warriors (1979).  It’s all quite watchable, though.  Devoid of pretension, Hill knows how to keep a guys’ action flick rolling, and the expected clichés are frequently tinged with surprising eccentricity, violence or poignancy that make them interesting instead of groan-inducing.