“Hollywood Homicide” (Columbia Pictures)
Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett team up in “Hollywood Homicide,” another of those buddy cop movies that we have all seen a million times. The gimmick this time out is the age difference between the two men, and the fact they have other careers on the side. It is a stretch at trying to make the old plot different and it never really catches on.
Ford plays Joe Gavilan, a cop who also sells real estate on the side. His partner is K. C. Calden (Hartnett). He teaches Yoga on the side and also aspires to have an acting career. Meanwhile on the job they catch a murder in LA. A group of hip-hop singers have been slain in a club for no apparent motive. Gavilan and Calden immediately begin to investigate.
The investigation moves slowly and drags the film down. The real estate deal Gavilan is trying to accomplish, and Calden’s acting stabs don’t do anything to improve the pace. There are a few cameos thrown in to perk things up. Martin Landau is a Hollywood producer trying to sell his home. Gladys Knight is the mother of a witness to the murder. Smokey Robinson is a cab driver. And Robert Wagner plays himself as he is being awarded his “Hollywood Star” on the “Walk of Fame.” None of these stars is totally impressive.
The film picks up in the last third by the insertion of a car chase through the streets of LA. But haven’t we seen this type of chase at least ten times this summer already! This same kind of stunt was used to better effect in “2Fast2Furious,” “The Matrix Reloaded” and “The Italian Job.”
Ford seems to be a little sluggish in the movie, but he still manages to sprinkle his role with some of his personal magnetism. Hartnett is just bland and boring as K. C. The more appealing Ford is, the less appealing Hartnett is. Lena Olin is an added comfort as Ford’s love interest.
The film is rated PG-13 for profanity and violence.
“Hollywood Homicide” is just too much of “been there, done that” entertainment. Director Ron Shelton has made some great comedies in the past “Bull Durham” and “Tin Cup.” He also made a good drama earlier this year, “Dark Blue.” But this combination of drama and comedy is a misfire from start to finish.
I scored “Hollywood Homicide” a dead on arrival 4 out of 10.
