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Amazon.co.uk Review
A comedy thriller with a silken thread of romance, 1987’s Stakeout stars Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez as a pair of undercover cops assigned to watch the apartment of the former girlfriend (Madeleine Stowe) of a violent escaped convict. Complications ensue when Dreyfuss’ cop poses as a telephone inspector to get in and bug the girlfriend’s phone and they strike up a relationship.
Initially coming on a bit like a cross between Hitchcock's Rear Window and Porky's, Stakeout ends up falling between the two stools of mirth and suspense. Some half-amusing business involving a series of practical jokes between the cop duo and their relief partners doesn’t add materially to the film. Emilio Estevez’s sidekick role is under-developed and he brings to this none of the loose cannon mania he would later bring to Young Guns. Dreyfuss isn’t entirely convincing as a tough, seasoned cop and Aidan Quinn as the villain comes across as a poor man’s James Woods. Yet for all these flaws, director John Badham just about manages to cobble together a watchable caper.
On the DVD: Stakeout on disc has no extras of any kind, not even a trailer. The feature is presented in widescreen 1.85:1 format with Dolby digital 5.1 sound. The dubbing briefly goes awry near the end. --David Stubbs
DVD Description
Feature Length: 112 mins approx
Widescreen Format: 1.85:1
Languages: Dolby Digital 5.1: English / Spanish
Subtitles: English / English for the hearing impaired / Spanish / Swedish / Norwegian / Danish / Finnish
Colour
Widescreen Format: 1.85:1
Languages: Dolby Digital 5.1: English / Spanish
Subtitles: English / English for the hearing impaired / Spanish / Swedish / Norwegian / Danish / Finnish
Colour
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
It was a video recommended by a friend, and I looked at it as a waste of time. I don't like much the linear/stupid/predictable plot of action movies. Surprise! The plot is just an excuse to reveal the best duo in cinema ever: Dreyfus and Estevez. Very good acting, hilarious gags, this movie was made by people in good humor and happy with themselves. Fairly paced, the story unfolds with continuous elements of surprise. And guess what: the sequel is as good. A very good movie.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I first saw Stakeout when I taped it of ITV on Saturday March 27th 1993. I did a lot that day. I went to an open day at the Lloyds Bank HQ, I went shopping for clothes, shoes, and video games (I ended up buying Streets of Rage (Mega Drive) and Golden Axe (Mega Drive)). Stakeout was one of many movies I first saw on my little portable in the bedroom. I had always been a fan of Richard Dreyfuss after seeing Jaws at an early age, and it was nice to see him play a tough cop for a change.
Chris Leece and Bill Reimers (Dreyfuss and Estevez) are a pair of Seattle detectives assigned to some dull case. A crook has escaped from jail and may or may not visit his old girlfriend (Madeline Stowe). Chris and Bill are stuck in the apartment opposite her and spend all day peeking between the blinds in case something/anything happens. But Chris can't help snooping around, spies on her in the shower, gets invited to dinner/bed, and falls in love with her. But when the boyfriend does come back he's not too happy at another man wearing his pajamas.
Stakeout alternates between dark and violent, to light comedy/romance, then back to dark and violent. Though it's not an inconsistency that really affects the film in any way. John Badham's rugged, grainy photography keeps the overall tone firmly in the action movie genre, while the humorous touches help to build character. It's a juggling act, but everybody manages to do it well.
Hardly worthy of any special recognition in the cop genre, but still highly watchable.
Chris Leece and Bill Reimers (Dreyfuss and Estevez) are a pair of Seattle detectives assigned to some dull case. A crook has escaped from jail and may or may not visit his old girlfriend (Madeline Stowe). Chris and Bill are stuck in the apartment opposite her and spend all day peeking between the blinds in case something/anything happens. But Chris can't help snooping around, spies on her in the shower, gets invited to dinner/bed, and falls in love with her. But when the boyfriend does come back he's not too happy at another man wearing his pajamas.
Stakeout alternates between dark and violent, to light comedy/romance, then back to dark and violent. Though it's not an inconsistency that really affects the film in any way. John Badham's rugged, grainy photography keeps the overall tone firmly in the action movie genre, while the humorous touches help to build character. It's a juggling act, but everybody manages to do it well.
Hardly worthy of any special recognition in the cop genre, but still highly watchable.
Format:DVD
Enjoyable buddy cop movie with good performances by Richard Dreyfus,
Emilio Esteves and a nice change of pace by Aidan Quinn as a heavy.
While a familiar subject, the film is handled with panache, and the mix
of character comedy and action comes off well most of the way, although
it loses some balance by the end, with the acton taking a little too
much of the center stage, and the humor getting a bit lost.
Not amazing, or life-changing, but more fun and better made
than most 1980s mainstream Hollywood films.
Emilio Esteves and a nice change of pace by Aidan Quinn as a heavy.
While a familiar subject, the film is handled with panache, and the mix
of character comedy and action comes off well most of the way, although
it loses some balance by the end, with the acton taking a little too
much of the center stage, and the humor getting a bit lost.
Not amazing, or life-changing, but more fun and better made
than most 1980s mainstream Hollywood films.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Classic
Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez have a great on screen chemistry. This is a film that has everything, action, suspense. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Tigergirl
Ooo, I love my job, I love it so much!
Det. Chris Lecce (Richard Dreyfuss) and Det. Bill Reimers (Emilio Estevez]) get assigned to stakeout the home of Maria McGuire (Madeleine Stowe) in the hope that her recently... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Spike Owen
The problem with people reviewing the FILM, and not the product
I wholeheartedly agree with the other reviewers here that this is a fine 80's action comedy, but have any of them actually seen the DVD their review is supposedly for? Read more
Published 21 months ago by K. O'Leary
So funny!
Fantastic, classic comedy with the added benefit of being a truely enjoyable cop-movie. Watched this film the first time as a teen in my home country. Read more
Published on 9 April 2010 by Cherry Blossom
Guilty pleasure
Yes, I know it's not one of the greatest movies of all time. But it's actually very entertaining and well shot. Read more
Published on 5 April 2009 by The real Jane Austen
runs on cliches but still enjoyable
Richard Dreyfuss (Close encounters of the third kind) teams up with Emilio Estevez (The Breakfast Club) in this quirky enjoyable buddy crime comedy about two guys who go on a... Read more
Published on 8 Jun 2008 by Stampy
Fantastic laugh out loud.
I loved this film, it was so funny, with a bit of action and it's share of hold your breath moments. Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2008 by Suzieuki
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