Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Reviews
From Amazon.co.uk
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
Product 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
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
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
By Inspector Gadget
VINE™ VOICE
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.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Spike Owen
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
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 escaped from prison ex (Aidan Quinn) shows up. The ex showing up is the least of their problems for Chris is starting to fall for Maria, and that spells trouble for everyone.
There's something about 80s action comedies that just doesn't travel well. Where once film's like Beverly Hills Cop and this John Badham directed piece were massively popular, now they seem to receive negativity from a majority of the new wave of film watchers. I don't have the answer myself, perhaps it's just one of those decades that doesn't date well? Even if that saying is beyond my own comprehension for any decade.
What ever, Stakeout is a fun and entertaining picture, yes it's a routine plot {a kind of fun Rear Window}, but the chemistry between Estevez and an on fire Dreyfuss lifts it far above being a bog standard buddy movie. Jim Kouf's screenplay has some sharp moments of comedy, notably the play off between our two main protagonists and another cop pairing played by Forest Whitaker & Dan Lauria. While Badham competently constructs the action sequences that are a staple for this kind of movie. Quinn does a nice line in psycho villainy, while Stowe is sexy and vulnerable to great effect. It's a credit to both Stowe and Dreyfuss that their coupling, in spite of the age and social differences, is believable and tender.
Nothing new here of course, but the good story is told well and acted with great comic gusto. An equally enjoyable sequel (Another Stakeout) followed in 1993. 7/10
There's something about 80s action comedies that just doesn't travel well. Where once film's like Beverly Hills Cop and this John Badham directed piece were massively popular, now they seem to receive negativity from a majority of the new wave of film watchers. I don't have the answer myself, perhaps it's just one of those decades that doesn't date well? Even if that saying is beyond my own comprehension for any decade.
What ever, Stakeout is a fun and entertaining picture, yes it's a routine plot {a kind of fun Rear Window}, but the chemistry between Estevez and an on fire Dreyfuss lifts it far above being a bog standard buddy movie. Jim Kouf's screenplay has some sharp moments of comedy, notably the play off between our two main protagonists and another cop pairing played by Forest Whitaker & Dan Lauria. While Badham competently constructs the action sequences that are a staple for this kind of movie. Quinn does a nice line in psycho villainy, while Stowe is sexy and vulnerable to great effect. It's a credit to both Stowe and Dreyfuss that their coupling, in spite of the age and social differences, is believable and tender.
Nothing new here of course, but the good story is told well and acted with great comic gusto. An equally enjoyable sequel (Another Stakeout) followed in 1993. 7/10
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 34 reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stake out
One of my favourite films from years ago. Just watched it again from my recent purchase and still as funny!
Published 12 days ago by catwoman100
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stakeout
A very good storyline and funny with it, well worth watching again aand again.
Hope there are more to follow.
Hope there are more to follow.
Published 11 months ago by H. Wright
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun, well acted 80s comedy action film
Enjoyable buddy cop movie with good performances by Richard Dreyfus,
Emilio Esteves and a nice change of pace by Aidan Quinn as a heavy. Read more
Emilio Esteves and a nice change of pace by Aidan Quinn as a heavy. Read more
Published 21 months ago by K. Gordon
5.0 out of 5 stars
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 22 months ago by Tigergirl
2.0 out of 5 stars
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 on 11 Aug 2010 by K. O'Leary
5.0 out of 5 stars
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
4.0 out of 5 stars
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
4.0 out of 5 stars
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
5.0 out of 5 stars
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
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
