Film Review: Armed and Dangerous (1986)

Hollywood, in terms of politics, is widely perceived to be left-wing. But when it comes to putting leftist ideas in practice, it is quite another story. Such impression can be given by the way in which Hollywood films treat labour movement and unions, the latter always being portrayed as cesspool of corruption and crime. One such example is Armed and Dangerous, 1986 action comedy directed by Mark L. Lester.

The plot is set in Los Angeles and begins by introducing two protagonists. Frank Dooley (played by John Candy) is an LAPD officer who gets kicked out of force after being framed for theft by his corrupt colleagues. Norman Kane (played by Eugene Levy) is inept defence attorney who quits his job in order to save his life from violent and predictably disappointed clients. Both of them get get jobs as security guards in Guard Security Company, which comes with obligation to pay large membership dues to labour union run presided by sinister-looking Michael Carlino (played by Robert Loggia). Dooley and Kane are made partners and assigned to guard pharmaceutical company which gets hit by robbers. Dooley and Kane become convinced that the robbery was inside job and conclude that their colleagues or even the boss, Captain Clarence O’Connell (played by Kenneth McMillan), are likely to be involved.

Judging by the names involved, which included producer Brian Grazer and screenwriter Harold Ramis, Armed and Dangerous was supposed be good comedy. Unfortunately, the project, originally designed for John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as main stars, spent few years in development hell and ultimately the production was beset with quarrels among creative team. This, however, didn’t affect performances of the main stars, immensely talented comedians John Candy and Eugene Levy, who create good “buddy buddy” dynamic with street smart ex policeman character Dooley portrayed as someone who can fight, while ex lawyer Kane able or at least trying to talk his way out of dangerous situation. Their efforts are, however, compromised by inept script that at times makes jokes ineffective or too long, like in the opening scene where Dooley tries to save cat from the tree. Even more noticeable is scriptwriters’ hostility not only towards labour unions - whose officials in this film are played by Jonathan Banks and Brion James, character actor specialised for roles of villains – but also towards working class in general, with protagonists’ colleagues in security company being portrayed as losers and bumbling idiots. One of few exception is character of Captain O’Connell’s daughter Maggie Cavanaugh, played by Meg Ryan in one of her early roles; although she tries to inject some of the charm that would help her future career, her character serves nothing more than combination of eye candy and annoying cliches. Although there are some really funny scenes (like when Dooley and Kane try to evade pursuers in pornographic material store), quality of humour in Armed and Dangerous generally low. By the end, like in many such comedies, creators opt to compensate that flaw with action that includes spectacular display of pyrotechnics. Although watchable, Armed and Dangerous is film that shouldn’t be recommended to anyone but the most loyal fans of John Candy.

RATING: 4/10 (++)

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