Location: Pittsburgh, unfamiliar. River policeman. Boats as well as cars. Chases. Mismatched partners: Sarah Jessica Parker and Bruce Willis. Start off at odds with one another. Meet in the moonlight. Next scene: the beast with two backs. No tedious "falling in love" nonsense. Willis's father has been killed: Revenge. Willis obsesses over case after case is supposedly closed. Calls for suspension in most movies. Here: demotion to the River Police. No ritual placing of gun and badge on lieutenant's desk. Missed it badly. Like going to church and finding the mass has been called off. Like finishing gigantic jigsaw puzzle and finding last 3 pieces missing. Hollow emptiness inside, instead of usual full emptiness.
First chase -- cars. In "Bullett" two cars bump up and down on hills. Here, five cars. Worth doing at all? Then worth doing to excess. Next chase, boat follows car. Willis shoots flare at car. Car catches fire, crashes and blows up. Next chase: boat vs. boat. No hills to bump over in river, small waterfall is poor substitute.
On top of revenge motive, serial killer. Somebody killing all the pretty blond gals that Willis ever knew. Frame up. Willis cannot reveal he knew victims or he'd be blamed. Trusts only Parker. Parker: nice bust, skinny legs. Pretty blond, too.
Serial killer turns out to be old partner of Willis who jumped from bridge two years ago and thought to be dead. Not dead. Kidnaps Willis and Parker and third guy. Struts around in old cop's uniform while explaining motive. Presses muzzle of pistol against all the captured heads, one at a time, before pulling away and laughing. Definite fruitcake.
Triple murder interrupted impolitely. Murderer is shot by intruder, falls dead to floor. Murderer is wearing bullet proof vest, comes back to life and shoots intruder. Murderer crashes through window. Bruce chases him still handcuffed. Murderer steals boat, Willis ditto. Long chase.
Boats crump up on river shore. Chase on foot. Railroad tracks on bridge. Willis and murderer wrestle while train approaches blowing whistle. Willis doing very well with handcuffs still on. Rolls away at last minute as train runs over villain? No! Villain rolled away on OTHER side of train and charges Willis. Both go into river. Murderer defeated in underwater struggle and drowns. Willis eats handcuffs for breakfast.
Best thing in film: usually dead body comes back to life only once. Here dead body comes back to life total of three times. Wretched excess? No. Happens every day in my experience.
Recommendation: don't miss it if you can.
First chase -- cars. In "Bullett" two cars bump up and down on hills. Here, five cars. Worth doing at all? Then worth doing to excess. Next chase, boat follows car. Willis shoots flare at car. Car catches fire, crashes and blows up. Next chase: boat vs. boat. No hills to bump over in river, small waterfall is poor substitute.
On top of revenge motive, serial killer. Somebody killing all the pretty blond gals that Willis ever knew. Frame up. Willis cannot reveal he knew victims or he'd be blamed. Trusts only Parker. Parker: nice bust, skinny legs. Pretty blond, too.
Serial killer turns out to be old partner of Willis who jumped from bridge two years ago and thought to be dead. Not dead. Kidnaps Willis and Parker and third guy. Struts around in old cop's uniform while explaining motive. Presses muzzle of pistol against all the captured heads, one at a time, before pulling away and laughing. Definite fruitcake.
Triple murder interrupted impolitely. Murderer is shot by intruder, falls dead to floor. Murderer is wearing bullet proof vest, comes back to life and shoots intruder. Murderer crashes through window. Bruce chases him still handcuffed. Murderer steals boat, Willis ditto. Long chase.
Boats crump up on river shore. Chase on foot. Railroad tracks on bridge. Willis and murderer wrestle while train approaches blowing whistle. Willis doing very well with handcuffs still on. Rolls away at last minute as train runs over villain? No! Villain rolled away on OTHER side of train and charges Willis. Both go into river. Murderer defeated in underwater struggle and drowns. Willis eats handcuffs for breakfast.
Best thing in film: usually dead body comes back to life only once. Here dead body comes back to life total of three times. Wretched excess? No. Happens every day in my experience.
Recommendation: don't miss it if you can.