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ActionComedyCrime

The Hard Way

- There's only one way these two are going to get along...

Seeking to raise his credibility as an actor and to land a role as a tough cop on a new show, Hollywood action star Nick Lang works a deal with New York City Police Capt. Brix, who by chance is one of his fans. Nick will be paired with detective Lt. John Moss and learn how to act like a real cop. But when Nick drives John crazy with questions and imitating him, he gets in the way of John's pursuit of a serial killer.

Release Date : 1991-03-08

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : The Badham-Cohen GroupUniversal Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Michael J. Fox

Character Name : Nick Lang

Original Name : Michael J. Fox

Gender : Male

James Woods

Character Name : John Moss

Original Name : James Woods

Gender : Male

Stephen Lang

Character Name : Party Crasher

Original Name : Stephen Lang

Gender : Male

Annabella Sciorra

Character Name : Susan

Original Name : Annabella Sciorra

Gender : Female

John Capodice

Character Name : Grainy

Original Name : John Capodice

Gender : Male

Luis Guzmán

Character Name : Pooley

Original Name : Luis Guzmán

Gender : Male

LL Cool J

Character Name : Billy

Original Name : LL Cool J

Gender : Male

Mary Mara

Character Name : China

Original Name : Mary Mara

Gender : Female

Delroy Lindo

Character Name : Captain Brix

Original Name : Delroy Lindo

Gender : Male

Conrad Roberts

Character Name : Witherspoon

Original Name : Conrad Roberts

Gender : Male

Christina Ricci

Character Name : Bonnie

Original Name : Christina Ricci

Gender : Female

Penny Marshall

Character Name : Angie

Original Name : Penny Marshall

Gender : Female

George Cheung

Character Name : Drug Dealer

Original Name : 張佐治

Gender : Male

Frank Geraci

Character Name : Newsman

Original Name : Frank Geraci

Gender : Male

Sophie Maletsky

Character Name : Pizza Waitress

Original Name : Sophie Maletsky

Gender : Male

Lewis Black

Character Name : Banker

Original Name : Lewis Black

Gender : Male

Rand Foerster

Character Name : Banker

Original Name : Rand Foerster

Gender : Male

Anderson Matthews

Character Name : Banker

Original Name : Anderson Matthews

Gender : Male

Kathy Najimy

Character Name : Lang's Girl Friday

Original Name : Kathy Najimy

Gender : Female

Yasiin Bey

Character Name : Dead Romeos

Original Name : Yasiin Bey

Gender : Male

Dwayne McClary

Character Name : Dead Romeos

Original Name : Dwayne McClary

Gender : Male

Sharrieff Pugh

Character Name : Dead Romeos

Original Name : Sharrieff Pugh

Gender : Male

Anthony Thomas

Character Name : Dead Romeos

Original Name : Anthony Thomas

Gender : Male

Howard 'Stick' Baines

Character Name : Dead Romeos

Original Name : Howard 'Stick' Baines

Gender : Male

Shawn McLean

Character Name : Dead Romeos

Original Name : Shawn McLean

Gender : Male

Curtis McClarin

Character Name : Dead Romeos

Original Name : Curtis McClarin

Gender : Male

Keenan Leung

Character Name : Dead Romeos

Original Name : Keenan Leung

Gender : Male

Bill Cobbs

Character Name : Raggedy Man

Original Name : Bill Cobbs

Gender : Male

Reno

Character Name : Diner Waitress

Original Name : Reno

Gender : Female

John Costelloe

Character Name : Fake Dead Guy / Cop

Original Name : John Costelloe

Gender : Male

Leif Riddell

Character Name : Head Mugger

Original Name : Leif Riddell

Gender : Male

Johnny Sanchez

Character Name : Mugger

Original Name : Johnny Sanchez

Gender : Male

Joseph Tripi

Character Name : Mugger

Original Name : Joseph Tripi

Gender : Male

Karen Lynn Gorney

Character Name : Woman in Subway

Original Name : Karen Lynn Gorney

Gender : Female

Janet Sarno

Character Name : Continental Representative

Original Name : Janet Sarno

Gender : Female

Jan Speck

Character Name : T.V. Reporter

Original Name : Jan Speck

Gender : Female

Holly Kuespert

Character Name : 'Smoking Gunn' Girl

Original Name : Holly Kuespert

Gender : Male

John Ring

Character Name : Homeboy Cop

Original Name : John Ring

Gender : Male

Michael Jeffrey Woods

Character Name : Cop

Original Name : Michael Jeffrey Woods

Gender : Male

William Truesdale

Character Name : Witherspoon's Bodyguard

Original Name : William Truesdale

Gender : Male

Mark Woodcock

Character Name : Clothing Salesman

Original Name : Mark Woodcock

Gender : Male

Ed Setrakian

Character Name : Chief Villain

Original Name : Ed Setrakian

Gender : Male

David Sosna

Character Name : Frog Dog Vendor

Original Name : David Sosna

Gender : Male

Adore O'Hara

Character Name : Dead Entertainer

Original Name : Adore O'Hara

Gender : Male

Michael Badalucco

Character Name : Pizza Man

Original Name : Michael Badalucco

Gender : Male

Jordanna Freedman

Character Name : Moviegoer

Original Name : Jordanna Freedman

Gender : Male

Merrill Witten

Character Name : Scared Subway Woman

Original Name : Merrill Witten

Gender : Male

Fracaswell Hyman

Character Name : Wino

Original Name : Fracaswell Hyman

Gender : Male

Mario Bosco

Character Name : Boy in Theater

Original Name : Mario Bosco

Gender : Male

Bryant Gumbel

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Bryant Gumbel

Gender : Male

Trish Cook

Character Name : Dancer (uncredited)

Original Name : Trish Cook

Gender : Female

Fabio

Character Name : Bystander (uncredited)

Original Name : Fabio

Gender : Male

George Gerard

Character Name : Theatre Goer (uncredited)

Original Name : George Gerard

Gender : Male

David Hummel

Character Name : Police Officer (uncredited)

Original Name : David Hummel

Gender : Male

Jim Lavin

Character Name : Dying Film Detective (uncredited)

Original Name : Jim Lavin

Gender : Male

Anibal O. Lleras

Character Name : Detective (uncredited)

Original Name : Anibal O. Lleras

Gender : Male

Isabella Martinez Wall

Character Name : Billy's Girlfriend (uncredited)

Original Name : Isabella Martinez Wall

Gender : Female

Paul Mormando

Character Name : Ninja 1 (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Mormando

Gender : Male

Ronald Rand

Character Name : Paramedic (uncredited)

Original Name : Ronald Rand

Gender : Male

Kariim Ratcliff

Character Name : Movie Goer (uncredited)

Original Name : Kariim Ratcliff

Gender : Male

Andrew D. Schwartz

Character Name : Press Photographer (uncredited)

Original Name : Andrew D. Schwartz

Gender : Male

Charles Scorsese

Character Name : Senior Citizen (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Scorsese

Gender : Male

Frank Stellato

Character Name : Subway Yuppie (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Stellato

Gender : Male

Reviews

T

TheJonathanSim

@TheJonathanSim

2021-06-23

What do you call an action comedy with no cool action and no funny comedy? The Hard Way.

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Will you open up? I just want to know what it feels like to be inside your skin. The Hard Way is directed by John Badham and collectively written by Lem Dobbs, Michael Kozoll and Daniel Pyne. It stars James Woods, Michael J. Fox, Stephen Lang, Annabella Sciorra, Luis Guzman, LL Cool J and Delroy Lindo. Music is by Arthur B. Rubinstein and cinematography is by Don McAlpine and Robert Primes. An action movie star researching a role is allowed to tag along with a hardboiled New York City policeman, who is less than enamoured with his company as he looks to stop the serial killer known as "The Party Crasher". Given John Badham's CV, The Hard Way looked to be right up his street, his career containing solid if unspectacular buddy buddy action comedy pictures. This is just above average thanks to the Woods and Fox pairing and some nifty dialogue one liners. The concept of a Hollywood star tagging along with a grizzled real copper is smart, but the pic ends up over stuffed, even if the action and comedy - courtesy of some high energy set-pieces - rewards enough to stop tedium setting in. Lang's maniacal villain is over the top, though he seems to be enjoying himself, while such is the brisk pace for the most part, when it sags into its quieter periods it strains the patience - the blend uneasy. Yet the finale rewards on basic action terms, with suspense intact, to ultimately give us a just above average pic of its type. 6/10