Susan Granger’s review of “Hollywood Homicide” (Columbia Pictures)
Working two jobs takes on an absurd new meaning in this irreverent, fast-paced action-comedy. Harrison Ford is a veteran LAPD detective, Joe Gavilan, who doubles as a not-too-successful real estate agent, while his rookie partner, K.C. Calden, played by Josh Hartnett, really wants to be an actor. That’s why it’s hard to keep their focus as they find themselves caught up in the hip-hop music scene while investigating the killing of a rap music group in a local nightclub. While the Ford/Hartnett duo fails to ignite like Chris Tucker/ Jackie Chan in “Rush Hour” or Mel Gibson/Danny Glover in “Lethal Weapon,” credit writer/director Ron Shelton and ex-cop Robert Souza for developing fleshed-out characters as opposed to stereotypical cop buddies. Joe Gavilan’s not only got a drinking habit, three ex-wives to support and a new sexy/psychic girl-friend but he’s operating under the scrutiny of the suspicious Internal Affairs Division. The son of a slain policeman, spiritual K.C. Calden would rather be teaching New Age yoga or rehearsing as Stanley Kowalski in “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Much of the humor derives from the fact that these two men just don’t understand each other. Plus there are strong supporting turns from Lena Olin, Martin Landau, Keith David, Bruce Greenwood and cameos by Eric Idle, Lou Diamond Phillips. Problem is: despite a few zany, amusing moments, the contrived script doesn’t measure up to the off-beat performances. Where there should have been more sharp comedy, there are seemingly-endless sub-plots, chase sequences and car crashes – although it is comic to see Ford hijacking a child’s bike to chase a crook. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Hollywood Homicide” is a slick 6, but what it lacks in substance, it makes up for in fun.
