Stakeout **** (1987, Richard Dreyfuss, Emilio Estevez, Madeleine Stowe, Aidan Quinn) – Classic Movie Review 8368

Director John Badham’s tough 1987 police comedy thriller adventure Stakeout is fast, fizzy and funny, with Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez starring as eager Seattle cop detective partners Chris Lecce and Bill Remiers, who are staking out the house of an escaped crazed killer ‘Stick’ Montgomery (Aidan Quinn)’s girlfriend Maria (Madeleine Stowe) in case he turns up there.

Unfortunately Chris (Dreyfuss) falls for Maria (Stowe)’s charms and begins an illicit affair with her, putting everyone in danger when the villainous ‘Stick’ (Quinn effectively cast against type) reappears.

Dreyfuss and Estevez give sparkling performances as the mismatched police duo, showing good rapport as a screen team, Jim Kouf’s screenplay is packed with witty, unpredictable lines, and Badham’s direction is incisive and dynamic in both the comedy and action departments.

Stakeout is a film for grown-ups and has a tough, intense tone and some violent scenes and strong language, including 17 F-words and other colourful words. Beware the TV version that rips the guts out of it.

Also in the cast are Dan Lauria, Forest Whitaker, Earl Billings, Ian Tracey, Jackson Davies, J J Makaro, Scott Andersen and Tony Pantages.

It was a hit and there was a demand for a sequel: Another Stakeout.

Badham’s next film is Bird on a Wire (1990).

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8368

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