COPS AND ROBBERSONS (1994)
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia
I gather the filmmakers of "Cops and Robbersons" had every intention to make a funny picture. Chevy Chase, to be fair a stranger to the occasional decent comedy, was the lead and he can usually make me laugh. Dianne Wiest played his wife. Jack Palance played a crusty old cop. Robert Davi played the mean hit man for the mob. The late Michael Ritchie, famous for "Smile" among other great comedies, was the director. What could go wrong? It looked like a hopeful variation on "City Slickers." As they say, hope springs eternal.
Chevy Chase plays the man of the house who is addicted to cop shows. Unfortunately, the hit man has just moved next door. Guess whose house will be used for a stakeout. Guess who will be the real cop whom Chase admires and gives tips to. And so we have the obligatory scene where Chase visits Davi's house (though it leads to the only laugh in the film involving Chase rolling up a cigarette). There is also Chase's red-haired daughter (Fay Masterson) who loves Palance's young partner; Chase's son who thinks he's Eddie Munster; an incident involving throwing a cat in the closet; and so many more joyful, oh I mean joyless moments. And no points for guessing who the savior of the day will be. Nobody took a moment to consider saving Chevy Chase's career.
If you are one of the two or three people who have seen this film, I pity you. I feel your pity since I am one of the two or three.
