DIRECTED BY: JOHN BADHAM/1993
KINO LORBER STREET DATE: AUGUST 13, 2019
Kino Lorber Studio Classics has just released the Richard Dreyfuss, Emilio Estevez film, Another Stakeout, to Blu-Ray. Released in 1993, the film was a sequel to the successful first installment which was titled Stakeout. While the original film was a rated-R release for the Disney owned Touchstone Films, the sequel was a much more tame affair with a PG-13 rating. The film did bring back director John Badham (War Games, Short Circuit, Saturday Night Fever), and writer Jim Kouf, keeping a consistent feel through both entries despite their 6 year gap.
The original Stakeout involved Seattle police officers Chris Lecce (Dreyfuss) and Bill Reimers (Estevez) going undercover, as punishment for some shenanigans, to watch an escaped convict’s ex-girlfriend named Maria McGuire (Madeline Stowe) to see if he shows up. Lecce ends up falling for her, and after a climatic battle with her ex, they ride off into the sunset together. Fast forward 6 years to Another Stakeout and Chris and Maria are still together, but having some problems. Chris is afraid of commitments and won’t marry her leading her to believe he doesn’t want to commit to her, and walks out on him. The timing couldn’t be worse as he and Bill have recently caused a whole lot of damage bringing in a bad guy and are once again assigned stakeout duty.
The new assignment involves assisting the assistant district attorney Gina Garrett (Rosie O’Donnell) to watch a couple whom they believe is hiding a key witness to a mob trial. Chris and Gina are to pose as husband and wife, while Bill is forced to shave his beloved mustache and play their son. Dennis Farina and Marcia Strassman play the neighbors, and like the first one, crazy high-jinks, action and comedy go hand in hand.
Estevez and Dreyfuss continue to play up the offbeat partner set-up, trying to evoke a bit of the Riggs and Murtaugh action of the rival Lethal Weapon Series. Head to head, Mel Gibson and Danny Glover wipe the floor with Estevez and Dreyfuss, but that being said, there is a funny dynamic between the two Stakeout leads that worked well enough to earn itself a sequel. The problem with the sequel is that their dynamic takes too much of a backseat to O’Donnell whose character is sooooo over the top that its almost distracting.
If you are fans of the series, the Blu-ray release looks really nice, but the bonus features on the set leave a lot to be desired. The set boasts only that it has trailers and 5.1 Surround and 2.0 Stereo. This means you will be getting just the movie, and maybe a few laughs.
Another Stakeout is now available through Kino Lorber.
