Customer Reviews

The Hard Way

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Nick Lang is a very popular actor starring in big blockbuster films, but he is not happy with his success, there is a role he covets, and is willing to do whatever it takes to get it. After seeing Lt. John Moss in an interview, Nick is convinced that if he spent time with him the role would be his. Using his considerable tinsletown clout, he arranges to be his temporary partner. Moss is angry about his new "assignment" taking him away from his big case of the Party Crasher. This guy has attached himself to Moss by calling him before he commits his next crime. Moss is determined to ditch Nick Lang, so he can concentrate on what is really important.

As these two men spend time together, the inadvertently learn life lessons from each other that help them in ways they couldn't imagine. I really liked this movie! I have always been a huge James Woods fan, and Michael J Fox was surprisingly good.

Action is action, but the thing that makes this movie worth one's time is the dialogue. If your tongue is getting dull, this film makes a wonderful whetstone. It is not really either star's best work, but scenes from it are among the first images that come to my mind at mention of Woods or Fox. DVD technology is a major asset, because it brings the experience as close as it can be to sitting in the theater -- which is, really, the way films are designed to be enjoyed.

I am a james woods fan and a big MJF fan so i just made to enjoy this one. Rent it first to make sure you agree, cause I am the only one in the family that cares for this movie.

I've always thought of The Hard Way as more of an action-packed comedy than an action-adventure film. The humor hinges on the dialogue, not unlike the comedy of films like Arsenic & Old Lace -- though the vocabulary of this dialogue is not suitable for the young, naive, or terribly reserved. Mixed with the punch lines, there is quite a punch of action -- which is visual and exciting. If looking for literary storytelling or heavy drama,I'd look elsewhere, but this film is fast, fun, and very entertaining, without a downbeat.

i love james woods and michael j fox, and i like john badham as a director, to put it simply it hit all the right marks for me.a true classic for me from the goofy old buddy movies of the early, early ninties.

Mixing Comedy and Action always makes the greatest movies in my books. the Beverly Hills Cop movies, Stakeout, Tango & Cash, 48 hours. These are all brilliant comedys that mix comedy and action perfectly. The Hard Way is no exception. Micheal J Fox is as hilarious as ever, James Woods proves what a brilliant and Versetile Actor he is. This film has all the elements, but it falls short of five-star fare because of a couple of flat spots. But its a worthy addition to any self-respecting film fans video library.

The Hard Way and Last Action Hero are somewhat similar in one aspect: they both show the viewer to differentiate between the movies and real life. I saw this movie 1995 and I loved it. I bought the DVD years later and I still love it. The Hard Way is not only an action comedy but its also a clever one.

The story: a pampered and naive movie star Nick Lang(Michael J. Fox) wants to nail a movie part as a serious cop so he gets assigned to become partners with a hard-nosed, no-nonsense cop called John Moss(James Woods). Moss is amped on catching a murderer named "Party Crasher"(Stephen Lang) and is in no mood to look after a gullible movie star.

Looking back at this movie I never realized how much of a character Michael J. Fox was. This guy had personality out the wazoo and you're guaranteed to laugh at his hijinks in this movie. James Woods is always perfect in those tough guy roles and he nails this one as Detective John Moss. His character reminds me of Jack Cates of 48 Hrs. Stephen Lang is good as the nutty villain "Party Crasher". He comes across as a total schizo but is smarter than he seems.

The humor in this movie is funny whether its Nick's naivete' or Nick showing John to tell Maria(Annabella Sciorra)how he feels about her or John's growing weary of Nick's behavior. This movie is great mix of comedy and action and is one of the most underrated and overlooked buddy comedy of all time.

I loved this! As others have said much funnier than i expected although i did not expect much
It was easily the best thing I have seen MJF do and James Woods worked well with him
Watch it and weep!

The Hard Way scores as a hyper-deranged double satire, taking on spoiled-rotten Hollywood and the macho lunacy of buddy-cops flicks. There's a ton of smart dialogue amid the cusswords, NY is shot briliantly through a grimy lens (and LA through a glittering lens), a bar scene between Fox and Woods deconstructs a century of gender roles in the movies, and even the car chases/crashes are parodies.

Even though the salty language kept MJF's kiddie audience away, it's one of his few genuinely funky roles, Woods is at his apoplectic finest and the smaller roles are cast right on the money(Delroy Lindo, Annabella Sciorra, Christina Ricci...). For maximum effect, see in tandem with Eddie Murphy/Robert DeNiro's Showtime.

I have seen this movie a heck of a lot. It is awesome, and it kept me laughing. You'll love it.