Product Details

• Actors: Gregory Hines, Billy Crystal, Steven Bauer, Darlanne Fluegel, Joe Pantoliano
• Directors: Peter Hyams
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• VHS Release Date: January 13, 1998
• Run Time: 108 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0792837800
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,173 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This moody 1986 buddy picture and police drama represented a change of pace for both stars. Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines play two Chicago police detectives who, feeling gun-shy about the inherent danger of their jobs, contemplate retirement in Florida. They just can't shake the allure of their work, however, particularly when their pursuit of a notorious drug dealer (Jimmy Smits) turns personal and deadly. While there are more than enough light moments generated by the easy and convincing rapport between Crystal and Hines, director Peter Hyams (The Star Chamber, 2010) succeeds in straddling the two disparate moods to create a taut and engaging action picture. --Robert Lane

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The original cop buddy dramatic comedy, July 15, 2001

By	Tony Dennis (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Running Scared (DVD)

Before the Lethal Weapon and Die Hard series, there was Running Scared. Gregory Hines and Billy Crystal turn in a wisecracking performance right up there with Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and Bruce Willis. Two of Chicago's top plain clothes detectives, Ray Hughes (Hines) and Danny Costanzo (Crystal) have been duking it out with the bad guys for a long time. Their latest nemesis is Julio Gonzales (Jimmy Smits, excellent in his movie debut), a drug dealer looking to become Chicago's "next Al Capone". As they pursue Julio, a situation gets out of hand and our boys have to be rescued by a couple of undercover cops, convincing their Captain that Hughes and Costanzo need a break. Next things you know, they're in a bar in Key West, trying to break out of their funk. As they walk out to the beach, there is a crowd of people staring out into the ocean. Danny asks a beautiful woman: "What's going on - did a ship sink or something?" "No.." she replies, "We're watching the sun set." Danny gives her an incredulous look : "The sun sets every day!" She smiles: "Yes - and we come down to watch it every day." Looking back at the ocean, he retorts: "Well, this had better be good!" As they skate, fish and sunbathe the days away (not to mention enjoying the company of a variety of gorgeous bikini-clad babes), they start to enjoy themselves and end up buying a bar ("We'll have wet T-Shirt nights for women over 60!") in preparation of retiring when they return to Chicago. (After seeing these scenes, I just had to visit Key West and have been going back each year ever since!) Relaxed and ready to retire to the good life, they return to Chicago and give their 30 days notice. Upon learning that Julio is continuing his rampage, they vow to put him away before they retire. Many chases (including one on the "el" with a priest and nun as suspect drug couriers), gunfights and general mayhem ensues, leading to the final showdown in the capitol building against incredible odds (after all, what fun is it if the heroes aren't massively overmatched?). I think this is one of the big underrated movies in that it's got lots of action and laughs from this wise-cracking duo. I'm thrilled that this is coming out on DVD as I've worn out two VHS tapes of this flick. If you liked Lethal Weapon and Die Hard, then buy this DVD. You'll enjoy it again and again!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buddy movies just don't get much better than this, January 7, 2002

By	Edward Lee "ncc1205" - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Running Scared (DVD)

The only fault to RUNNING SCARED is that they never made the intended sequel, STILL RUNNING. However, as a side note, do NOT pick up the DVD for the purported 'outtakes' advertised on the packaging; it's little more than a real of Billy Crystal talking to a camera and mucking around in his studio trailer ... a tremendous disappointment to an outstanding buddy picture.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The BEST "buddy cop" movie!!, July 19, 2004

By	Mark Daniels (Anywhere, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Running Scared (DVD)

A guilty pleasure; I probably watch "Running Scared" at least once a year. This is probably the best of the "buddy cop" genre of films and also the best of the "cops n' comedy" movies too - thanks to the onscreen chemistry between Hines and Crystal. (There's a reason why all the Amazon reviews mention this "chemistry" - because it's really there, and it's the backbone of the movie!) The comedy comes not so much from actual punchlines, but from the sense that these two guys are married to one another; razzing each other, sharing a high-five (or even a hug), and having a million inside jokes and rituals that only the other knows. Thanks to the "chemistry" between Crystal and Hines, we believe Constanzo and Hughes are longtime police partners and friends, with a love for each other and a history that goes back 15 years.

Most of the other reviews have covered all you need to know about the movie (one reviewer going so far as to repeat all the dialogue from a scene that could've been cut), so let me digress and just explain what the title means. Police partners Hughes and Costanzo are reckless... going it alone, never calling for backup, hot-dogging, breaking the rules, and generally risking life and limb for the job. But after tasting the good life and handing in their month's notice, the two partners start playing it safe. Suddenly they're running scared, just trying to get through the month without dying. They call for backup. They begin wearing bulletproof vests. "You're being careful," their Captain observes. "Careful gets you killed."

Other reviews compare this movie to "Lethal Weapon" and "Die Hard," but those films - while possessing some comedic elements - lean a little more towards the action side. "Beverly Hills Cop" is a better comparison, but perhaps "Running Scared" could best be compared to "Stakeout" with Richard Dreyfus and Emilio Estevez: both are underrated action-comedy "buddy cop" movies, and both rely heavily on the chemistry of their stars to work... and both DO work. "Scared" is probably the better of the two films, but after buying this one, I recommend you check out the other.