Product Details

• Actors: Anthony Edwards, Forest Whitaker, Penelope Ann Miller, Joe Pantoliano, David Clennon
• Directors: Richard Benjamin
• Format: Color, DVD, Widescreen, Dolby, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
• DVD Release Date: January 25, 2005
• Run Time: 96 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0006GAOTU
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #75,349 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
In this comic twist on the cop buddy genre, suburban Philadelphia policeman Alex Kearney (Anthony Edwards) is unfairly reassigned to a dangerous, rundown inner-city precinct after busting a wealthy, well-connected businessman for speeding. Soon after, his partner is killed when he attempts to bust a drug transaction in the area, and Kearney seeks the aid of Dennis Curren (Forest Whitaker), a loner cop in the downtown precinct who's resistant to working with the naive suburban transfer. Despite their differences--notably Kearney's by-the-book approach and Curren's toss-the-book attitude to law enforcement--the duo begin investigating what at first seems to be an ordinary drug operation, but soon expands into something larger. The antagonistic chemistry between Whitaker and Edwards works to the film's advantage and lends itself to some poignant moments as the guarded Curren slowly opens up to his new, gung ho partner. Despite an unnecessarily Hollywoodish ending, Downtown is a charming buddy pic. --Bryan Reesman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A true modern classic..., August 12, 2007

By	Ted Hutchens (Rogersville, MO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I always reccomend this movie to people looking for offbeat entertainment. Edwards and Whitaker play 2 cops thrust together in a tough precinct located 'Downtown', hence the name. Lots of comedic situations, but real violence-not for the squeamish.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is NOT a great film, but a good one, June 1, 2007

By	Jack E. Stoudenmire Jr. "Ravenous reader" (Tampa, FL, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Anthony Edwards is banished to downtown Philly from the wealthyburbs on the word of a disgruntled wealthyburbite. He's as white as they come; the denizens of downtown are, uh, not.

Forest Whitaker is his unwilling/unwitting partner with passion but no tolerance. Beach Boys? NO!

It's a predictable but enjoyable romp, and Art Evans plays a streetwise police Lt with a penchant for using a 4-letter copulatory verb. Yeah, that's the one.

It's not vaguely believeable, but Edwards is so fresh and pre-ER-ish, it's a lot of fun. Plus, Whitaker brings a level of intensity not really suited to the movie, but characteristic of all his roles. Doesn't hurt he went on to anchor an ER story arc.

For the price, you can't beat it. Pop some corn and curl up for a while.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LAUGHS, ACTION, and BEACH BOYS MUSIC, it's all here!!!, February 7, 2005

By	stryper "stryper" (Canada) - See all my reviews

This is a fish out of water story (a reversed, Beverly Hills Cop, if you would) where a white cop from a shiny, modernized, police station, is transferred to a gritty, dilapidated, and crime ridded, gettoeque, police station, in one of the best 80's styled buddy films ever made.

There's plenty of laughs, action, and Beach Boys music, for everyone to enjoy.

Anthony Edwards (when he had hair) as the shiny new, eager to right the worlds wrongs cop, from the right side of the tracks, who plays, ever so gratingly, against Forest Whitaker, as the put upon, chip on his shoulder cop, from the wrong side of the tracks.

The fun in the movie is watching the bond between the two cops, grow, as each learns to appreciate the other, and become friends.

This movie is a classic, and WELL worth the price of admission.