Tango & Cash (1989)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Andrei Konchalovsky

Writer (WGA):

Randy Feldman (written by)

Release Date:

22 December 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Two of L.A.'s top rival cops are going to have to work together... Even if it kills them.

Plot:

Two cops are framed and must clear their names.

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Escape | Framed | Torture | Straight Razor

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Sylvester Stallone	...	Lt. Raymond Tango
Kurt Russell	...	Lt. Gabriel Cash
Teri Hatcher	...	Katherine 'Kiki' Tango
Jack Palance	...	Yves Perret
Brion James	...	Requin
James Hong	...	Quan
Marc Alaimo	...	Lopez
Philip Tan	...	Chinese Gunman
Michael J. Pollard	...	Owen
Robert Z'Dar	...	Face
Lewis Arquette	...	Wyler
Edward Bunker	...	Capt. Holmes
Leslie Morris	...	Hendricks
Roy Brocksmith	...	Fed. Agent Davis
Susan Krebs	...	Prosecutor

Also Known As:

The Set Up (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

98 min | USA:104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Brazil:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Iceland:16 | New Zealand:M | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | UK:15 (original rating) (cut)

Filming Locations:

Irwindale, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

During the scene where the back of the SUV catches on fire, when filming was over, the fire wouldn't go out, and actors Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone were caught in a cross draft. Stallone was so close to the fire that his hair was singed in places.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the raid on Perret's compound, the armored SUV that Tango and Cash are riding in drives through a large explosion, during which time the driver's side front headlight goes out. In subsequent shots, the headlight is fixed and shining bright.

Quotes:

Ray Tango: Pleasure doing time with ya.
Gabriel Cash: Yeah, I'll never forget that time in the shower.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Shock 'Em Dead (1991)

Soundtrack:

Poison

Although a poor man's Lethal weapon, this is a lot better than you might think

Okay, so this isn't the greatest film ever made. In fact, it isn't even remotely the best buddy-buddy flick ever made. But surprisingly enough, this is actually quite a winner, and succeeds far more in being a parody of the Lethal-Weapon style films than say... Loaded Weapon does. This is for several reasons.

Firstly, Stallone is the star of the show here, turning in a self-mocking parody of his own screen persona. He is flash and indestructable, yet the film acknowledges and exploits this to comedic ends. Secondly, Palance is excellent as a sneering and menacing bad guy, plotting the two cops downfall. He deserved more screen time than he actually got, and actually did a good job of being the obligatory stereotypical bad-guy.

However, the best thing of all about this film is the snappy dialogue. There is so much good banter between the two-cops that no matter how bizarre the film's scenario's get, the dialogue rescues it.

The first time I saw this, I enjoyed it and was only really let down by the ending, which feels hollow and unsatisfying in comparison to the first two reels of the film. However, this nagging problem alone, I have no hesitation in recommending this to any fan of the action-genre.

Overall: 6 1/2 out of 10.