While Hollywood stars Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett might be able to crack a Los Angeles homicide case in "Hollywood Homicide," they're barely able to crack a smile in the humor department.
The unlikely combination of Ford and rising star Hartnett is meant to add a unique and funny buddy-cop touch, but it's unsuccessful. And as many might expect this on-screen pairing to have dead-on chemistry and humor, this duo is definitely not dynamic.
The film opens up with the onstage gunning down of a rap group performing at Freeway, a Los Angeles nightclub. LAPD homicide partners Joe Gavilan (Ford) and K.C. Calden (Hartnett) arrive on the scene to investigate the crime, while trying to keep a hold on their seemingly more important side jobs - Joe as an unsuccessful real estate broker, K.C. a yoga instructor and aspiring actor. While trying to crack the case, Joe and K.C. also are being interrogated by head of Internal Affairs Bennie Macko (Bruce Greenwood), who has an eye on Joe's every move.
Within the first half hour, it's completely obvious what director Ron Shelton is striving for in this film. After only working four months together, Joe and K.C. don't seem to have a grasp on what the other is like. The fact that they don't understand each other is where most of the comedy is driven toward, but the only problem is most of the comic-related scenes aren't anywhere near humorous.
The story doesn't work for many reasons. To start, the action-comedy should have stuck with solely action and refrained from the comedy aspect of the film. Although Shelton's goal was to portray life outside Joe and K.C.'s detective work, their side jobs had too much emphasis placed on them. Whether it be Joe's familiar cell phone tune constantly ringing while he tries to close a deal on a Hollywood mansion with Freeway club owner Julius Armas (Master P), or K.C. rehearsing his lines whenever Joe gets a call, the homicide case seems to take a back seat in the movie.
But there is one scene worth seeing this movie for. The last 20 minutes are the most action-packed part of the film and the humor is finally a mild hit. At the end of the film, Joe and K.C. are on the go, chasing down suspected record company executive Antoine Sartain (Isaiah Washington) and his partner for orchestrating the rap group murder. Joe's cell phone and K.C.'s acting skills are finally of comedic caliber.
If you find humor in watching Ford's lonely character dance around in his apartment poking fun at his being alone or Hartnett screaming "Stella! Stella!" from his bedroom balcony, you might want to check it out this weekend.
If not, don't even give it a second thought.
Acting: **1/2
Directing: **
Script: **
Cinematography: ***
Musical Score: ***
