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"STARSKY & HUTCH" (2004) (Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Minor *Extreme *Minor Heavy Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate None Moderate Moderate Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Moderate Minor Moderate *Heavy QUICK TAKE: Comedy: A mismatched cop duo tries to bring down a drug trafficker who's developed a new form of undetectable cocaine. PLOT: It's 1970s era Bay City, California and David Starsky (BEN STILLER) is an uptight cop whose by the books attitude has resulted in him going through twelve partners in just four years. Ken Hutchinson (OWEN WILSON) is a much more laidback cop who's adopted the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" philosophy and thus has been committing various crimes under the guise of working undercover. They couldn't be more different, but police Captain Doby (FRED WILLIAMSON) pairs the two together and they immediately clash, much to the delight of other cops such as Manetti (CHRIS PENN) who can't stand Starsky and his ways. When the two discover a body that's washed up on the shore, their investigation initially leads them to local wealthy businessman Reese Feldman (VINCE VAUGHN). Little do they know that he and his assistant, Kevin (JASON BATEMAN), have developed a new form of cocaine that's undetectable to drug sniffing dogs or even human taste. Powerful street informant Huggy Bear (SNOOP DOGG), however, has heard of it and the two cops begin to think Reese is involved. Yet, they can't pin anything on him or his girlfriend, Kitty (JULIETTE LEWIS). Accordingly, they start interviewing witnesses and informants such as the imprisoned Big Earl (WILL FARRELL) and attractive cheerleaders Holly (AMY SMART) and Staci (CARMEN ELECTRA). With their unorthodox ways getting them in trouble with their captain, the two cops try to crack the case. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of anyone in the cast or spoof-like comedies, they just might. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For drug content, sexual situations, partial nudity, language and some violence. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: BEN STILLER plays an uptight and by the books cop who often over-reacts to events and whose main vice is driving his car like a stuntman. He uses profanity and in one scene reacts to accidentally ingesting cocaine. OWEN WILSON plays his laidback partner who initially breaks the law and acts in unorthodox and/or illegal ways while helping Starsky bring down Reese. He drinks in several scenes and uses profanity. SNOOP DOGG plays Hutch's powerful street informant. VINCE VAUGHN plays a wealthy businessman who's really a drug trafficker who's developed a new form of undetectable cocaine. He smokes, kills a man and tries to have the cops killed. FRED WILLIAMSON plays the duo's captain who teams them together and then gets mad at them for their behavior. CHRIS PENN plays another cop who doesn't like and constantly belittles Starsky. JULIETTE LEWIS plays Reese's girlfriend. AMY SMART and CARMEN ELECTRA play cheerleaders who give some information to the cops before apparently being involved in a ménage a trois with Hutch. WILL FARRELL a prison informant who's in cahoots with Reese and has a gay fondness for Hutch. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a quick look at the content found in this comedy that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "f" word, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Various songs have sexually (and drug) related lyrics. Various women are seen in scanty and/or revealing attire, one strips in front of two men who see her full nudity (we only see partial glimpse of her bare breasts), while two women kiss before a suggested threesome with a man. Several instances of gay-related humor are also present. Various characters smoke and/or drink, while one accidentally ingests cocaine and reacts accordingly (played for laughs). Cocaine is seen (but not used) in other scenes, while drug-related dialogue is present. Varying degrees of bad attitudes are present, including by those who kill or attempt to kill (via gunfire) others. Some fighting is also present, including a scene where a boy throws knives at two cops, hitting them several times (played for laughs and without blood). An explosion destroys a house and injures a boy, while a cop does a Russian roulette thing with a gun to intimidate a suspect. Other imitative behavior also occurs. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE A guy tells Reese that despite losing some of their drugs, they still have a lot of coke. Reese asks, "Who wants a beer" and then goes into a cooler that has beer, but pulls out a gun. Reese tells another person to "take a lude or something" and we then see many packets of cocaine in a briefcase. We hear that Reese's people have altered their "new coke" (cocaine) so that it's just as powerful, but undetectable. We see that a man has a small packet of cocaine on him. A shop owner complains to Huggy Bear about drugs being dealt in front of his place. Hutch tells one of Huggy Bear's men, "Make it a double" when getting a drink for him. Hutch has a drink when he wakes up in the morning. Hutch has a drink at Reese's place. Moments later, he states he could use another. Huggy Bear says the word on the street is that a big coke deal is going to occur. We see a biker bar that has signs for cocktails and beer on it and then see a few people inside drinking. Big Earl comments about a payment being made in coke. We see a packet of cocaine on the cops' dashboard (that Big Earl gave them). Doby later informs them that it's just artificial sweetener, but we then learn that it's actually the "new coke." In a later scene and realizing they're out of sugar, Starsky puts what he thinks is artificial sweetener into his coffee. He then acts quite high and wired from the coke and coffee combination. He also imagines seeing a small, cartoon bird. People have drinks in a disco. Hutch hints that he, Staci and Holly used some of that new coke. Miscellaneous people have drinks. We see a beer by Reese. Hutch and another guy do shots and Huggy Bear says that Hutch has had too much "juice." An Eric Clapton song has lyrics about cocaine. Reese tells Huggy Bear, "You know a lot about golf," prompting Huggy Bear to reply, "I know even more about grass" (a drug joke). There's more talk about cocaine. Miscellaneous people have drinks at a reception where Hutch and Starsky order drinks. Starsky shoots a car to prove that there's coke inside it (we see packs of it). BLOOD/GORE We briefly see a human body floating in the water along the shore line (but beyond being dead, it's not bloody or gory). A knife lands in Starsky's clothed back, another in Hutch's arm, and then another in Starsky's leg. Hutch then pulls the knife from his arm and then yanks another from Starsky's back (which might be a little bit for the squeamish, although all we see is a tiny red mark on Starsky's shirt). DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Most of the following is played for laughs rather than realism. Hutch participates in a masked, armed robbery where the others hit and struggle with some people. He then tries to lie his way out of participating in it (after saying that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em) by saying he's working undercover. Some viewers might not like violence against animals (an iguana accidentally having its tail shot off, a pony being shot and killed) being used for comedy. Hutch pockets money from a dead man's wallet and then lies about there being none in it. Manetti and another cop make fun of Starsky. A person uses the term "midget" when referring to someone (but not a small person). Later, one of the cops refers to a boy as a "limber little dwarf." Some viewers might not like a defiant Asian man telling Starsky, "Kiss my yellow ass, copper." Likewise, after that same Asian man tells Hutch that all white guys look alike, Hutch jokes about the same from the reverse angle and then uses the term, "Orientals." Reese and his various cronies have bad attitudes for being drug dealers and trying to kill Hutch and Starsky. Some viewers might not like when Huggy Bear refers to God as "the greatest Mac of all." Reese calls Huggy Bear (who's black and posing as his caddy) "Amos," slaps him, and then calls him "Nipsy." It's implied that Huggy Bear took $5 million of the bad guys' money. FRIGHTENING SCENES It's possible scenes listed under "Violence" might be unsettling or suspenseful to those very sensitive to violence, but most of it's played for laughs rather than realism or suspense. GUNS/WEAPONS Handguns/Knives/Explosives: Worn, carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others or cause property damage. See "Violence" for details. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "What the f*ck is a terrarium?" "Bullsh*t," "Holy sh*t," "That sh*t hurt," "D*ckweed," "Your nuts are mine," "Jeez," "I'm pissed," "Chill out," "Hell no," "What the hell /is that/is going on/is wrong with you two/was that/are you two doing?" "Oh, hell yeah," "Tight ass," "Crappy," "You bet your ass I did," "Such an asshole," "I lay it out for you to play it out," "One tough mother," "Sit on it," "Cool your jets," "Hot foxes" (women), "You sick son of a bitch," "Fricking," "Kiss my yellow ass, copper," "Suck," "Screwed up," "Idiot," "Scumbags," "This is a bunch of crap," "What is your deal?" "Hot damn," "Jackass," "Do it," "I found your 9-iron, bitch" (said by a man to another man), "Rich as hell" and "Who the hell are these guys?" Starsky jumps from one building to another (over an alley) while chasing a man who jumps from a fire escape down onto a car. Starsky does the same, but ends up going through the convertible top. Hutch has a small tattoo on his shoulder. Starsky does a lot of wild, stunt driving in his car and then does so again later in the film. Some women wear midriff-revealing tops. A person uses the term "midget" when referring to someone (but not a small person). Later, one of the cops refers to a boy as a "limber little dwarf." Trying to act like an unhinged cop (to make a suspect talk), Starsky pretends to do a Russian roulette bit with his handgun, but doesn't realize that he actually did leave one bullet in the gun. He then holds it to his own head, pulls the trigger and then holds it on the suspect who panics because he knows the gun is loaded (all played for laughs). Starsky tries to drive, launch and land his car on Reese's yacht, but overshoots it and lands in the water where the car sinks (he and Hutch are fine). JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A moderate amount of suspenseful music (scored like that from a 1970s era cop drama) plays in various scenes. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) A Johnny Cash song has a lyric about smoking cigars. The song "Afternoon Delight" has lyrics about making love. A guy sings real and made-up lyrics to the song, "Feel Like Makin' Love" and includes the various places he wants to, including the back of a car. An Eric Clapton song has lyrics about cocaine. PROFANITY At least 1 "f" word, 9 "s" words, 2 slang terms using male genitals ("d*ckweed"), 17 hells, 10 damns, 8 asses (2 used with "hole"), 5 S.O.B.s, 2 craps, 5 uses of "Jesus," 3 each of "God" and "Jesus Christ," 2 each of "G-damn" and "Oh my God" and 1 use of "For God's sakes." SEX/NUDITY We see Kitty in a bikini top. We see miscellaneous women in small bikinis. We see Hutch waking up in bed with a woman. The camera briefly focuses on some cheerleader's butts in their small shorts. As Starsky and Hutch ask questions of a cheerleader in a locker room, she starts to undress (as she has places to go). With her back to the camera (in a head to small of her back shot), she removes her shirt (we briefly see a frontal view of her in her bra that shows cleavage) and then her bra, and we see partial glimpses of parts of the sides of her bare breasts (that Hutch stares at). She then removes her underwear (below the camera shot) and the two men are distracted and stammering as she stands nude before them (we only see her bare back and a few more partial glimpses of parts of the sides of her bare breasts). We see some miscellaneous women in small bikinis by a pool, while Kitty shows up in a bikini top. We see some male cops with just towels around them in the locker room. We then see (and the joke is) that Starsky and Hutch have just hand towels around their waists (barely covering them). After the old Happy Days phrase "Sit on it" is bantered about, Starsky says he'd never sit on it, prompting Manetti to add with a laugh that that's not what he heard (presumably a gay reference). There are other various bits of gay humor regarding prison inmate Big Earl and his attraction to Hutch. The former makes the latter (in exchange for information) show him his belly button and then to arch his back and look back at him in a mean way (which gets Earl worked up). We then see that a surveillance camera is watching as Hutch and Starsky apparently do more to appease Earl for more information (and he says that it's going to get weird). Later, the two cops ride away and look uncomfortable about what happened (as lyrics from the song "Afternoon Delight" play on the soundtrack) and we then see the surveillance footage that shows a shirtless Starsky riding Hutch's back (as he's on the floor on all fours). After Hutch asks Starsky whether he wants Staci or Holly, he says, "I'll take anything." A guy does a pelvic thrust during a disco dance-off and the camera then focuses on Starsky's jean-covered butt. Hutch passionately kisses Holly and then Staci while seated on a couch (with some slight, clothed caressing) and the two women then passionately kiss. A threesome is then suggested as we see Staci making the motion of removing her shirt (but we don't see anything else, although the following morning scene shows a close-up of two sunny side-up eggs in a skillet, possibly symbolic of breasts). A guy sings real and made-up lyrics to the song, "Feel Like Makin' Love" and includes the various places he wants to, including the back of a car. We see some miscellaneous cleavage at a party. We see various women in small bikinis, while Kitty is again in a bikini top. We later see more of the same, including one of the cops taking surveillance photos of them (we see the shot through the camera that includes focusing on one woman who's bending over away from the camera). A woman shows some cleavage. SMOKING Reese smokes more than 5 times, while Doby has cigar once and a number of miscellaneous people smoke in several scenes. A Johnny Cash song has a lyric about smoking cigars. We see Big Earl with an unlit cigarette tucked into his hairnet. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Starsky visits his mother's grave, but it's played for laughs as he leaves a donut on the former cop's headstone. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Drug dealing and use. The life of a cop. Getting along with others. The subtle and not so subtle gay humor in the film. Comedy spoofs. VIOLENCE Much of the following is played for laughs rather than realism. Reese asks, "Who wants a beer" and then goes into a cooler that has beer, but pulls out a gun. He then shoots a man who falls off his yacht into the sea. Starsky shoots at a fleeing suspect. That man then jumps from a fire escape down onto a car. Starsky does the same, but ends up going through the convertible top. Hutch participates in a masked, armed robbery where the others hit and struggle with some people. As part of a demonstration, a dog-sniffed German shepherd grabs and bites a man's arm. Starsky holds his gun on some of Huggy Bear's associates who hold theirs on him. During this, a noise distracts Starsky and he accidentally shoots the tail off Huggy Bear's pet iguana (Huggy Bear says it's okay, as it will grow a new one). Starsky rushes Manetti who picks him up and puts him in a bear hug until the two are separated. Starsky pulls a bar manager over the counter and to the floor. A patron then smashes a pool cue stick across Starsky's back, prompting a brief fight between him and Hutch with two such patrons. Some punches are thrown, one guy is kneed in the gut or crotch and the two men are sent to the floor. While accidentally high on coke, Starsky flicks a disco dancing champion in the face. Moments later, he grabs the announcer, throws him to the floor and holds his gun on him. After he fires a few shots into the air, Hutch tackles him to the floor. A sniper fires a shot that blows out a car window next to Starsky who returns fire. The gunman then hits the car several more times as Starsky and Hutch return fire, blowing out the assailant's back window as he races off in a car. A clip from a Tom & Jerry cartoon shows the mouse hitting the cat on the face with a frying pan. Starsky and Hutch burst into an apartment to arrest a man, but must deal with his son who repeatedly throws knives at them. One lands in Starsky's clothed back, another in Hutch's arm, and then another in Starsky's leg (with other near misses as Hutch struggles with the man and eventually kicks him in the shin). Starsky throws a chair against the wall in an interrogation room and knocks other things aside. Trying to act like an unhinged cop (to make a suspect talk), Starsky pretends to do a Russian roulette bit with his handgun, but doesn't realize that he actually did leave one bullet in the gun. He then holds it to his own head, pulls the trigger and then holds it on the suspect who panics because he knows the gun is loaded (all played for laughs, with no suspense unless one is sensitive to guns). Starsky slams Reese's head onto a table when arresting him. Moments later, he shoots open Reese's locked garage door, unknowingly hitting the pony inside (intended as a gift to Reese's daughter). It falls over to the ground dead (no blood and played for laughs). A thrown football activates a detonator that sets off a large explosion that destroys a house and sends a boy flying through the air (we later see him in the hospital with a bandaged arm and a cast on his leg). Starsky chases and then throws a suspect into a fence, with Hutch then hitting the guy and Starsky then sitting on him. Reese slaps Huggy Bear. Starsky shoots a car to prove that there's coke inside it (we see packs of it) and then aims his gun at Reese. The latter grabs Hutch and holds a gun to his neck, while his assistant aims his gun at Doby. Starsky then tries to get off a shot, but ends up accidentally hitting Doby in the arm (no blood). Reese rushes off and fires several shots into the air to make people flee. Hutch and Starsky shoot at Reese's car as he drives toward them, riddling the windshield, while Starsky flips over the car hood (but he's okay). Starsky fires shots at an ice cream truck that's in his and Hutch's way. The two then fire shots at Reese's yacht as it pulls away. Huggy Bear hits Reese in the face with a golf club, knocking him out. Starsky drives his car backwards and accidentally slams into another cop car. Reese tosses Kitty overboard from his yacht. During the outtakes, we see another shot of Hutch hitting a guy at a fence. Reviewed March 1, 2004 / Posted March 5, 2004

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