Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as Ivan Danko a Soviet cop who teams up with Chicago cop Art Ridzik (James Belushi) to avenge both of their partner's death (One Soviet and one American) at the hands of a ruthless drug-lord Victor Rasta (Ed O'Ross) while battling the red tape provided by their superiors (Peter Boyle and Laurence Fishbourne). When you look at the talent involved, not only Schwarzenegger, Belushi(Always underrated in my opinion, when he isn't on sitcoms), Boyle, O'Ross and Fishbourne you would expect greatness. With Walter Hill helming the picture, Red Heat contained much promise. Unfortunately the movie is an unwatchable dud. Red Heat has no overall verve in the story to propel it into the action sequences and while these are occasionally exciting the movie's pace is off and Hill has clearly fashioned his superior 48 HRS routine on a pair of actors that have zero chemistry when the cameras are on. Indeed Schwarzenegger is so gruff that he makes his turn in The Terminator seem positively lively and it goes without saying that the glasnost influenced teaming does little to disguise the fact that this all extremely dull material made up to be a vehicle for two stars that looked (but failed) to add a more dramatic actioner to their staples.
* out of 4-(Bad)
* out of 4-(Bad)