This movie is plain, simple, fun. It doesn't leave you breathless with suspense, or on the edge of your seat with your heart pounding. But for those who don't enjoy all the smut, violence, and potty mouth movies we've been inundated with in the past several years, its a winner. Dabney Coleman plays the part well. First, he is soon to retire from police work, and understandably doesn't want to risk his neck and lose it just before he retires. However, this all changes when he is told he has just a short time to live. Wanting nothing more than to leave his family some security, he begins his unsuccessful quest to get himself killed on the job, only to find out its harder than he thought it would be. This is a movie that does not require anyone to swim through the gray area of a controversial issue. It's just plain entertaining.
23 Reviews
Good action movie, interesting script
oragex25 March 2017
Warning: Spoilers
A cops wants to die but can't succeed. Original script, the movie follows well the idea. Although not as packed with action as a Die Hard movie, this movie has the best car chase scene perhaps in the whole movie era from 70's to 90's. It is really a stunning car chase scene, much better than the other classics.
There is no way this movie be rated so low on other review sites. It has some humor such as the dialogue between the good and the bad guys, but by no means is this a comedy as described on some sites. Surely Die Hard writers got inspired from this movie at some point.
There is no way this movie be rated so low on other review sites. It has some humor such as the dialogue between the good and the bad guys, but by no means is this a comedy as described on some sites. Surely Die Hard writers got inspired from this movie at some point.
Quality Coleman. Mediocre story. - 6 of 10
deadsenator31 August 2003
As another user has said, this is some of Coleman's best work. An overlooked film for a bland plot and story, this film gives Coleman a place to shine. To be sure, the acting of the others is very good, as well, and they deserve credit for a job well done, but this is obviously his film. I spotted this film on network television and I usually avoid films with commercial interruptions, but I like DC and gave it a shot for him. I am very glad that I did. He pulls this film up by it's bootstraps from a two to a six. 6 of 10
funny movie
sarahmichelleheide5 May 2007
Warning: Spoilers
i thought this was a great movie. i am not a big dabney coleman fan but he was funny in this.
the idea of the movie is that dabney coleman is a cop who is getting close to retirement. he is very careful, doesn't swear, eats healthy food and doesn't like to chase criminals if it puts himself in danger at all, especially now that he is so close to retirement.
but then he has a regular checkup with his doctor and discovers that he has a rare disease that can't be cured. he worries about his ex-wife and child so he checks out his insurance and finds out that they only get a huge payout on his life insurance if he dies on the job. so obviously he ends up all of a sudden taking huge risks like getting into car chases, fighting on the side of a building, confronting a maniac with a bomb, etc.
his partner is very funny too. this is a great comedy.
the idea of the movie is that dabney coleman is a cop who is getting close to retirement. he is very careful, doesn't swear, eats healthy food and doesn't like to chase criminals if it puts himself in danger at all, especially now that he is so close to retirement.
but then he has a regular checkup with his doctor and discovers that he has a rare disease that can't be cured. he worries about his ex-wife and child so he checks out his insurance and finds out that they only get a huge payout on his life insurance if he dies on the job. so obviously he ends up all of a sudden taking huge risks like getting into car chases, fighting on the side of a building, confronting a maniac with a bomb, etc.
his partner is very funny too. this is a great comedy.
A solid enough premise that doesn't really embrace the cruelty and darkness of its premise, but Dabney Coleman is REALLY good in it.
IonicBreezeMachine16 May 2022
Soon to be retired Seattle Police Detective Burt Simpson (Dabney Coleman) is a fastidious man who makes it a point to keep his risks low and his plans high often to the annoyance of his best friend and partner Ernie Dills (Matt Frewer). When Burt goes in for some routine bloodwork as a pre-requisite for life insurance, a mix-up with another patient results in Burt being misdiagnosed with a terminal illness that will kill him in mere weeks. Wanting to provide for his ex-wife Carolyn (Teri Garr) and son Dougie (Kaj-Erik Eriksen), Burt pulls double duty in the hopes that taking on more dangerous criminals will lead to the lucrative payout for his survivors should he be killed in the line of duty. This puts him on a collision course with psychotic arms dealer Carl Stark (Xander Berkeley) who has stolen a large number of high end military weaponry.
Short Time is a 1990 action-comedy and directorial debut of Gregg Champion who'd previously worked as a producer on films such as Blue Thunder, Short Circuit, and Stakeout. Written by first time writers John Blumenthal and Michael Berry, the movie was filmed in Canada with a $9 million budget. When the film was released in May of 1990, it opened at #10 behind a number of holdovers such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Pretty Woman, as well as the opening of Tales from the Darkside the movie and disappeared from theaters within two weeks. Critical reception was equally frosty with critics deriding the premise and Siskel & Ebert even called it one of the worst films of the year. For me personally I think the film has a really solid premise for a dark comedy, but it doesn't execute it all that well but I do recommend the movie because it is carried by Dabney Coleman's performance in the lead and some solid work by the ensemble.
Dabney Coleman is simultaneously really good in the movie as well as the primary reason it doesn't work. There's a sincerity to Coleman in all of his performances that the material surrounding him, regardless of the quality, never snuffs out (save for Hot to Trot, but that was doomed from the get go). Coleman is just really likable as an actor and while he is playing a typical straight laced cop archetype you do get very sincere scenes from Coleman with Frewer, Garr, and Eriksen as his best friend, ex-wife, and son respectively and you do find yourself getting invested in Burt as a character because of that sincerity. The movie also features some solid stunt and action work, particularly a lengthy car chase sequence where Burt engages in a high speed pursuit to ridiculous degrees as his vehicle deteriorates more and more as the chase goes on as he tries to goad the crooks into killing him.
Despite Coleman being very good in the movie, this leads to the major issue with the premise: Namely that it feels like it's played too light and too soft for material that when you step back and look at it is quite cruel and mean and is begging for the type of "black as pitch" humor you'd expect from Coen Brothers or Danny DeVito. The scenes where Burt realizes all his planning for his son's future and his retirement are out the window are quite sad and the moments of emotionally vulnerability like where he talks down a suicide bomber are played straight (and quite well) by Coleman but Coleman's so likable as a character that it becomes uncomfortable to laugh at the scenes where he's trying to get himself killed (he even goes to lengths to make sure there's no innocents or collateral damage). If the movie had been about a corrupt cop who was estranged from his ex-wife and son played by someone like Jack Nicholson or Harvey Keitel maybe the movie would've played better to critics and audiences as a way of stomaching the material. As is, Short Time plays itself like a conventional cop action-comedy that just happens to have a morbid premise.
I enjoyed Short Time for things that did genuinely work, but considering the rather bouncy and zany way the marketing pitched this movie only for audiences and critics to be subjected to scenes of genuine sadness crudely mixed in with buddy cop conventions of the era it makes sense to a degree why critics and audiences rejected the film. I certainly don't agree with Siskel and Ebert's assertion of this being one of the worst movies of 1990 (it probably wouldn't even make it to the top 30 of exclusively theatrical releases), but when the marketing promises a zanier experience than you get it can give the audience a sense of whiplash. Taken on its own and with the performances you get some really good moments, but it doesn't play them as well as they should.
Short Time is a 1990 action-comedy and directorial debut of Gregg Champion who'd previously worked as a producer on films such as Blue Thunder, Short Circuit, and Stakeout. Written by first time writers John Blumenthal and Michael Berry, the movie was filmed in Canada with a $9 million budget. When the film was released in May of 1990, it opened at #10 behind a number of holdovers such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Pretty Woman, as well as the opening of Tales from the Darkside the movie and disappeared from theaters within two weeks. Critical reception was equally frosty with critics deriding the premise and Siskel & Ebert even called it one of the worst films of the year. For me personally I think the film has a really solid premise for a dark comedy, but it doesn't execute it all that well but I do recommend the movie because it is carried by Dabney Coleman's performance in the lead and some solid work by the ensemble.
Dabney Coleman is simultaneously really good in the movie as well as the primary reason it doesn't work. There's a sincerity to Coleman in all of his performances that the material surrounding him, regardless of the quality, never snuffs out (save for Hot to Trot, but that was doomed from the get go). Coleman is just really likable as an actor and while he is playing a typical straight laced cop archetype you do get very sincere scenes from Coleman with Frewer, Garr, and Eriksen as his best friend, ex-wife, and son respectively and you do find yourself getting invested in Burt as a character because of that sincerity. The movie also features some solid stunt and action work, particularly a lengthy car chase sequence where Burt engages in a high speed pursuit to ridiculous degrees as his vehicle deteriorates more and more as the chase goes on as he tries to goad the crooks into killing him.
Despite Coleman being very good in the movie, this leads to the major issue with the premise: Namely that it feels like it's played too light and too soft for material that when you step back and look at it is quite cruel and mean and is begging for the type of "black as pitch" humor you'd expect from Coen Brothers or Danny DeVito. The scenes where Burt realizes all his planning for his son's future and his retirement are out the window are quite sad and the moments of emotionally vulnerability like where he talks down a suicide bomber are played straight (and quite well) by Coleman but Coleman's so likable as a character that it becomes uncomfortable to laugh at the scenes where he's trying to get himself killed (he even goes to lengths to make sure there's no innocents or collateral damage). If the movie had been about a corrupt cop who was estranged from his ex-wife and son played by someone like Jack Nicholson or Harvey Keitel maybe the movie would've played better to critics and audiences as a way of stomaching the material. As is, Short Time plays itself like a conventional cop action-comedy that just happens to have a morbid premise.
I enjoyed Short Time for things that did genuinely work, but considering the rather bouncy and zany way the marketing pitched this movie only for audiences and critics to be subjected to scenes of genuine sadness crudely mixed in with buddy cop conventions of the era it makes sense to a degree why critics and audiences rejected the film. I certainly don't agree with Siskel and Ebert's assertion of this being one of the worst movies of 1990 (it probably wouldn't even make it to the top 30 of exclusively theatrical releases), but when the marketing promises a zanier experience than you get it can give the audience a sense of whiplash. Taken on its own and with the performances you get some really good moments, but it doesn't play them as well as they should.
Good Action-Comedy!
gwnightscream1 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Dabney Coleman, Matt Frewer, Xander Berkeley and Teri Garr star in this 1990 action-comedy. Coleman (9 to 5) plays Burt Simpson (No, not Bart Simpson), a veteran cop who gets misinformed that he's dying, so he tries
getting himself killed on the job to collect on insurance for his family. Frewer plays Burt's partner, Ernie (Ha, Bert & Ernie from Sesame Street) and Garr (Dumb & Dumber) plays Burt's ex-wife, Carolyn. Berkeley (Terminator 2) plays dangerous criminal, Stark and Joe Pantoliano (The Goonies) & Barry Corbin (Wargames) also appear. I've always liked this film, Coleman is great in it and he & Frewer are good together. I recommend this good
action-comedy.
Alright
view_and_review20 March 2020
Burt and Ernie look so different. What happened to them?
Burt Simpson (Dabney Coleman), that's BURT Simpson not BART Simpson, and Ernie Dills (Matt Frewer) are partners on the Seattle Police Department---yes, Burt and Ernie. Burt is an uptight divorcee with a child and eight days from retirement. He wants to make sure that he plays it extremely safe until he retires, until a mix-up happens at the hospital. A bus driver afraid of failing his urine test swapped the name on his blood and urine samples with Burt's. Burt is told he has a terminal illness that will kill him in a matter of weeks, but if he can be killed in the line of duty then he can get a $350,000 pay out from the Seattle P.D. That leads Burt to some very risky behavior.
I don't have much to say about this movie. It didn't move me either way. I guess I would say that it was alright.
Burt Simpson (Dabney Coleman), that's BURT Simpson not BART Simpson, and Ernie Dills (Matt Frewer) are partners on the Seattle Police Department---yes, Burt and Ernie. Burt is an uptight divorcee with a child and eight days from retirement. He wants to make sure that he plays it extremely safe until he retires, until a mix-up happens at the hospital. A bus driver afraid of failing his urine test swapped the name on his blood and urine samples with Burt's. Burt is told he has a terminal illness that will kill him in a matter of weeks, but if he can be killed in the line of duty then he can get a $350,000 pay out from the Seattle P.D. That leads Burt to some very risky behavior.
I don't have much to say about this movie. It didn't move me either way. I guess I would say that it was alright.
A Better movie than you'd think
spamred16 July 2007
Dabney Coleman plays a cop getting into his "short time" just before retirement. Knowing what we do about police movies, we understand why he's careful and plays it safe. During a routine blood test, he finds out he has a terminal disease and his insurance will only pay out to his estranged wife and son if he dies in the line of duty. From that setup, we get a marvelous performance by Coleman. Matt Frewer as his new partner is wonderful as well. Everyone gives a solid performance here, even Coleman's unmarked cruiser in a amazing chase sequence. If you happen to see this one coming up on TV, give it a try. I think you'll like it.
Blakespot Reviews: Short Time
TimeForChillie15 July 2006
Short Time, 5/10, 23rd best movie of 1990, 332nd of the 1990s, 842nd all time I had actually really wanted to see this movie for a long time. I had seen a preview for it when I watched some movie in high school and thought it was a good idea for a movie. I was actually going to order it on netflix but nobody ever bothered to put it on DVD. But while I was looking for something to watch at my girlfriends the other day I saw it was on show time. It's about a Cop who finds out he has a terminal desiease. He is uneffected now, but will be dead in 3 months. He can collect insurance in the amount of 250,000 dollars for his family, but the thing is, he has to die on the job. Thus he starts taking ridiculous chances on the job, but keeps accidentally succeding, and getting all these commendations for bravery when all he wants to do is get killed. Now I thought this sounded like a very funny idea for a movie. And while I still feel the premise was very good, the movie isn't really done very well. There is one ridiculously funny 10 minute car chase scene which I feel shows exactly how good this movie could have been, and single-handedly bumped this movie up from a low four to a low five. But other than that I think this movie is mostly a lot of lost potential.
"You missed me again you idiot!!"
pixelman-121 December 2004
Warning: Spoilers
Let me start out by repeating what has been stated before, it is very much Dabney Coleman who single handedly saves this film from mediocrity. He is truly an actor to pay attention to whenever he utters anything in his films, no matter what it is he's saying, you care. He's a decent, morally strong gentleman, and that's rare, folks.
Here, he plays laid back and up-tight police detective Burt Simpson, only days away from retiring. He's paranoid about taking risks and doing anything to risk being killed. When he goes to the doctor for a routine examination, a complication arises that leads him to believe he only has about 2 or 3 weeks to live. Then, as he's getting his final affairs in order, he finds out that his wife (Terry Garr) and young son can only collect on his insurance if he gets killed in the line of duty.
He hasn't got much time to waste, so Burt requests double duty in the worst part of the city, much to the dismay of his wiseass partner Ernie (pitch-perfectly played by Matt Frewer) who doesn't know what the hell is going on with his partner. Burt spends the next few days acting like a supercop, trying desperately to get killed by any means necessary! The show stopper, hands down, is an extended car chase through Seattle with Burt in relentless hot pursuit of another car carrying a couple of real scumbags. Burt comes after them with the determination of Robocop, and what ensues is the fastest, funniest and most frantic car chase ever captured on film! Indeed, when it's all over, their is nothing left of Burt's car but four wheels, a steering column, the engine and a seat! And of course, Burt himself with only a few minor scratches, why? Because he neglected to un-buckle his seat belt! DOAH!! Now, this isn't to say that the film is all fun and games, their are a few very poignant scenes with Burt that might bring a tear to your eye, especially the confessions he makes to his estranged wife about how he feels about her. Another is a scene in a convenience store where a man has taken hostages, Burt strolls in wearing only his boxer shorts and t-shirt and proceeds to have a truly moving heart to heart chat with the disturbed gunman.
Deftly mixing action, humor, drama and a serious message about taking stock in one's life before it's to late, Short Time delivers. It's a simple little film that got no attention, but in my experience, those often are the one's that stay with you. See it.
And BTW, where the hell is this film on DVD!?
Here, he plays laid back and up-tight police detective Burt Simpson, only days away from retiring. He's paranoid about taking risks and doing anything to risk being killed. When he goes to the doctor for a routine examination, a complication arises that leads him to believe he only has about 2 or 3 weeks to live. Then, as he's getting his final affairs in order, he finds out that his wife (Terry Garr) and young son can only collect on his insurance if he gets killed in the line of duty.
He hasn't got much time to waste, so Burt requests double duty in the worst part of the city, much to the dismay of his wiseass partner Ernie (pitch-perfectly played by Matt Frewer) who doesn't know what the hell is going on with his partner. Burt spends the next few days acting like a supercop, trying desperately to get killed by any means necessary! The show stopper, hands down, is an extended car chase through Seattle with Burt in relentless hot pursuit of another car carrying a couple of real scumbags. Burt comes after them with the determination of Robocop, and what ensues is the fastest, funniest and most frantic car chase ever captured on film! Indeed, when it's all over, their is nothing left of Burt's car but four wheels, a steering column, the engine and a seat! And of course, Burt himself with only a few minor scratches, why? Because he neglected to un-buckle his seat belt! DOAH!! Now, this isn't to say that the film is all fun and games, their are a few very poignant scenes with Burt that might bring a tear to your eye, especially the confessions he makes to his estranged wife about how he feels about her. Another is a scene in a convenience store where a man has taken hostages, Burt strolls in wearing only his boxer shorts and t-shirt and proceeds to have a truly moving heart to heart chat with the disturbed gunman.
Deftly mixing action, humor, drama and a serious message about taking stock in one's life before it's to late, Short Time delivers. It's a simple little film that got no attention, but in my experience, those often are the one's that stay with you. See it.
And BTW, where the hell is this film on DVD!?
intriguing concept
SnoopyStyle21 May 2017
A shipment of experimental weapons have been stolen from the military. With only eight days left before his retirement, Seattle police detective Burt Simpson (Dabney Coleman) is risk averse to the dismay of his partner Ernie Dills (Matt Frewer). Their captain (Barry Corbin) isn't happy either. Burt's blood test for his life insurance gets switched and he's told that he has only two and a half weeks to live. His police life insurance is only good for getting killed in the line of duty. He needs to leave money for his wife Carolyn (Teri Garr) and his young son. He takes on the riskiest calls to get himself killed in his last week on the job.
This wants to be funny with action. With a great comedic actor in Coleman and an intriguing concept, this has good potential. There is plenty of action but the comedy never quite gets to be funny. The death wish does complicate the emotional aspect. Also Frewer is not as fun as he could be. Coleman is bitter for most of the movie. The constant joke of him failing to get himself killed is limited in its effect. It's interesting but doesn't fully satisfy.
This wants to be funny with action. With a great comedic actor in Coleman and an intriguing concept, this has good potential. There is plenty of action but the comedy never quite gets to be funny. The death wish does complicate the emotional aspect. Also Frewer is not as fun as he could be. Coleman is bitter for most of the movie. The constant joke of him failing to get himself killed is limited in its effect. It's interesting but doesn't fully satisfy.
It's not easy getting yourself killed
ODDBear13 January 2004
A police detective learns he is dying from a disease and decides to get himself killed in the line of duty so his wife and son can receive a handsome sum of money upon his demise. But getting himself killed is way harder than he thought. Although the film slows way too much down in the second half and gets overly sentimental there's more than a fair share of laughs to compensate. Dabney Coleman is terrific as usual and the rest of the cast support him well. Well worth catching.
Very funny at times, still good even when it isn't funny
vchimpanzee29 February 2004
Warning: Spoilers
Burt Simpson is an uptight, practical Seattle detective with just over a week before retirement. He expects his son Dougie (who lives with mother Carolyn) to go to Harvard. His partner Ernie is more easygoing and carefree and wants to go into the hot tub business.
Not wanting anything to happen in his last week on the job, Burt refuses to take risks, and he lets a suspect get away--a man whose face appeared on a wanted poster he was looking at just seconds before spotting him, and a man connected with Carl Stark, whose gang hijacked a shipment of military weapons. Naturally, the captain is furious.
While he is getting tests at the doctor, Burt's blood sample is switched with that of a bus driver who smoked a joint and doesn't want to get caught. The bus driver, as it turns out, has a terminal illness. Burt wants to make sure his son is provided for (especially after a dream he has where the son gets into Harvard but his mother has no money to pay for it), but the only life insurance he has is a $350,000 policy that pays off only if he is killed in the line of duty. So Burt volunteers for the most dangerous duty and takes lots of risks. He also learns what is important in life.
This movie was very funny, when it was funny. At first it didn't seem as good in the dramatic scenes, but Dabney Coleman did so well in them that even those were good. Matt Frewer, on the other hand, didn't give a strong enough performance as Burt's partner. Barry Corbin made an impression as the captain.
One of the biggest highlights of the entire movie was an exciting and hilarious car chase involving Carl Stark's gang. Burt had nothing to lose, and the criminals thought he was insane. I was exhausted afterward from laughing. Later, Burt's new outlook on life proved quite valuable in another risky assignment, in a well-done dramatic scene.
There was some violence, but I guess no more than in a typical cop movie. I was glad I saw a version where they cleaned up the language.
This movie was a real winner.
********************SPOILERS********************
Burt defused a hostage situation, but he forgot to defuse the bomb!
Near the end, Burt went to the hospital and found the men whose car was demolished in that car chase, and tortured them until they told him Carl Stark's whereabouts. What followed was an edge-of-your-seat adventure involving the cop and the criminal hanging off the side of a building. And Burt was assured, from a helicopter, that the doctor made a mistake--he's not going to die! (Oh, yeah?)
Oh, yes, we do see what happens when the bus driver starts to feel the effects of his illness.
*************************************** ***************************************
SPOILERS YOU DON"T DARE READ UNLESS YOU REALLY REALLY WANT TO
*************************************** ***************************************
It's a touching funeral ceremony after Burt falls off that building.
But Burt is on crutches. His son can't understand why that bus driver was so important.
Not wanting anything to happen in his last week on the job, Burt refuses to take risks, and he lets a suspect get away--a man whose face appeared on a wanted poster he was looking at just seconds before spotting him, and a man connected with Carl Stark, whose gang hijacked a shipment of military weapons. Naturally, the captain is furious.
While he is getting tests at the doctor, Burt's blood sample is switched with that of a bus driver who smoked a joint and doesn't want to get caught. The bus driver, as it turns out, has a terminal illness. Burt wants to make sure his son is provided for (especially after a dream he has where the son gets into Harvard but his mother has no money to pay for it), but the only life insurance he has is a $350,000 policy that pays off only if he is killed in the line of duty. So Burt volunteers for the most dangerous duty and takes lots of risks. He also learns what is important in life.
This movie was very funny, when it was funny. At first it didn't seem as good in the dramatic scenes, but Dabney Coleman did so well in them that even those were good. Matt Frewer, on the other hand, didn't give a strong enough performance as Burt's partner. Barry Corbin made an impression as the captain.
One of the biggest highlights of the entire movie was an exciting and hilarious car chase involving Carl Stark's gang. Burt had nothing to lose, and the criminals thought he was insane. I was exhausted afterward from laughing. Later, Burt's new outlook on life proved quite valuable in another risky assignment, in a well-done dramatic scene.
There was some violence, but I guess no more than in a typical cop movie. I was glad I saw a version where they cleaned up the language.
This movie was a real winner.
********************SPOILERS********************
Burt defused a hostage situation, but he forgot to defuse the bomb!
Near the end, Burt went to the hospital and found the men whose car was demolished in that car chase, and tortured them until they told him Carl Stark's whereabouts. What followed was an edge-of-your-seat adventure involving the cop and the criminal hanging off the side of a building. And Burt was assured, from a helicopter, that the doctor made a mistake--he's not going to die! (Oh, yeah?)
Oh, yes, we do see what happens when the bus driver starts to feel the effects of his illness.
*************************************** ***************************************
SPOILERS YOU DON"T DARE READ UNLESS YOU REALLY REALLY WANT TO
*************************************** ***************************************
It's a touching funeral ceremony after Burt falls off that building.
But Burt is on crutches. His son can't understand why that bus driver was so important.
Short Time
d_m_s20 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Was hoping for an easy watching, amusing film to pass the time but got something so dull it was painful.
How this falls into the comedy genre I have no idea. I kept waiting for a joke but there were none.
Dull characters and story.
How this falls into the comedy genre I have no idea. I kept waiting for a joke but there were none.
Dull characters and story.
Great Movie
jcradio2 January 2002
This is truly one of the funniest movies, I've seen. I used to watch it several times a week. I highly recommend this one if you like offbeat comedies. One of the funniest things was something I didn't even notice the first three times I saw it...What you ask? The names of the main characters...Burt and Ernie. That's right folks, the two cops are named after two of your favorite childhood friends. ENJOY!!
Dabney Coleman is good at lots of things, but this isn't one of them
lee_eisenberg14 February 2016
"Short Time" has an interesting premise but could have gotten played out better. Dabney Coleman (the boss in "9 to 5" and the computer scientist in "WarGames") plays a Seattle detective who tries to commit suicide so that his family can collect the indemnity. It starts off OK but peters out before too long. When I saw it, what caught my eye was that his character's name sounded like Bart Simpson. Other than that, there wasn't much memorable. A better Seattle-set comedy from 1990 was Lawrence Kasdan's "I Love You to Death", in which the wife (Tracey Ullman) of a philandering pizzeria owner (Kevin Kline) keeps trying to kill him.
Also starring Teri Garr (Inga in "Young Frankenstein"), Matt Frewer (Russell Sr. in "Honey I Shrunk the Kids"), Barry Corbin (the general in "WarGames") and Joe Pantoliano (Cypher in "The Matrix").
Also starring Teri Garr (Inga in "Young Frankenstein"), Matt Frewer (Russell Sr. in "Honey I Shrunk the Kids"), Barry Corbin (the general in "WarGames") and Joe Pantoliano (Cypher in "The Matrix").
Dark Humor Has Some Good Moments
ccthemovieman-14 February 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I found this to be a very entertaining comedy-suspense film with some wild action.
Until the movie "Ronin" came out in the late '90s, the car-chase scene in this movie was the best I had ever seen on film. It still may be the best - you have to see it to believe it!
Basically, this is simply a dark humor film in which a cop, "Burt Simpson" (Coleman) deals with real - or imaginary - imminent death.
Thinking he's dying, he takes ridiculous chances, actually hoping he gets killed so his kid gets insurance. Of course, he survives....and how he does is hilarious. Beware, though: this is not family viewing with the high amount of profanity.
This movie needs to be out on DVD!
Until the movie "Ronin" came out in the late '90s, the car-chase scene in this movie was the best I had ever seen on film. It still may be the best - you have to see it to believe it!
Basically, this is simply a dark humor film in which a cop, "Burt Simpson" (Coleman) deals with real - or imaginary - imminent death.
Thinking he's dying, he takes ridiculous chances, actually hoping he gets killed so his kid gets insurance. Of course, he survives....and how he does is hilarious. Beware, though: this is not family viewing with the high amount of profanity.
This movie needs to be out on DVD!
Hard to find but well worth the search!
twokiloseven22 February 2009
I first saw this movie First Choice (at the time Canada's HBO) in the early 90's and immediately fell in love with it. Now in my mid 30's I have been lucky enough to find it on DVD to add to my collection. I am very happy as I understand that it is a hard to find DVD and I stumbled across it on amazon one day.
If you are lucky enough to be able to view this movie on DVD or on cable or whatever, have a look. I think just about anybody could enjoy this film as it is able to be very entertaining without being overly vulgar or violent.
This is a funny story about a cop who's physical results are mixed up with another patient and he is told that he is going to die in a short time. He then finds out that his life insurance only pays out if he dies on the job. You can imagine where it goes from there. This movie is funny from start to finish and is worth a look from any movie fan.
If you are lucky enough to be able to view this movie on DVD or on cable or whatever, have a look. I think just about anybody could enjoy this film as it is able to be very entertaining without being overly vulgar or violent.
This is a funny story about a cop who's physical results are mixed up with another patient and he is told that he is going to die in a short time. He then finds out that his life insurance only pays out if he dies on the job. You can imagine where it goes from there. This movie is funny from start to finish and is worth a look from any movie fan.
Could have been better
drjgardner2 February 2019
It's hard to start a comedy with a violent scene involving robbery and aggravated assault, and then pepper the film with killings and violent car chases. It's also questionable that a main plot point involves allowing someone who has only a few days to live to go without any knowledge and counseling. If you can put all that aside, this is a funny and heart-warming film with great acting from everyone. A little time spent taking the edge off the violence would have made this really good.
Underrated classic.
littleted1 August 2018
What can I say that has not already been said. This is a 1990 film that stands up well even today, in fact I'm surprised it has never been remade by the likes of Stallone or Willis. It's a genuinely funny movie with quite a straight forward story line. No bad languages or unnecessary nudety, just well written and brilliantly acted comic situations that support the movies main premise. Hard to find but really worth watching, a must see.
Old Diplomats never die they just become bumper cars.
omcara17 July 2003
Great tounge-in-cheek cliche of the old cop that's about to retire and die. But let's give some credit to his metalic co-star. The little Diplomat that could. It takes a beating and keeps on ticking like a combination of a Timex, the Enegizer Bunny and the Mustang from gone in 60 Seconds. Oh And throw in a little bit of the Blues Brothers Dodge for good measure. What a car! If you like to see old police cars get put through the ringer and come out the other side no worst for wear also check out, Gator, Greased Lighting and Ripper
A Hidden Gem
The-Sarkologist21 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I remember seeing this film years ago, and when I mean years I really do mean years. This was back in the time when video shops were everywhere, and the bad films went straight to video. Actually, I believe that this was one of those straight to video movies. Anyway, the guys that I was living with would regularly go down to the video store and hire movies, and this was one of them, The thing is that despite all of the films that I had seen, this was one that stuck in my mind. As such, I decided to watch it again.
It turned out to be pretty good. Mind you, it is quite hard to track down, which is a bit of a shame, but it is one of those gems that probably should be promoted a bit more, as opposed to disappearing into obscurity as many such films seem to do. In fact, I just did a search for it and none of the streaming services carry it, which is a real shame.
The story goes that we have this cop that is six days away from retiring, and basically that is usually when cops end up getting killed. However, when he goes for an insurance medical examination, the guy that is also there, having a drug test, decides to switch urine samples so that his employer doesn't find out about his marijuana habit. It also turns out that this guy has a terminal disease and he only has two weeks to live.
Of course, this leads to some rather interesting scenarios, especially since the cop discovers that his ex-wife and son end up with more money if he dies on the job, so he goes from being a incredibly cautious cop to suicidal. In fact, this leads to some rather interesting scenes, especially the final scene when the storm trooper aims of the bad guys leave him alive and well.
There is also a nice side to the film as well, especially since how believing that he is going to die makes him put his life in perspective, and decides that he needs to start doing things that he had neglected over the years, including spending big at times. Yeah, in part there are some quite sweet things with this film.
However, my favourite part would have to be the scenes in the locker rooms, where we have these two cops sitting on the couch in front of the TV watching cop shows. Well, they are stort of cop shows because they seem to be a mix of cop shows and soap operas (not that I know of any soap operas where the main characters are cops, but then again I never really watched soap operas, and those that I did I simply can't remember anything about them). Yeah, this film is quite charming, and it certainly has some pretty funny scenes as well.
Not bad for a straight to video release (DVDs didn't exist back when this film was released, and when I watched it, which sort of shows you how old I actually am).
It turned out to be pretty good. Mind you, it is quite hard to track down, which is a bit of a shame, but it is one of those gems that probably should be promoted a bit more, as opposed to disappearing into obscurity as many such films seem to do. In fact, I just did a search for it and none of the streaming services carry it, which is a real shame.
The story goes that we have this cop that is six days away from retiring, and basically that is usually when cops end up getting killed. However, when he goes for an insurance medical examination, the guy that is also there, having a drug test, decides to switch urine samples so that his employer doesn't find out about his marijuana habit. It also turns out that this guy has a terminal disease and he only has two weeks to live.
Of course, this leads to some rather interesting scenarios, especially since the cop discovers that his ex-wife and son end up with more money if he dies on the job, so he goes from being a incredibly cautious cop to suicidal. In fact, this leads to some rather interesting scenes, especially the final scene when the storm trooper aims of the bad guys leave him alive and well.
There is also a nice side to the film as well, especially since how believing that he is going to die makes him put his life in perspective, and decides that he needs to start doing things that he had neglected over the years, including spending big at times. Yeah, in part there are some quite sweet things with this film.
However, my favourite part would have to be the scenes in the locker rooms, where we have these two cops sitting on the couch in front of the TV watching cop shows. Well, they are stort of cop shows because they seem to be a mix of cop shows and soap operas (not that I know of any soap operas where the main characters are cops, but then again I never really watched soap operas, and those that I did I simply can't remember anything about them). Yeah, this film is quite charming, and it certainly has some pretty funny scenes as well.
Not bad for a straight to video release (DVDs didn't exist back when this film was released, and when I watched it, which sort of shows you how old I actually am).
A complete waste of time
MillBay20 May 2000
I did not enjoy this film at all. Usually I like Dabney Coleman and I saw this movie for sale for only $3.99. Well, that was $3.99 NOT well spent. What can I say? The premise is good, but the movie did not follow through. I watched this movie with three other people and nobody enjoyed it at all. It was not funny (as the cover of the movie box implies), nor heartwarming. As Homer Simpson would say, "BO-RING!" Don't waste your time with this dull film.
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