Today’s quick review: Blue Streak. After a heist goes bad, Miles Logan (Martin Lawrence) hides a stolen diamond in a construction site before he is arrested. Two years later, Miles returns to the construction site to retrieve the diamond only to find that the site has become the LAPD’s newest police station. To get his diamond back, Miles must go undercover as a police detective and keep up the charade long enough to find the missing jewel.
Blue Streak is a crime comedy about a jewel thief forced to pose as a cop. Martin Lawrence makes for an entertaining lead as Miles, an unlucky but resourceful criminal who gets drawn deeper and deeper into his fake career as a detective. Luke Wilson plays Carlson, Miles’ mild-mannered partner on the force, while Dave Chappelle plays Tulley, Miles’ dimwitted accomplice from the diamond job.
Blue Streak gets most of its comedy from Miles’ increasingly outlandish efforts to keep his ruse going. Between his quick thinking, his criminal background, and his flagrant disregard for the law, Miles proves to be an effective police officer, earning him attention that hinders his efforts to locate the gem. None of the humor is phenomenal, but Miles makes for a likable protagonist and Blue Streak delivers a steady stream of amusement.
The movie’s biggest missed opportunity is its failure to build on Miles’ police career. Miles gets dragged into a series of escalating incidents, but they are mostly unrelated to each other. His relationship with Carlson is entertaining but does not get the chance to progress very far. The movie misses its chance to go farther with its story, either with a more involved police plot or a more satisfying emotional arc.
Watch Blue Streak if you are in the mood for a dose of easy comedy. Blue Streak does not have the sharp writing needed to be memorable, but it makes for fun popcorn nonetheless. Skip it if you are looking for a riotous comedy or a well-plotted crime story. For a more adventurous cop comedy, check out Beverly Hills Cop.
6.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for decent comedy and a good premise.