Today’s quick review: Hudson Hawk. After ten years in prison, Eddie (Bruce Willis), a cat burglar known as the Hudson Hawk, wants nothing more than to go straight. But when he and his friend Tommy (Danny Aiello) are blackmailed into stealing a sculpture by Leonardo Da Vinci, Eddie finds himself caught up in an international conspiracy orchestrated by two eccentric billionaires (Richard E. Grant and Sandra Bernhard) and a CIA spook (James Coburn).
Hudson Hawk is an adventure comedy about a world-class cat burglar who gets roped into a villainous scheme. Bruce Willis stars as Eddie, whose upbeat attitude and quick thinking help him stay alive amidst his enemies. Hudson Hawk is an offbeat blend of influences, mashing up the over-the-top schemes and globe-trotting adventure of the spy genre with the playfulness of a family comedy. The movie manages to be fun and creative, but it lacks consistency.
Hudson Hawk is all over the place. The premise of a reformed convict forced to do one more job comes straight out of the crime genre. The general tone of the movie is closer to a family comedy, in spite of its coarse language and occasional violence. The plot is a fanciful adventure with a couple of heists thrown in for good measure, and the whole thing is held together with Eddie’s unflappable attitude and a jazzy soundtrack.
The downside of all this is that there’s no firm ground for the audience to stand on. Every time the movie settles on a direction, another twist happens and it goes veering off towards something wilder. There are no fixed rules to the universe, and the mixture of adult content and cartoonish characters leaves it without a clear target audience. Still, for the right viewer, its optimistic tone, likable hero, and mash-up of genres will make it a fun time.
Hudson Hawk does not fit neatly into any of the usual boxes, and that alone will make it a hard sell for most viewers. Those expecting an ordinary crime comedy, or even a typical adventure, will find the movie odd and unsatisfying. But those who are in the mood for something playful and creative and have flexible tastes may want to give it a try. Hudson Hawk may not have the cohesion most viewers are looking for, but it does try something unique.
For a crime comedy with a more down-to-earth plot, try A Fish Called Wanda. For an action comedy that tries for a similar tone, try Last Action Hero. For an even more stylized crime adventure with a cartoonish tone, try Dick Tracy. For a more family-friendly heist, try National Treasure. For a chaotic spy adventure with a playful tone and a more focused vision, try The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
5.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for mixed execution of a creative premise, resulting in a movie that will appeal strongly to a niche audience.