Today’s quick review: Tango & Cash. Ray Tango (Sylvester Stallone), a precise, effective Los Angeles cop, and Gabe Cash (Kurt Russell), his loudmouthed counterpart from across town, finally meet their match when crime lord Yves Perrett (Jack Palance) frames them for murder. Wrongly convincted and set up to die in prison, Tango and Cash must put aside their differences long enough to break out of jail and clear their names.
Tango & Cash is an action comedy with a thin plot, sparkling dialogue, and plenty of 80s-flavored fun. A buddy cop movie in the classic mold, Tango & Cash pairs action stars Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell as two of L.A.’s best cops. The duo’s differences are only skin-deep, and the two heroes soon find themselves fighting side by side, trading quips as they search for a way out of Perrett’s fiendish trap.
Tango & Cash offers nothing beyond the 80s buddy cop formula, but it delivers that in spades. The plot is as simple as they come, the villains are paper-thin, and no time is wasted on drama or character development. But Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell make for a phenomenal pair, and the script gives them plenty of raw material to work with. The dialogue ranges from cheesy to hilarious and has enough one-liners to please the most voracious fan.
As far as action goes, Tango & Cash has a little bit of everything: brawls, shootouts, and chase scenes, with a few demolitions to top things off. The stunts are the usual 80s blend of decent combat and big setpieces, all delivered with a sense of fun and a knack for excess. Though not an action masterpiece, Tango & Cash has enough action to keep the adrenaline pumping and the plot rolling forward.
Watch Tango & Cash when you are in the mood for a rollicking action comedy. Tango & Cash is an excellent popcorn flick that is well worth a watch for any 80s action fan. Though a little light on substance, it has an unusually strong script and a great pair of leads. Anyone who dislikes the genre should steer well clear, as should anyone looking for a real plot, anyone looking for real tension, or anyone who has even a mild aversion to quips.
6.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for unadulterated 80s fun.