Today’s quick review: Another Stakeout. After a blunder on the job, Seattle police officers Chris Lecce (Richard Dreyfuss) and Bill Reimers (Emilio Estevez) are assigned to work with Gina Garrett (Rosie O’Donnell), the assistant district attorney. The three of them must put up with boredom and each other as they stake out the secluded island where Lu Delano (Cathy Moriarty), an important federal witness, may have fled after an attempt on her life.
Another Stakeout is a crime comedy about two police officers and a lawyer tasked with keeping a frightened witness safe from the hitman (Miguel Ferrer) trying to kill her. Another Stakeout’s story has a dramatic setup and some actual danger for its characters, but the personality quirks of Chris, Bill, and Gina fall squarely in the realm of comedy. A couple of good performances and an organic script make Another Stakeout a fun watch.
Another Stakeout’s best feature is the comedy duo of Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez. The two settle into a comfortable rhythm that bespeaks their characters’ long friendship. Their light-hearted jabs at one another, willingness to roll with the punches, and general sense of playfulness give the movie a ready source of humor. Rosie O’Donnell is no slouch herself, and together the three leads give Another Stakeout a strong comedic core.
Another Stakeout is on somewhat shakier ground with its plot. The setup works well on paper, but in practice, the characters spend too much time with nothing to do. The stakeout eats up most of the film, during which time the lead trio’s main occupation is trying to maintain their cover in front of the neighbors (Dennis Farina, Marcia Strassman). On the plus side, the movie has enough humor to sustain the audience through this dry spell.
Another Stakeout is a decent pick for viewers in the mood for something light with just a touch of danger. The movie does rely heavily on the friendship between Chris and Bill to make its humor work, meaning that a viewer who dislikes their jokes will find that it has little to offer. But for the right viewer, Another Stakeout manages something unusual: silly comedy that still feels natural. Give it a shot if you’re curious.
For another outing with the same characters that has a better balance of story and humor, try the original Stakeout.
5.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for two good leads and a decent plot.