Today’s quick review: Stakeout. Detectives Chris Lecce (Richard Dreyfuss) and Bill Reimers (Emilio Estevez) have a new assignment: staking out the home of Maria McGuire (Madeleine Stowe), the ex-girlfriend of escaped prisoner Richard “Stick” Montgomery (Aidan Quinn). As the nights drag on with no sign of Montgomery, Chris falls in love with Maria and decides to risk the assignment and his career by dating her under an assumed identity.
Stakeout is a crime comedy about a police stakeout complicated by the blooming relationship between one of the detectives and the target. The movie mixes a reasonably serious plot with low-stakes hijinks as Chris and Bill try to while away the time during their assignment. Natural chemistry between the two leads and a well-developed story make Stakeout a balanced and rewarding pick. However, there are other comedies with more to offer.
Stakeout does a good job of balancing humor and plot. Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez are a natural fit for one another, giving Chris and Bill’s interactions a friendly quality that makes them fun to watch. Their banter, practical jokes, and fooling around on the job give the movie a steady source of comedy. At the same time, their actions do have consequences, and their skills as police officers are soon put to the test.
Still, Stakeout is a modest movie that never tries to reach beyond its limits. The jokes are fun and organic, but rely heavily on the audience liking the characters. The romance is played well, but again, it’s nothing groundbreaking. Ultimately, Stakeout is a worthwhile pick that will earn some laughs but won’t leave too much of a lasting impression. Give it a shot if you’re in the mood for popcorn.
For more of the same, try the sequel: Another Stakeout. For a more dramatic movie about unintended love in a criminal context, try The Town. For a more raucous comedy about a cop with a sense of humor, try Beverly Hills Cop.
6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for good comedic fundamentals, including a well-matched lead duo.