|
Once upon a time, in the previous millennium, in the previous century, there was a mythological TV show named "Starsky and Hutch". The heroes were one blonde hunk and one dark (and Jewish) hunk, who stormed through the streets in a red Ford Torino (nicknamed "the Red Tomato" and kicked bad guys' asses for about a hundred episodes, followed all along by the screams of their black captain. I never missed an episode except the first one, for which I haven't forgiven myself to this very day...
On April 1, 2004, after a nearly 30 years delay, the Movie based on the show has finally arrived. The Movie, starring Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller (marking their sixth collaboration to date), begins with a short introduction of the two protagonists, one blond hunk and one dark (and Jewish) hunk, who storm through the streets in a red Ford Torino (nicknamed "the Red Tomato" and kick bad guys' asses, followed all along by the screams of their black captain. We witness their first meeting, forced upon them as a punishment for their rebellious behavior. From the beginning they can't stand each other, but they have no choice but to cooperate. Their target this time is a gang of sophisticated drug dealers who were able to develop a drug undetectable by dogs, which leads to some comical situations, and then things start getting complicated...
Owen Wilson's Hutch is more understated and "flowing", but a lot less of a hunk than the original David Soul's Hutch. Ben Stiller's Starsky is extreme and extrovert, sometimes to the point of a cartoon character. The impression is that Wilson at least tried to stick to the spirit of the original character, though he does something the TV Hutch would never have done - he takes money from the pocket of a dead body and puts it into his own (why? He's really not strapped for cash); Stiller, however, simply remains Stiller.
Contrary to conventional Movie adaptations of TV show ("Charlie's Angels", "Mission: Impossible" or even "Thunderbirds", "The Love Boat" and "The A-Team"), the creators consciously decided to leave the plot in its original time, the Seventies, which have two distinctive characteristics in the Movie – Hip disco music and outrageous Afros. Is it good or bad? Starsky and Hutch of the 70's were an unprecedented TV phenomenon both visually, both in terms of the storyline, and in its portrayal of a relationship where men finally have the legitimacy to cry in each other's arms and hug each other without losing any of their masculinity. No update to the 2000 version could have renewed anything and perhaps it could only caused damage. This is probably why reruns of the show (there were at least two such cycles) never achieved the same degree of success.
Those who never knew Starsky and Hutch would probably never understand what was the fuss was about, but may enjoy the Red Tomato's performance on the big screen; The older viewers will enjoy the nostalgia and the music, and the connoisseurs will be able play "Beat the Expert" and try to identify familiar scenes from the show's opening reconstructed in the Movie. The (too) brief guest appearance of the two original heroes at the end seems a little forced; for those who didn't recognize them, they are the two car dealers who bring Starsky-Stiller's new car. They wear the same outfits, only about a size larger, and they obviously miss the Red Tomato so much, that Starsky-Glaser can't help it and tries to push Starsky-Stiller and get into the car himself. The truth? I really didn't get that scene… Incidentally, this was the first and only joint appearance by the two veteran actors since the show was cancelled. There was no TV "reunion", which is very common when a successful show is cancelled.
And what about the controversial homosexual innuendo surrounding this Movie? There is only one scene worth mentioning, and it occurs in the communal shower at the police station when the two heroes find themselves, much to their embarrassment, accidentally wrapped up in too small towels. This is homosexual innuendo? Excuse me? We've already seen much more graphic stuff in the NYPD Blue showers. Would anyone dare to call Detective Sipowicz gay? Suffice it to mention two random but quite typical scenes from the show - at the end of one episode, the two heroes, competing for the affections of the same girl, leave her alone at the bar and step out together; In another episode, Starsky (I believe) complains that, despite the many hours they spend together, Hatch is not even a good kisser, and Hutch promptly proves him wrong...
It is true that in every story where the two characters are good friends of the same sex, the question immediately arises, "Are they gay?" (See for example Frodo and Sam, Xena and Gabrielle, and in contrast, Cagney and Lacey). First, in most cases, each of these heroes clearly prefers the opposite sex or is a "Monk" (one of the prerequisites for true heroism, see the case of Samson); Second, in most cases, the creators are the ones who intentionally spread out such innuendo in order to increase the interest and curiosity; third, when the protagonists are of different sexes, sexual tension is automatically created, to the point that the main question concerning the audience is when the hell will they kiss already? A first kiss or going to bed for the first time at the wrong time can ruin the relationship (and kill the show, which has happened before - see the case of "Moonlighting"). A prime example is what I call "Mulder and Scully's first kiss project". During the entire nine seasons of "The X-Files", Mulder was never able to hold a steady relationship with a woman other than Scully, and Scully was never able to hold a steady relationship with a man other than Mulder (not that they never suffered from the lack of opposite sex suitors). Would it have occurred to anyone to ask whether this was because Mulder is gay? Or Skully is lesbian?
Overall, this is a fun film to watch, but not much more. In my opinion, its main problem is that the creators focused too much on reconstructing the period and too little on plot and character development. Will there be a "Starsky and Hutch 2"? Almost certainly not...
And what happened to the heroes of the mythological show and where are they now?
Detective Kenneth "Hutch" Hutchinson - David Soul. Perhaps the most tragic case of Type Casting Syndrome (see how well It worked for Sean Connery, who knew how to shake off the James Bond image in time). He was never was able to recover from quitting the show. I will mention only his appearance in "Salem's Lot", a mini series based on a novel by Stephen King, also readapted in a version starring Rob Lowe. Let's not forget his appearance in the second "Dirty Harry" Movie, "Magnum Force", and his cameo role in the British show "Dalziel And Pascoe". He even dyed his hair black for his part in a TV adaptation of "Casablanca" (which failed miserably). He had a successful but too short careas a singer (Silver Lady, Don't Give Up On Us) which also stopped in the mid 80's. He visited Israel several times, to attend the Miss Israel pageant (I am witness, I was there) and to shoot a Movie ("Appointment with Death", based on a novel by Agatha Christie, I was where too), and expressed his great love for Israel, based on deep religious faith (His father was a Lutheran Minister). He still appears in movies here and there, especially in parts that require a blond look. Lately he appears mostly in the London theater (see "The Dead Monkey").
Detective David Starsky - Paul Michael Glaser. Oh, the mothers of Israel loved him! He also visited Israel to attend Miss Isreal Pageant (not in the same year). After appearing in several Movies ("Fiddler on the Roof","Phobia", "Houdini") he almost disappeared from the screens and recently he concentrates mainly on directing Movies ("Running Man" with Schwarzenegger, etc.) and TV shows. Glaser has a tragic personal story. His wife, actress Elizabeth Meyer, died of AIDS and some of their children also contracted the terrible disease. He too was never able to restore the days of "Starsky and Hutch".
Captain Harold Doby- Bernie Hamilton (brother of Jazz musician Chico Hamilton). The archtypical screamer black commander who keeps lashing out at his subordinates while secretly loving them as if they were his sons. A very fun parody on the character was made in " The Last Action Hero" (also with Schwarzenegger). Hamilton completely disappeared off the screens in the late 70's, after the termination of the show.
Veteran black actor Fred Williamson plays the part in the Movie.
Huggy Bear - Antonio Fargas. The friendly informant, always living on the edge of the law and sometimes even crossing it a little goes on, but only for good causes - also continues to appear occasionally in Movies, not very successfully .
Rapper Snoop (Doggy) Dogg plays the part in the Movie.
And to think the show was terminated because of the excessive violence… |