I had read a mixed set of reviews of Starsky and Hutch when it was released to the cinema, so I came with an open mind when watching this. I remember watching Starsky and Hutch as a young teenager in the 70’s and all the hoo hah then about it being so violent and full of drugs and generally a cutting edge program. My how we’ve changed.

Even though there was some violence in this film, by todays standards in was excrutiatingly tame. In fact so were the cheesy jokes. What had been cutting edge in the 70’s is certainly a dull blade now. I am not saying there is nothing to enjoy in this film, but it is pretty corny and like the Brady Bunch movies, is more intent on satire rather than what the originals were really about.

The premise of this film is about how Starsky and Hutch met, how they were polar opposites in personality and yet as their forced partnership developed, the more they realised they had in common and in fact they bonded. Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller are well matched for that lame slapstick, cheesy humour that one expects from them and they delivered their stuff with great timing. Just a shame the script was not more like the 70’s in that it had a real cutting edge to it. This film could have been so much more.

The real stand out here was Snoop Dogg as Huggy Bear. He had all the great lines, as well as the great costumes. You should see him wrestle the iguana in the outtakes. However, this was not enough to carry this film. Ben Stiller’s makeup when undercover as a biker was cool. His ‘wig man’ did a great job.

I suppose one could say that the best things about this film was the nostalgia it bought about for the 70’s and how they took off things they realised were actually produced in 1976, when the film was set in 1975. Look, if you want an evening of unchallenging entertainment, which will provide a mild hoot of laughter and a trip down memory lane, then this is your film. If you expect cutting edge drama, with full on car chases and action, think again.

THE EXTRAS

Audio Commentary - I admit I didn’t watch this. The film did not inspire me enough to want to find out how they went about making it. Best you could hope for is something to excuse the lacklustre script.

Fashion Fa Shizzle Wit Huggie Bizzle - Snoop Dogg gives us a first hand showing of his outfits for the movie. I have to admit this was the highlight of the DVD for me. Cool clothes with a cool delivery.

Last Look Special (Documentary Spoof) - Where this is said to be a spoof on how people got along on the set, I’m not so sure. There probably is enough truth in some of this just to get you wondering.

Deleted Scenes - Nothing special here, but still worth looking at.

Gag Reel - The usual on set blunders, but again nothing outstanding other than Snoop Dogg and his trying to contain the iguana.

Theatrical Trailer - Exactly what it says.

CONCLUSION

The premise of this film is about how Starsky and Hutch met, how they were polar opposites in personality and yet as their forced partnership developed, the more they realised they had in common and in fact they bonded. Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller are well matched for that lame slapstick, cheesy humour that one expects from them and they delivered their stuff with great timing. Just a shame the script was not more like the 70’s in that it had a real cutting edge to it. This film could have been so much more.