Set in Kansas City in 1933, Eastwood plays a police lieutenant known simply by his last name, Speer. Reynolds plays a former cop turned private eye named Mike Murphy. Both Speer and Murphy served on the force together and were once good friends, but are now bitter enemies. When Murphy's partner is slain they team up again to fight the mob.
Under the direction of last-minute replacement Richard Benjamin, the results are insufferable -- grotesque, chaotic, demoralized.
– Dave Kehr,
Chicago Reader,
1 Jan 2000
fresh:
One of Mr. Benjamin's main contributions to the film is a good-humored buoyancy, even when things are at their most muddled.
– Janet Maslin,
New York Times,
30 Aug 2004
rotten:
How do travesties like this get made?
– Roger Ebert,
Chicago Sun-Times,
23 Oct 2004
fresh:
It's certainly not a subtle movie, but with memorable performances, ludicrously over-the-top one-liners and amiable zaniness, it qualifies as a lot of fun.
– Geoff Andrew,
Time Out,
9 Feb 2006
rotten:
An amiable but decidedly lukewarm confection geared entirely around the two star turns.