Given that last time, for the movie of the month column, I gave you two examples of mindless action movies featuring Kurt Russell, I thought I would follow the trend with the same actor. After all, it is summer, so I would assume that deep ontological and thought-provoking themes would be out of the question; as such, here’s another fantastically fun and action-packed classic, Tango & Cash.
Tango & Cash is a 1989 movie featuring Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone in the guise of two narcotics detectives. The plot is one that has been used ad nauseam in movies along the years: the main characters, whose personalities differ as day and night, are framed by the bad guys, they go to prison, escape and then take their revenge serving justice to the evildoers. Again, ring any bells?
The reason I am recommending this movie is however not for the plot; it is all about the dynamic duo, I mean consider Starsky and Hutch, Mulder and Scully, Agent K and Agent J, Peralta and Boyle and other such examples. This would however open a parenthesis on the origins of the duo in cinematographic history, probably even thinking back at Laurel and Hardy – it may be however a good idea for a future idea. [I do want to point out that eventually the trope even led to the deconstruction of the genre – consider this to be a shout-out to The other guys because it is a good movie featuring Mark Wahlberg and Colin Farrell]
So why does Tango & Cash work so well to deserve their article?
Well, for one, I would argue that it is largely due to the chemistry between the main characters. Sylvester Stallone interprets an uptight stickler-for-the-rules and sharp-dressed character, whereas Kurt Russell is the rugged, shoot-first-ask-second, easy going but a bit crazy type. Remember that we are also talking about a movie done in the nineties: as such, it is packed to the brim with one-liners and comebacks. Ah, glory to the nineties for this feat. It works like clockwork however because the authors did their job; the quips and the banter is on point with the characterization of the protagonists. It is a good combination of mindless action and good writing. I mean consider that one policeman at a certain moment shatters the fourth wall saying about Stallone that “He thinks he’s Rambo” to which his character replies that Rambo is a wuss. One other example that just made me giggle in spite of its simplicity/stupidity is for instance Tango asking Cash where did he learn to drive and the latter simply replying “Stevie Wonder”.
One other note about this movie: the soundtrack simply ‘slaps’ so to say. It has a techno nineties vide, but the beeps and the bops give a very good pacing to the action sequences.
I would give this movie almost a 7 out of 10 dynamic duo bromances.