Running Scared (1986)

R  |   |  Action, Comedy, Crime  |  27 June 1986 (USA)
6.5
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Reviews: 66 user | 19 critic

Two street-wise Chicago cops have to shake off some rust after returning from a Key West vacation to pursue a drug dealer that nearly killed them in the past.

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Title: Running Scared (1986)

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Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 2 wins. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
...
...
...
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Det. Tony Montoya (as Jonathan Gries)
Tracy Reed ...
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John DiSanti ...
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Ace
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Women's Room Lawyer
Robert Lesser ...
Supoena Lawyer
Betty Carvalho ...
Apartment Manager
...
Thug
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Storyline

Danny and Ray are two street wise cops in Chicago. When they are almost killed on a case, they are forced to take a vacation by their captain. Key West offers a substantial change over frozen Chicago. They decide to quit and open a bar in Key West. Upon returning, they find that Julio, the drug dealer who nearly killed them has made bail and is trying to complete a giant drug deal. They decide to complete their case against Julio before quitting, but then begin being careful. Their effectiveness drops as they find they can't operate the way they did before if they don't have the edge of a long time commitment. Written by John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

They've got 30 days to clean up Chicago before they retire to Paradise... Losing their police car, their suspect and having their cover blown is a real bad start. See more »


Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

27 June 1986 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Apunta, dispara... y corre  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Gross:

$38,500,726 (USA)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

On the television series, "The Directors", Peter Hyams stated that when MGM offered him the project following the success of 2010 (1984), the script focused on two old New York City cops who want to retire. Hyams suggested his idea of two young Chicago cops who don't retire and MGM agreed. See more »

Goofs

In the ladies' room, the lawyer for Aunt Rose's estate throws his business card into the sink. When Ray picks it up, it is on top of the sink. See more »

Quotes

Ray Hughes: [finds Gonzales hiding under a tarp] You're under arrest! You know the routine.
[Gonzales stays quiet]
Danny Costanzo: Very good. You have the right to remain silent. Now what else?
Ray Hughes: [punches Gonzales in the stomach] WHAT ELSE!
Danny Costanzo: [growls angrily] Anything I say may be used against me in a court of law.
Danny Costanzo: That's two, you're doing great. Now what's next?
Julio Gonzales: I have the right to an attorney. If I cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to me by the court.
Ray Hughes: Yeah! Yeah. Now do you understand these rights you just ...
[...]
See more »

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User Reviews

 
When it's good, it's very, very good.... but when it's bad it's horrid.
29 June 2004 | by (Todmorden, England) – See all my reviews

Peter Hyams is a director who always delivers exhilarating action sequences but struggles to fill the quiet moments in his films with anything of substance. Yet again he has fashioned a film which is intermittently terrific - especially when the emphasis is on action - but during moments when plot and character development are thrust to the fore, things become decidedly mediocre. Still, at least Billy Crystal is on hand to provide some memorable verbal wit.

Two Chicago cops, Crystal and Gregory Hines, are busily trying to put various scumbags behind bars for drug crimes. Their main target is Julio Gonzalez (Jimmy Smits), a big-time drug lord who constantly eludes their grasp. For a while, the guys leave wintry Chicago and sample the good life in Key West, Florida, but ultimately they just can't let unfinished business lie. Against their better judgement, they return to Chicago to finish the one job they've still got to complete.... the capture of Gonzalez.

Hyams delivers one simply awesome chase in which the heroes pursue their quarry by car, but somehow end up driving on the city's elevated-railway tracks. He also manages to squeeze in a genuinely funny scene in which Crystal makes a wacky anonymous phone-call, complete with goofy voice. However, Hyams is let down - yet again - by the periodic lulls in his story. The whole Key West sequence is boring, even though it bears relevance to the plot. And on too many occasions, Crystal's marital troubles interfere with the story (again, they are certainly relevant, but are played in a very dull way). It's worth watching Running Scared once, but during subsequent viewings it might be advisable to fast-forward through the dreary scenes to get to the good bits.


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