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The Badham-Cohen Group

Universal Pictures

Not part of a collection.

The Hard Way

Name: The Hard Way
Released: 1991-03-08T00:00:00.000000Z
Rating: 6.2

There's only one way these two are going to get along...

1991 • 111 min • ★ 6.2 (483) • Released

Action Comedy Crime

Seeking to raise his credibility as an actor and to land a role as a tough cop on a new show, Hollywood action star Nick Lang works a deal with New York City Police Capt. Brix, who by chance is one of his fans. Nick will be paired with detective Lt. John Moss and learn how to act like a real cop. But when Nick drives John crazy with questions and imitating him, he gets in the way of John's pursuit of a serial killer.

IMDb ↗

Original title: The Hard Way
Language: EN
Country: US
Budget: $24,000,000
Revenue: $65,595,485

Reviews & Ratings 2

John Chard

May 23, 2020 · via TMDB

★ 6.0

Will you open up? I just want to know what it feels like to be inside your skin. The Hard Way is directed by John Badham and collectively written by Lem Dobbs, Michael Kozoll and Daniel Pyne. It stars James Woods, Michael J. Fox, Stephen Lang, Annabella Sciorra, Luis Guzman, LL Cool J and Delroy Lindo. Music is by Arthur B. Rubinstein and cinematography is by Don McAlpine and Robert Primes. An action movie star researching a role is allowed to tag along with a hardboiled New York City policeman, who is less than enamoured with his company as he looks to stop the serial killer known as "The Party Crasher". Given John Badham's CV, The Hard Way looked to be right up his street, his career containing solid if unspectacular buddy buddy action comedy pictures. This is just above average thanks to the Woods and Fox pairing and some nifty dialogue one liners. The concept of a Hollywood star tagging along with a grizzled real copper is smart, but the pic ends up over stuffed, even if the action and comedy - courtesy of some high energy set-pieces - rewards enough to stop tedium setting in. Lang's maniacal villain is over the top, though he seems to be enjoying himself, while such is the brisk pace for the most part, when it sags into its quieter periods it strains the patience - the blend uneasy. Yet the finale rewards on basic action terms, with suspense intact, to ultimately give us a just above average pic of its type. 6/10

TheJonathanSim

Feb 28, 2019 · via TMDB

★ 4.0

What do you call an action comedy with no cool action and no funny comedy? The Hard Way.

User reviews courtesy of TMDB.

Keywords 9

buddy cop detective dual identity identity manhattan, new york city movie star police role reversal undercover agent

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Cast 37

Michael J. Fox

Nick Lang

James Woods

John Moss

Stephen Lang

Party Crasher

Annabella Sciorra

Susan

John Capodice

Grainy

Luis Guzmán

Pooley

LL Cool J

Billy

Mary Mara

China

Delroy Lindo

Captain Brix

Conrad Roberts

Witherspoon

Christina Ricci

Bonnie

Penny Marshall

Angie

George Cheung

Drug Dealer

Lewis Black

Banker

Kathy Najimy

Lang's Girl Friday

Yasiin Bey

Dead Romeos

Sharrieff Pugh

Dead Romeos

Curtis McClarin

Dead Romeos

Bill Cobbs

Raggedy Man

Reno

Diner Waitress

John Costelloe

Fake Dead Guy / Cop

Leif Riddell

Head Mugger

Johnny Sanchez

Mugger

Karen Lynn Gorney

Woman in Subway

Janet Sarno

Continental Representative

Ed Setrakian

Chief Villain

Michael Badalucco

Pizza Man

Fracaswell Hyman

Wino

Bryant Gumbel

Self

Trish Cook

Dancer (uncredited)

Fabio

Bystander (uncredited)

George Gerard

Theatre Goer (uncredited)

David Hummel

Police Officer (uncredited)

Jim Lavin

Dying Film Detective (uncredited)

Anibal O. Lleras

Detective (uncredited)

Charles Scorsese

Senior Citizen (uncredited)

Frank Stellato

Subway Yuppie (uncredited)

Crew 25

Donald McAlpine

Director of Photography

Mary E. Vogt

Costume Design

Deborah La Mia Denaver

Hairstylist

Deborah La Mia Denaver

Makeup Artist

Conrad E. Palmisano

Stunt Coordinator

Charles Croughwell

Stunt Double

Barbara Anne Klein

Stunts

Bruce Paul Barbour

Stunts

Conan Lee

Stunts

Danny Aiello III

Stunts

Diane Peterson

Stunts

Frank Ferrara Sr.

Stunts

Jery Hewitt

Stunts

Peewee Piemonte

Stunts

Peter Bucossi

Stunts

John Badham

Director

Rob Cohen

Second Unit Director

D.J. Caruso

Associate Producer

Bonnie Timmermann

Casting

Lem Dobbs

Producer

Rob Cohen

Producer

Arthur B. Rubinstein

Original Music Composer

Daniel Pyne

Screenplay

Lem Dobbs

Screenplay

Lem Dobbs

Story

Gallery

Videos

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US Release Dates 1

Mar 8, 1991

R Theatrical