Off Beat

Meek librarian (Judge Reinhold) assumes the identity of his pal (Clevant Derricks) who happens to be a police officer. The charade leads to some very mild comedy. With such a fine cast, this should have been a far better film. Unfortunately the talent of Joe Mantegna, John Turturro, Meg Tilly, Harvey Keitel, Mike Starr, Fred Gwynne, and Anthony Zerbe is badly wasted. Reinhold sandwiched between Mantegna and Tilly in the front seat of a speeding police car, while they calmly discuss their failed relationship, is the best scene. Fred Gwynne in a small part as the mayor is great, but that's about it. How could such an interesting cast wind up in such a dull comedy? - MERK

Librarian assistant Joe Gower takes up the offer to help out his friend Abe by posing as a cop to take his place in a police dance performance, but he finds himself falling for female officer Rachel. Therefore he digs himself deeper when he starts acting like his a cop outside of the dance training to impress this lady. "Off Beat" is a pleasurably breezy, light-hearted 80s romantic comedy with plenty of familiar faces on show. The cast are indeed great, with Judge Reinhold and Meg Tilly in the leads. For me, the adorable Tilly is always a delight to watch, but she still can pack a punch. James Tolken sure finds out. A tolerable Reinhold is gawky, but likable as Gower. Loved the scenes he shares with the wise-cracking Cleavant Derricks, who plays his friend Abe. The sequence with them arguing in a change room and Derricks' final word to the shop assistant is priceless. Most of the lively support roles with character actors are spot-on and do over-shadow the leads. Harvey Keitel and Victor Argo might only have small roles towards the end, but their chemistry together was hilarious with Argo truly stealing the show. Austin Pendleton as a gun shop salesman is quite humorous too. Rocket launcher for home protection?! Joe Mantegna is a true live-wire as fellow-cop / ex-boyfriend of Tilly's character. Also dependably showing up is Mike Starr, Amy Wright, John Turturro, Penn Jillette, John Kapelos, Anthony Zerbe and Fred Gwynne. But the list still goes on. Quite a macho lot, where the script seems to sarcastically tear apart at this bravado and the dialogues are fun in nailing it. Even questioning one's own comfort, by taking a chance outside that familiar zone. Its bubblegum soundtrack gives it much added bounce. Commonplace, but endearing comedy.

"I won't hurt them. I'll kill them. "

Judge Reinhold stars as librarian Joe Gower, who owes his cop pal Abe (Cleavant Derricks) a favour after unwittingly blowing an undercover drugs bust. So when Abe is chosen by his boss to take part in a police charity dance show, he gets Joe to take his place; at first Joe is reluctant to take part, but eventually he learns to loosen up and enjoy himself, especially after falling for pretty dance partner, hostage negotiator Rachel Wareham (Meg Tilly).

A gentle, PG-rated rom-com starring a prancing Judge Reinhold finds its way into my DVD 'to watch' pile, causing me to momentarily slip into Austin Powers mode (That's not mine! I'm telling you baby, that's not mine. This sort of thing ain't my bag, baby!). Then I remember: I was given the DVD as part of a freebie job lot by a work colleague, who was moving to the States, so I feel a little bit better about myself.

I watch the film so that I can add it to my pile of films destined for the local charity shop, and am surprised to find that it isn't all that bad. Not great, mind you, and not a 'keeper' (it's still going down the charro), but pleasant enough for a one-time viewing. Don't expect any outrageous, off the wall comedy (as the blurb on the cover promises)—there isn't any (unless the sight of Reinhold in Lycra counts). Do expect some mildly amusing silliness, a spot of heartwarming romance, and lots of familiar faces (the supporting cast including Joe Mantegna, Harvey Keitel, Fred Gwynne, John Turturro, and magician Penn Jillette).

5.5/10, rounded up to 6 for IMDb.

Happy-go-lucky Joe Gower (Judge Reinhold) is a rollerskating New York City librarian. His idiocy causes trouble for his policeman best friend Abe Washington (Cleavant Derricks). Abe is forced to tryout for a police charity performance as punishment. He sends in Gower to impersonate him. Instead of quickly failing out of the tryout, Gower falls for policewoman Rachel Wareham (Meg Tilly) and joins the charity troupe. Also joining the group is Rachel's angry ex Pete Peterson (Joe Mantegna). Gower impersonating a police officer eventually causes problems.

This is trying to be wacky funny but there is a disconnect with the subject matter. It sucks the comedy right out of the movie. First, Gower is a bit annoying. If he's a girl, Gower could play it off as a dumb blonde. The first scene is his idiocy allowing a criminal to escape. It's a little quirky but really bad if you think about it. Then there is the impersonating police. That's not a good thing. It doesn't help that he's so nonchalant about it. It's really infuriating. I usually like Judge but not here. Why is he wearing the uniform in public? Why would Abe continue to allow him to borrow his uniform? Every time he dismisses Abe's concern is like a knife jabbing in my ear. Wouldn't other cops notice that he doesn't have a gun? Him buying a gun does not help. I expected the idiot to shoot himself or worst someone else. How do you convict a car thief with only an anonymous note? This is not a movie fit for thinking deeply. The more I think about it, the less I like this.

I don't usually previously see the IMDB's rating of the picture about to watch, it somehow shall affect my own assessment, turns out that unequivocable I'd accessed the IMDB's site to clarify if I'd already watched it, well I didn't, however I saw the low rating, so in the possession of this info, here I go to see it expecting the worst, along the movie this odd feeling is changing slowing, then I've figure out why OFF BEAT had received so lowest rating.

In my opinion because a neuralgic point whereof the movie touches, in manhood of the viewers, aside the offering is about a couple cops affair, behind it has a dancing contest sponsored by Police department, it sounds a g.a,y picture, it wasn't whatsoever, just implies a hint in some sequences, actually in the eighties it was so normally on those comic productions aiming for mocking of the characters in some outrageous situations, as expose along the movie.

Judge Reinhold had garnered good reviews after BEVERLY HILLS COP was high above at its period of time, Meg Tilly neither, the casting is fabulous even some actors in a shortest appearance as Fred Gwynne, Anthony Zerbe, Harvey Keitel, John Turturro Austin Pendleton, in other hand Joe Mantegna, Cleavant Derricks has enough space in the plot, it has many funny moments to share, all them bounded in a G.a.y. Mannerism, such thing made great damages on the ratings, although it were its best moments.

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First watch: 2024 / How many: 1 / Source: Youtube / Rating: 7.