Dragnet
(1987)
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 1 Hour and 46 Minutes
Reviewer: Dale
Grade: AI shouldn't be giving this movie an "A". I'll be mocked and ridiculed and laughed at. People will not take my opinion as seriously as they have before.
Yet, I cannot help myself.
Sometimes there is a movie that you know has a few flaws. The plot is kinda shaky, and falls apart as soon as you try to scrutinize it. Some of the situations are a little outlandish. There are a couple of continuity errors.
But you what? I don't care. This movie is fun. A lot of fun. And that is all that it sets out to be. It wants to make you laugh and laugh very hard. And you know what? It does.
And it has two wonderful performances in it.
Dan Aykroyd is utterly perfect in this movie. He was born to deliver lines like: "Ma'am, what is the approximate dry weight of the average Madagascar fruit tree bat?" And Tom Hanks was born to reply: "You mean you don't know?" If you thought that exchange of dialogue was hilarious, then you will no doubt enjoy "Dragnet". Dan Aykroyd is all business. In fact, he takes the definition of this term to new, unprecedented heights. And Tom Hanks is perfect in an early comedic performance as his comic foil: the sort of man who represents everything that Joe Friday is against. Pep Streebek (oh, how I love that name) is a smart ass, a lone wolf, a cop who does whatever it takes to make a collar. Friday is so by-the-book that he could have written the book. Together, these two are a joy to watch. They are a great comedy team. Comedy seems to have forgotten how to make a comedy team. Today they just throw two Saturday Night Live alums together (who cares how they fit) and film it. They don't try to make the characters into individuals, they don't seem to even worry about what makes the pairing funny. But here, the two of them are polar opposites and it is a joy to watch.
Bottom line: this movie makes me very happy. I have always loved it. I always will love it. Not enough movies can do that much for me. That is the reason that I watched "Dragnet" about 75 times in a single summer. And that is the reason that I am giving it an "A". No matter what people will say about me. How can you not love any movie that has Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd rapping over the end credits?
Oh, and the ending (which I would not dare ruin for you in a million years...but I will say that it involves a woman who is known as "The Virgin Connie Swail") is just priceless.