From \Scooby Doo"" to ""Charlie's Angels,"" the last few years have seen Hollywood produce a rash of ill-conceived and hideously campy adaptations of '70s television shows. The problem with these movies, more than anything, has been the lack of creative talent behind the camera. But now ""Starsky & Hutch"" has arrived as an exception, with director Todd Phillips bringing us an unprecedented high in revisionist '70s goofball nostalgia.
Phillips' work has an interesting trademark. Unlike most established directors, who would say ""A Todd Phillips Film,"" Phillips' work is credited as ""A Todd Phillips Movie."" That's indicative of Phillips' sensibility. He doesn't make films; he makes movies. And that kind of self-awareness and comfort in the comedy genre shines through again in ""Starsky & Hutch.""
The movie follows a pair of mismatched cops, the uptight Starsky (Ben Stiller) and the breezy Hutch (Owen Wilson), as they are forced to work together. Their first case involves a mysterious dead body, leading them to the large-scale cocaine smuggling operation of Reese Feldman (Vince Vaughn). Along the way, they must seek help from football cheerleaders (Carmen Electra and Amy Smart), an imprisoned biker bar owner (Will Ferrell) and their underworld informant, Huggy Bear (Snoop Dogg).
Instead of a music video director or a C-grade comedy director, ""Starsky & Hutch"" is helmed by Phillips of ""Road Trip"" and ""Old School"" fame. What Phillips brings to the table is an unrestrained taste in comedy, a gift for parody and a sincere appreciation for high-quality trash. The movie is equal parts mockery and tribute to the original television show. Short shorts and screeching car chases poke fun at its source material, but also resonate with the sense of glitzy, campy fun found in '70s programming.
Phillips coaxes strong comedic performances out of his cast. Stiller and Wilson are often too hammy for their own good, reducing themselves to vapid caricatures of their own personae. But here, they are at the top of their game and play off each other perfectly. Meanwhile, Vaughn ably plays the same part he plays in all his best work (""Swingers"" and ""Old School,"" to be precise).
Perhaps the only real disappointment of ""Starsky & Hutch"" is, surprisingly, Snoop Dogg. Although his performance is not bad, many people who were excited to see him in a more substantial acting role, based on the strength of his cameos in ""Half Baked"" and ""Training Day,"" will not be satisfied.
In ""Starsky & Hutch,"" something just falls flat. He does not use the character to stretch out from his normal persona, and seems to miss some of his normal presence, which leaves him looking intermittently uncomfortable. This is the exception, however, as most of the supporting roles are filled in pleasing ways. Ferrell, Smart and Juliette Lewis all deliver amusing performances.
The gags work, the performances work and the whole concept, which could have failed miserably, gels into a thoroughly enjoyable popcorn movie. ""Starsky & Hutch"" is certainly a fun way to spend an hour and 40 minutes.
