The Adventures of Ford Fairlane

1990

The Adventures of Ford Fairlane

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

28%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 29

68%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 8,551

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The Adventures of Ford Fairlane Photos

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Movie Info

Controversial and often offensive stand-up comedian Andrew Dice Clay made his debut as a feature film star in this crude comedy. Fairlane is a "rock and roll detective" who works in the music business, has an office on Sunset Boulevard, and drives a 1957 Ford, with clothing to match. He floats through the rock clubs of Hollywood, picking up women and clients, and soon stumbles into a case involving the death of a heavy metal singer, a corrupt music executive (Wayne Newton), the murder of a radio shock-jock (Gilbert Gottfried), and the kidnapping of the jock's daughter (Maddie Corman). Music stars like Sheila E. and Motley Crue singer Vince Neil also have cameos in the film, which attempts to transplant Clay's aggressively obnoxious stage persona into a movie environment.
  • Rating:
    R
  • Genre:
    Comedy, Mystery & Suspense
  • Directed By:
    Renny Harlin
  • Written By:
    Daniel Waters, James Cappe, David Arnott
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Twentieth Century Fox

Cast

Andrew Dice Clay
as Ford Fairlane
Wayne Newton
as Julian
Priscilla Presley
as Colleen
Morris Day
as Don
Lauren Holly
as Jazz
Maddie Corman
as Zuzu Petals
Gilbert Gottfried
as Johnny Crunch
David Patrick Kelly
as Sam
Brandon Call
as The Kid
Robert Englund
as Smiley
Ed O'Neill
as Lt. Amos
Vince Neil
as Bobby Black
Shelia E.
as Club Singer
David Arnott
as Club Guys
Juan Jose Escovedo
as Club Band
LaLa
as Sorority Girl
Mark Goldstein
as Club Guy
Cody Jarrett
as Kyle Troy
William Shockley
as Punk Gunslinger
Mark Zuelke
as Punk Gunslinger
Steve White
as Detective
Ed. E. Villa
as Piano Mover
Kari Wuhrer
as Melodi
Deila Sheppard
as Pussycat
Kimber Sissons
as Pussycat
Sheila E.
as Club Singer
Monique Mannen
as Pussycat
Pamela Adlon
as Pussycat
Hili Park
as Twin Club Girl
Gry Park
as Twin Club Girl
Kurt Loder
as MTV VJ
Cindy Lehre
as Lydia
Phil Soussan
as Black Plague Band Member
Carlos Cavazo
as Black Plague Band Member
Randy Castillo
as Black Plague Band Member
J.D. Reilly
as Club Band Member
Bonnie Boyer
as Club Band Member
Consuela Nance
as Backup Singer
Aurorah Allain
as Backup Singer
Diane Almeida
as Backup singer
Kurt James Stefka
as Bouncer
Jaz Kaner
as Mixer
David Bowe
as College Boy
Paul Christopher
as Club Band
Michael Alan Kahn
as College Boy
Willie Garson
as Frat Boy
Peter Michael Escovedo
as Club Band
Ladd Vance
as Frat Boy
Robert Mangiardi
as Sleazy Guy
Kristin Pearcey
as Sorority Girl
Lori Pfeiffer
as Sorority Girl
Diana Barrows
as Sorority Girl
Lala Sloatman
as Sorority Girl
Lee Lawrence
as Bartender
Connie Johnson
as Tour Guide
Jordan Lund
as Amiable Tourist
Allan Wasserman
as Mortician
Charlie Hawke
as Mortician
Rita Bland
as Receptionist
Kathleen Monica
as Receptionist
Randy Crenshaw
as Bel Air Party Singer
John Hammond
as Piano Player
Tone Loc
as Slam the Rapper
Hot Tub Johnny West
as Damion Flemm
Edward DiLorenzo
as Chef
Sandra Sheeler
as Girl on Ladder
Edmund E. Villa
as Piano Mover
Jimmy Zavala
as Studio Musician
David McLaurin
as Studio Musician
Lee Thornberg
as Studio Musician
William Smitty Smith
as Studio Musician
James Dale
as Studio Musician
John Menzano
as Studio Musician
Rick Marotta
as Studio Musician
Jimmy Dale
as Studio Musician
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Critic Reviews for The Adventures of Ford Fairlane

All Critics (29) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (21)

  • Quote not available.

    September 7, 2011 | Rating: D+ | Full Review…

    Owen Gleiberman

    Entertainment Weekly
    Top Critic

  • Surprisingly funny and expectedly rude, this first starring vehicle by vilified standup comic Andrew Dice Clay has a decidedly lowbrow humor that is a sort of modern equivalent of that of the Three Stooges.

    March 26, 2009 | Full Review…

    Variety Staff

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • This expensively empty action comedy is as much fun as a car crash.

    February 9, 2006 | Full Review…

    Nigel Floyd

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • The person most likely to be entertained by ''The Adventures of Ford Fairlane'' need not be made aware of the film's existence. He's already on the screen.

    August 30, 2004

    Janet Maslin

    New York Times
    Top Critic

  • The Adventures of Ford Fairlane is a movie about a hero I didn't like, chasing villains I didn't hate, in a plot I didn't understand. It is also loud, ugly and mean-spirited. That makes it the ideal vehicle for Andrew Dice Clay.

    January 1, 2000 | Rating: 1/4 | Full Review…

    Roger Ebert

    Chicago Sun-Times
    Top Critic

  • [A] slick glorification of hate and loathing that portrays women as sexually promiscuous and men as infantile, violent and feeble-minded.

    January 1, 2000 | Full Review…

    Rita Kempley

    Washington Post
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (29)

Audience Reviews for The Adventures of Ford Fairlane

  • Oct 17, 2012
    Andrew Dice Clay basically plays himself in this comedy, a perfect representation of the glory days of MTV and the sunset strip in 1990. I was a fan of MTV and the haircut bands of that era, so Ford Fairlane is a guilty pleasure, to be sure. Its cheesy and offensive yet hilarious also. Check out "Aint Got You" by Ford (Clay); it is an awesome contrast between what used to be rock and roll and what is passing for it both in 1990 and now. I love the all-star cast: Robert Englund, Priscilla Presley, Wayne Newton, Ed O'Neil, Gilbert Gottfried, and Lauren Holly. Holly excels in a small role as the vulnerable secretary with the knock-out figure. The Dice-man is exactly what you'd expect, for better or worse, and Maddie Corman is delightful as Zuzu, an MTV dance party-type. Has there ever been a greater groupie name than "Zuzu Petals?" The plot is disposable; who cares about the mysterious CDs? Accept The Adventures of Ford Fairlane for what it is, and just laugh along. As Dice would exclaim, "Unfu*#ingbelieveable!"
    Clintus M Super Reviewer
  • Feb 12, 2009
    Say what you will about Andrew "Dice" Clay, but I LOVE this movie. Clay was a one-note comic, but he milked his 15 minutes for all it was worth, never more on display than in this movie. As a "rock and roll detective", the movie is filled with then-famous music industry people which give the movie an extra quality. What surprises is there is an actual story here. A genuine mystery that provides Clay with something to do besides lift material from his stand up act. It helps that they hired an actual filmmaker, Renny Harlin, to helm Clay's leading man debut. Harlin is a visually gifted director that knows how to orchestrate an action scene, fill the screen with eye candy, and keep things moving at a lively pace. Music group Yello adds an original musical score that adds to the overall good feel of the movie. Watch for a great cameo by Married With Children's Ed O'Neil as a police detective with a personal gripe against Clay. Let's just say that disco will never be the same. A guilty pleasure, and one damn funny movie.
    RJ M Super Reviewer
  • Jun 15, 2007
    Two words. "Disco Express." Ford Fairlane: Disco Express? They blew dog. And that lead singer, he kinda looked like... Lt. Amos: Like ME, right? Ford Fairlane: Yeah. I was gonna say he looked like shit, but... he looked like you.
    Chad R Super Reviewer
  • May 13, 2007
    Indefensible trash. I love it!
    Steve K Super Reviewer
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