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critics consensus

The Hard Way's overly familiar formula is enlivened by a witty script and the excellent comedic chemistry between Michael J. Fox and James Woods. Read critic reviews

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The Hard Way Photos

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Movie Info

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 (Michael J. Fox) works a deal with New York City Police Capt. Brix (Delroy Lindo), who by chance is one of his fans. Nick will be paired with detective Lt. John Moss (James Woods) 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 (Stephen Lang).
  • Rating:
    R
  • Genre:
    comedy, drama
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    John Badham
  • Producer:
    William Sackheim, Rob Cohen
  • Writer:
    Daniel Pyne, Lem Dobbs
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $24.5M
  • Runtime:
  • Production Co:
    Universal Pictures
  • Sound Mix:
    Surround

Cast & Crew

Michael J. Fox
Nick Lang, Ray Casanov
James Woods
Detective Lt. John Moss
Stephen Lang
Party Crasher
Annabella Sciorra
Susan
John Capodice
Detective Grainy
Luis Guzmán
Detective Benny Pooley
LL Cool J
Detective Billy
Mary Mara
Detective China
Delroy Lindo
Captain Brix
Conrad Roberts
Witherspoon
John Badham
Director
William Sackheim
Producer
Rob Cohen
Producer
Daniel Pyne
Screenwriter
Lem Dobbs
Screenwriter
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Critic Reviews for The Hard Way

All Critics (22) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (17) | Rotten (5)

View All Critic Reviews (22)

Audience Reviews for The Hard Way

  • May 08, 2008
    Funny action flivk. James Woods is great in this one.
    Jason S Super Reviewer
  • Nov 11, 2007
    Action film director John Badham bites the hand that feeds him in this action movie spoof that features ribbing of pretty-boy Hollywood action stars by Michael J. Fox and a parody of colorful, hair-trigger James Woods types by the man himself. Woods plays New York homicide detective John Moss, who is within an inch of closing in on a serial killer who calls himself The Party Crasher (Stephen Lang) because his specialty is shooting his victims in the middle of discos. Chasing The Party Crasher after his latest victim has been dispatched, Moss finds himself hanging onto the door of a speeding truck with The Party Crasher at the wheel. When Moss is thrown off the truck and nearly killed, The Party Crasher escapes, and Moss is taken off the case. Moss is given a new assignment --to tag around with Hollywood action film star Nick Lang (Michael J. Fox), the popular hero of the "Smoking Gun" movies. Lang spotted Moss on a television news show and thinks he would be the ideal cop to study for adding authenticity to an up-coming police action picture. Posing as Moss's rookie partner, Lang follows Moss everywhere, proceeding to spoil his pursuit of The Party Crasher and interfering with Moss's burgeoning affair with his girlfriend Susan (Anabella Sciorra).
    Martin D Super Reviewer
  • Sep 09, 2007
    One of my favorite buddy/comedies ever made.
    Michael S Super Reviewer
  • Aug 13, 2007
    Michael J. Fox plays an actor who teams up with a cop (James Woods) for research for an upcoming role. The movie is supposed to be a Lethal Weapon type of action thriller, it's hard to take it seriously though. Especially when Fox goes for laughs even through what's supposed to be serious action scenes. The movie still works as a comedy though and it's hard not to like it due to the fun performances by Fox and Woods. The Hard Way is basically just an entertaining bad movie.
    Jim W Super Reviewer
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