
The Hard Way
1991, Comedy/Drama, 1h 51m
22 Reviews 10,000+ RatingsWhat to know
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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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Nick Lang, Ray Casanov
Detective Lt. John Moss
Party Crasher
Susan
Detective Grainy
Detective Benny Pooley
Critic Reviews for The Hard Way
All Critics (22) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (17) | Rotten (5)
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September 7, 2011 | Rating: D+ | Full Review… -
There is nothing very remarkable about The Hard Way, except for its comic energy, but the energy of this movie is everything, reminding me of the wisecracking, hard-boiled screwball comedies of the 1940s.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review… -
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June 1, 1991 | Rating: D+ | Full Review… -
Everyone in the formidable cast of The Hard Way seems to have gotten the memo that this was to be a "good time at the movies".
October 9, 2020 | Full Review… -
The formula of pairing a seasoned, serious, violent, tough-guy with a goofy, inexperienced youngster has been done before, yet there's still something humorous about it.
September 14, 2020 | Rating: 7/10 | Full Review… -
...a high concept premise that's employed to somewhat bloated yet predominantly entertaining effect by Badham...
February 12, 2020 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for The Hard Way
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May 08, 2008Funny action flivk. James Woods is great in this one.Jason S Super Reviewer
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Nov 11, 2007Action 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
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Sep 09, 2007One of my favorite buddy/comedies ever made.Michael S Super Reviewer
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Aug 13, 2007Michael 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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