Tango & Cash

1989

Tango & Cash

Critics Consensus

Brutally violent and punishingly dull, this cookie-cutter buddy cop thriller isn't even fun enough to reach "so bad it's good" status.

31%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 45

52%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 60,045
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Movie Info

Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell star in this Hollywood buddy actioner about two competitive police officers in Los Angeles. Tango (Stallone) and Cash (Russell) are put on a case to topple Californian drug lord Yves Perret (Jack Palance). Working together reluctantly, as each considers himself to be the best at what he does, the self-involved detectives are framed by Perret and imprisoned. While there, they must work together in order to escape and clear themselves of any wrongdoing. Though there is much rivalry between the two cops, they succeed in escape and again go after the baddie, but this time with a more convincing and concerted effort.

Cast

Sylvester Stallone
as Ray Tango
Kurt Russell
as Gabe Cash
Teri Hatcher
as Kiki
Jack Palance
as Yves Perret
Brion James
as Courier/Requin
James Hong
as Quan
Marc Alaimo
as Lopez
Michael J. Pollard
as Owen
Philip Tan
as Gunman/Chinese Guy
Robert Z'Dar
as Face
Lewis Arquette
as Wyler
Michael Jeter
as Skinner
Edward Bunker
as Capt. Holmes
Geoffrey Lewis
Leslie Morris
as Hendricks
Roy Brocksmith
as Fed. Agent Davis
Susan Krebs
as Prosecutor
Phil Tan
as Gunman/Chinese Guy
David Byrd
as Judge
Richard Fancy
as Nolan
Jerry Martinez
as Santos
Bing Russell
as Van Driver
Alphonse V. Walter
as Station Cop
Peter Stensland
as Kagan
Phil Rubenstein
as Sokowski
Elizabeth Sung
as Interpreter
Clint Howard
as Slinky
Mark Wood
as Desk Cop
Andre Rosey Brown
as Cash's Cellmate
Savely Kramarov
as Car Owner
Kristen Hocking
as Lynn
Dale Swann
as Captain
John Walter Davis
as Slobber
Shabba-Doo
as Dancer
David Lea
as Sonny
Glenn Morshower
as Coworker
Salvador R. Espinoza
as Weasel
Christopher Wolf
as State Trooper
Larry Charles White
as Cop
Martin Valinsky
as Bailiff
Robert David Armstrong
as Club Doorman
Roxanne Kernohan
as Dressing Room Girl
Ed DeFusco
as Federal Agent
Jack Goode Jr.
as Federal Agent
Geoff Vanderstock
as Federal Agent
Larry Humberger
as Federal Agent
Michael Francis Clarke
as Reporter
Anne Marie Gillis
as Reporter
Tammy Richardson
as Reporter
Patricia Davis
as Reporter
Richard L. Duran
as Prisoner
Doug Ford
as Prisoner
Kenneth Pruitt
as Prisoner
Ronald Lee Moss
as Prisoner
Ricky Dominguez
as Prisoner
Tamara Landry
as Girl in Bar
Anna Joyner
as Girl in Bar
Christie Mucciante
as Dressing Room Girl
Lucia Neal
as Dressing Room Girl
Roxanne Kernahan
as Dressing Room Girl
Dori Courtney
as Dressing Room Girl
Richard J. Larson
as Detective
Fred Trombley
as Detective
Matt Tufo
as Detective
David Phillips
as Inmate
Lewis Guido
as Inmate
James Reilley
as Inmate
Gilbert Esparza
as Inmate
Donald Zinn
as Guard
Duane Allen
as Guard
Philip Wyland
as Customer
Paul Lewis
as Customer
Ron Cummins
as Customer
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Critic Reviews for Tango & Cash

All Critics (45) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (14) | Rotten (31)

  • The jokes seem lame and the rivalry fraudulent, as the two boys play with their big guns.

    Jun 11, 2014 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review…

    Gene Siskel

    Chicago Tribune
    Top Critic

  • The film looks like the sort of queasy fever dream that might be produced by sitting through an entire Orson Welles film festival while eating pepperoni pizzas.

    Jun 11, 2014 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    Dave Kehr

    Chicago Tribune
    Top Critic

  • Both men think that the best way to deliver the right to remain silent to the usual suspects is via a right hook.

    Jun 11, 2014 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review…

    Desmond Ryan

    Philadelphia Inquirer
    Top Critic

  • Tango and Cash is a waste of talent and energy on all levels: unworthy of Konchalovsky, unworthy also of Stallone, Russell and every superior technical credit on the film.

    Jun 11, 2014 | Full Review…

    Michael Wilmington

    Los Angeles Times
    Top Critic

  • The ostensible humor here is of the macho one-liner variety, and much of it falls flat.

    Jun 11, 2014 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    Henry Sheehan

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • A mindless buddy cop pic, loaded with nonstop action that's played mostly for laughs and delivers too few of them.

    May 6, 2008 | Full Review…

    Variety Staff

    Variety
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (45)

Audience Reviews for Tango & Cash

  • May 22, 2016
    Think Hope & Crosby (on a so-so day) as over-posturing late 1980's L.A. cops. There is no believability to speak of and so forget about that. Put it out of your mind. Just watch these knuckleheads try to out macho the other. Then it's sorta alright.
    Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
  • Mar 06, 2015
    Your typical 80's Stallone action flick it's full of action, Cheesy lines and the slow motion run away from an exploding buildings, The story about 2 cops who get framed team together and clear their names, It's fun, Loud has some ok humour even though it can be abit of a drag at times but this is the kind of film Stallone will be rememberd for, If you're an action junkie sit back and enjoy.
    Jamie C Super Reviewer
  • Sep 12, 2012
    Tango & Cash is a typical '80s action film that's quite entertaining, but relies too much on cliches. Sylvester Stallone, Kurt Russell, Jack Palance, and Teri Hatcher make for a solid cast, and deliver fun performances that work for this style of film. The story follows two L.A. cops that get framed by a drug lord for a crime that they didn't commit, and have to break out of prison in order clear their names. The action is shot pretty well, and thereâ(TM)s a lot of humor written into the film. However, the plot's rather ridiculous and isn't executed that well. While there's plenty of fun to be had with Tango & Cash, it's little more than a stereotypical buddy cop film.
    Dann M Super Reviewer
  • Sep 14, 2011
    In no possible way is this a good movie, more campy than anything else, but it sure is a fun combination of two of the biggest action stars from the 80s and 90s working together to take down a crime syndicate. The film is a brainless action romp that strives to be nothing more than a simple action film and does exactly that. I've seen just about everything Stallone has done and while it ranges from great and legendary films it goes down to fare like this, but in the end I just like the guy regardless. If you're looking for a rainy day action film to pass the time then give it a go.
    Chris B Super Reviewer
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