Many a nit might be picked in this New Orleans set policier that’s really about the sexed up relationship between showboating Police Detective Dennis Quaid and Incorruptible Assistant D.A. Ellen Barkin as they fuck & feud their way thru court battles and a drug-fueled gang war (or is it?). But the end product is too entertaining to bother about shortcomings. At their physical peak (Barkin’s cock-eyed looks a match for Quaid’s shredded physique, each with movie star smiles that could melt asbestos), they overcome director Jim McBride’s tourist’s view of New Orleans, careless plotting, and some unconvincing vowels in the local patois to make the case & their relationship mean something. Though McBride’s painfully sloppy work can stop you in your tracks; the poor editor can barely match shots while four or five action set pieces are downright painful. And the big ‘reveals’ wouldn’t surprise a police intern. On the other hand: no one pronounces New Orleans as ‘Naw-lins’ (hurrah!) or makes a late-night pit stop for Beignets at Café Du Monde.* Best of all is simply being reminded of what a naturally gifted/shamefully under-valued, actor Quaid was/is. Still making it look too easy to land on the awards merry-go-round.
ATTENTION MUST BE PAID: *They couldn’t avoid all the local clichés: Chef Paul Prudhomme comes tableside to serve his Étouffée and Barkin gets stood up at Antoines.
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