STARSKY & HUTCH

Year: 2004
USA: Warner Bros Pictures
UK: Buena Vista International UK
Cast: Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Snoop Dogg, Will Ferrell, Juliette Lewis, Chris Penn, Terry Crews, Richard Edson, Raymond Ma, David Pressman, Carmen Electra, Amy Smart, Brande Roderick, Jason Bateman, George Cheung, Paul Michael Glaser, David Soul, Fred Williamson, Dan Finnerty, Kathleen LaGue, Abigail Margulis, Amber Mead, Patton Oswalt, Darlena Tejeiro, Jessica Anne Bogart, John Tindall, Matt Walsh, Tara Wilson
Director: Todd Phillips
Country: USA
UK: 101 mins
USA Rated: PG-13 for drug content, sexual situations, partial nudity, language and some violence
UK Certificate: 15 contains hard drug references
USA Release Date: 5 March 2004
UK Release Date: 19 March 2004
UK Release Date: 12 March 2004 (Limited Release - London West End)


Synopsis

Detective David Starsky (Ben Stiller) is the most dedicated undercover cop working the mean streets of Bay City, California. Maniacally devoted to his job, when he's on duty no crime goes unpunished - and he's always on duty. And that's a good thing, because he has some metaphorically big shoes to fill: his mother was a legend on the force, one of the best cops in the history of Bay City. But while his mom stuck with the same partner throughout her entire career, due to his extremely zealous brand of police work, Starsky burns through partners faster than his beloved Gran Torino goes through spark plugs.

Detective Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson (Owen Wilson) is having career issues of his own - he's a good cop, but his hazardously laidback personality and desire for a quick buck don't always get the job done. He has excellent instincts, he just needs a little bit of focus to keep him on the admittedly less profitable side of the law. Exasperated Bay City Police Captain Dobey (Fred Williamson) has found the perfect solution for two of his biggest problems: pair up Starsky and Hutch and put them out on the streets.

As soon as the two mismatched crime fighters unhappily begin their first day on the beat as a team, a "floater" turns up on the Bay City coastline. With the help of Hutch's dynamite, street-savvy informant Huggy Bear (Snoop Dogg), the two begin to unravel the mysterious murder case. Investigating their first clue, the boys meet Staci (Carmen Electra) and Holly (Amy Smart), Bay City Cheerleaders who are more than eager to help - in any way they can.

All signs seem to point at wealthy businessman Reese Feldman (Vince Vaughn), but Starsky and Hutch just can't seem to make a case against him. Unbeknownst to them, Feldman has cooked up a plan to foil the DEA and is plotting the biggest and most lucrative drug deal of his career.

The unlikely duo will use their canniest undercover skills, hardcore street smarts and striking good looks to solve the crime and make sure the criminal does the time. Because, as David Starsky says, "In Bay City, when you cross the line, your n*ts are mine."

Background

From September 1975 to August 1979, Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul starred in the wildly popular buddy-cop television drama STARSKY & HUTCH as detectives Dave Starsky and Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson. Not only did they trounce criminals on the seamy streets of Bay City every week, more importantly, they looked good doing it. They had the clothes, they had the hair and they had the car: Starsky's beloved red and white striped Ford Gran Torino.

STARSKY & HUTCH presented a groundbreaking portrayal of cops - they didn't always follow the rules, using unorthodox methods to solve the toughest of crimes. Perhaps most unorthodox was the detectives' association with Huggy Bear, an ultra hip, jive talking, streetwise informant played by Antonio Fargas, who walked the fine line between crooked and righteous. The relationship between the two detectives was unique in that they didn't take themselves too seriously and shared a sense of humor that was notably absent from such earlier police dramas as DRAGNET and ADAM-12. The fresh mix of gritty crime drama and occasional tongue-in-cheek moments propelled STARSKY & HUTCH to extremely high ratings over its entire run. Although it went off the air in 1979, the show still maintains a large following.