May 29, 1991 -- ``Hudson Hawk,'' is a live action feature, but it is like a cartoon in many ways.
For instance, Hudson Hawk, played by Bruce Willis, and his friend, played by Danny Aiello, both fall off of high buildings and are not hurt in the least. They also survive a series of beatings, knifings and shootings with barely a scratch.
In one fight sequence, Willis is being beaten up by a secret agent played by James Coburn and after Coburn stops hitting him Willis keeps going through the motions of being hit. Big laugh. Very cartoon-like.
This would be a great film for kids except for the occasional four-letter word and the graphic violence. In one scene, two men are shot in the head. In another scene a man's head is cut off and it goes rolling across the floor. In another scene a man's throat is slashed. Not exactly kids stuff, hence the ``R'' rating, but the kids are sure to see it anyway when it comes out on video.
This is a very odd mixture of silly comedy and graphic violence. It is entertaining, but you feel almost guilty laughing at the film. Siskel and Ebert call this a ``guilty pleasure'' film. I'll give this film a passing grade because it does not take itself seriously and does deliver some laughs and some good action as well as a lot of outrageous silliness. The film also stars Andie MacDowell and features a deliciously wicked comic performance by Sandra Bernhard.
On a scale of one to 10 this film rates a six.
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