About three quarters of the way through this film, Kurt Russell steps out of a bar in drag. At roughly that same point, you will likely realize that it's a good thing this film didn't take itself seriously, as the only entertainment it provides comes in the form of cringe-worthy one-liners and some so-bad-it's-good back-and-forth between starts Russell and Sylvester Stallone.For a basic plot summary, the film opens with cops Ray Tango (Stallone) and Gabe Cash (Russell) as the heroes of the LAPD, albeit with completely different styles. However, when crime boss Yves Perret (Jack Palance) sets them up for prison time, the duo must learn to work together to bust out of the joint and bring down Perret once and for all.When evaluating whether or not this film is worth 100 or so minutes of your time, let me dispel one myth right off the bat: The reason it gets so many positive rankings here on Amazon (or anywhere) is because it has reached a sort of cult status among fans of, respectively, Stallone and action movies in general. This film barely came in over budget when all was said and done, capitalized on Stallone's Rocky/Rambo success, and was heavily panned by the critics. It even was nominated for three Razzie awards...ouch. However, it lives on as the epitome of Stallone's wise-cracking, blow-em-up, zero plot, high-octane film phase.In fact, the only reason I can give this film all of two stars is because of that so-bad-it's-good approach to watching movies. Clearly, this movie did not take itself seriously (and for good reason), so I can't really fault the "cringe humor" present in nearly every line of dialogue. Unfortunately, the movie takes "cringe" to a whole new level. It was more entertaining to watch then, say, Judge Dredd, but only because it was so flighty/humorous that it makes you laugh when you really shouldn't be.There are also some interesting casting choices in the film. A very young, very beautiful Teri Hatcher plays the primary female character quite well, but other than that it is very uneven. Russell really isn't an action star, Stallone (with the business suit and round spectacles) was trying his hardest to distance himself from Rocky/Rambo, and Palance is too esteemed of an actor to even be involved in the production in the first place, and it shows.Thus, I cannot recommend Tango and Cash to anybody besides die-hard Stallone/action fans, who will just get a kick out of it for the one-liners. Other than that demographic, please steer clear.

On the surface, "Tango and Cash" has got to be the most ridiculous buddy cop movie on the market. And I'm still trying to decide if this is honest-to-god satire or just an extremely calculated kitchen sink attempt at a genre movie. This thing's just one glib one-liner after another, and they are all extremely on the nose. Is there subtlety in this? Hell no, but it is entertaining. And there are moments that had me in genuine laughter.And I do say that that's all down to the two leads. Stallone and Russell are what make this work. You can tell they didn't come to set every day hating their work, that it's all just a gas, and that's what keeps the movie light and easy on its feet. That, and in-her-prime Teri Hatcher.It's loud, extremely silly, but still a lot of fun.7/10

When I was a kid, starting at maybe 9 or 10 years old, I would get the flu every year, without fail. For a week straight, I'd literally watch Tango & Cash every single day. Some years I would just wish for the flu.I cannot express to you how much I love this movie. This is the first time in probably 12 years that I've seen it, and I'm saddened it's been that long. There are so many great one-liners in this and the back and forth between Stallone and Russell is brilliant.Yeah the plot is a little ridiculous and some of the characters are a little over the top, but damn it if it doesn't put a smile on my face every time I see it. Add in an awesome score that I hum every now and then and a smoking hot Teri Hatcher and you've got yourself an unbelievably entertaining buddy cop film.Ending with the greatest high five in movie history, Tango & Cash is an action film that is borderline a parody of the action genre. Everything in this is big and ridiculous, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Tango and Cash is one of those films that people can get a huge amount of enjoyment out of when taking it for what it is, or there will be others who'll find it not to their taste. From personal taste, there are a number of shortcomings but I cannot bring myself to hate it.Pros: It's stylishly made, if very 80s, and competently directed, nothing comes over as amateurish. The soundtrack does pulsate with energy and is easy to remember, if a little intrusive in places(not that that is uncommon in action films). The script is snappy and delivered like dynamite, the banter between Stallone's Tango and Kurt Russell's Cash is a lot of fun. The story on the whole while very silly and predictable but it doesn't really ever become dull and it is easy to follow, the standout scenes being the opening, which is one of those scenes that sets things up so well it makes one excited for what will happen next and the brilliant prison escape, the prison scenes in general are among the better scenes in the film actually. The action, while very over-the-top, is decently edited, cool and endearingly kitsch without feeling too much. Sylvester Stallone is charismatic and effectively low-key and shows that he is at ease in the action scenes, his comic timing while much criticised in general is pretty good here, while Kurt Russell is a witty, soulful partner, the two of them being a well-matched pair. It is not everyday where you see Russell in drag, don't worry it is not as weird as it sounds.Cons: Tango and Cash does have problems. The biggest problem is that it falls apart in the final 10 minutes, an ending so disappointing that it's easy to bring the film down more than one notch. It loses the energy that the rest of the film has and it goes well overboard in the silliness factor, with the slapsticky final fight feeling out of kilter. The main villain Perrett's comeuppance is also very anti-climatically handled. Teri Hatcher is probably at her sexiest here but her acting feels vapid. More problematic are the villains, here are very stereotypically written(especially Perrett, the drugs baron stereotype has been done a number of times and nothing interesting is done here) and only Brion James, here looking as if he is having so much fun, is memorable. You'd think that Jack Palance, a master of suavity, deadpan and intimidating menace, would be, but here he gives one of his weakest performances but it is not helped by that he is very underused and that he is the most clichéd character in the whole film. Palance was a great actor, and excelled better than most in villain roles but this is a portrayal where he does try way too hard that he's almost pantomimic, it also manages to be quite bland compared to his usual standard. His henchmen are even more blandly written, and sees James Hong in a rare completely uninvolved performance.All in all, won't work for some and it is a long way from flawless but still incredibly entertaining and has a good deal of charm. Don't expect sophistication, anything new or depth, you'll be disappointed. In its defence though Tango and Cash never strived to be that kind of film. But if you are looking for an enjoyable, switch-your-brain-off-at-the-door film, there is a good deal to like. 6/10 Bethany Cox