Film Review: Dragnet (1987)
Same film can be remembered for one thing in one country and completely different thing in another country. The interesting example, at least for the author of this review, was provided by Dragnet, 1987 crime comedy directed by Tom Mankiewicz.
The film represents parodical sequel to Dragnet, police drama show that was extremely popular in the early decades of American television and in which Jack Webb played iconic character of Sergeant Joe Friday, uptight but efficient police detective who successfully battled criminals (and hippies in 1960s revival) on the streets of Los Angeles. Here Dan Aykroyd plays his eponymous nephew, LAPD Sergeant Joe Friday who is enthusiastic in carrying his uncle legacy, not just in professional conduct, but also in fashion and conservative social views. When his old partner retires from the force, he is replaced by Detective Pep Streebeck (played by Tom Hanks), young, laid-back detective whose views are more in tune with 1980s. The duo is tasked with solving the series of high-profile robberies committed by mysterious cult-like organisation called PAGAN. Friday and Streebeck manage to infiltrate their ranks and take part in ceremony during which they rescue Connie Swail (played by Alexandra Paul), young woman who had been abducted for the sole reason of being virgin and thus suitable for ritual sacrifice. When she is asked to identify possible suspects, she points to Reverend Jonathan Whirley (played by Christopher Plummer), who just happens to be powerful and well-connected leader of ultra-conservative movement to cleanse Los Angeles of pornography and similar evils.
Main creative force behind this film is Dan Aykroyd, an actor who is a great fan of the original show and who had parodied it before in Saturday Night Live sketches. He co-wrote the script and in the film delivers performance which is the result of careful preparation and intensive study of Jack Webb’s speech, mannerisms and acting style. The result of those efforts is impressive and Aykroyd, who plays his character straight, with authoritative voice and occasionally critical commentaries on modern “hip”, “cool” and liberal society, plays one of the best roles of his career. And this is quite important, because entire film rests on his shoulders due to everything else being much inferior or simply disappointing. Young Tom Hanks, still trying to be comedian rather than serious dramatic actor, establishes some sort of “buddy buddy” dynamic, although it is obvious that he plays the second fiddle to Aykroyd. The rest of cast is mostly capable, but the villains are disappointing – Christopher Plummer as hypocritical culture warrior is wasted, while Jack O’Halloran, an actor who played imposing heavies in 1970s, is laughable to due to his visible age and playing the character over the top. Alexandra Paul, one of the more underrated actresses of the era, however, establishes some sort of chemistry with Aykroyd, playing the character whose social views correspond to Friday’s. The best supporting player is, however, Dabney Coleman in the role of sleazy adult magazine owner, a character clearly modelled after real life personalities of Hugh Heffner and Larry Flynt.
Most of problems for Dragnet stem from weak script. One of the authors was Tom Mankiewicz, veteran of James Bond series who here made his directorial debut. Comedy obviously wasn’t his forte and Dragnet, despite having few good jokes, isn’t that funny and functions more as regular police procedural. Like many bad comedies of the time, lack of humour is compensated with action, which includes surreal ending in which over-militarised LAPD deploys armoured vehicles and fighter jets against villains. Another weakness is conceptual in nature. Dragnet was primarily made for Boomers who, like Aykroyd, grew up watching the original show and were familiar with protagonist. Modern audience will be at loss and won’t understand many subtle and not so subtle jokes, as well as those at the expense of culture wars between conservatives and liberals in 1980s America.
In this part of the world, however, Dragnet is known for being the first and one of few Hollywood films to feature Yugo, passenger car produced by (then Yugoslav, now Serbian) Zastava company and known for its, ultimately unsuccessful, attempt to conquer US market in 1980s. The author of this review watched the film with friends who were quite amused to see iconic car and they commented some of character’s claims about it, especially those about certain activity which was allegedly impossible in what was described as example of “Serbo-Croatian technology”. This was enough for few laughs, but, just like for the audience unfamiliar with original show, not enough for Dragnet to become truly remarkable film.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/10023-dragnet
Critic: AA