Tough Guys (1986)

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Train robbers Harry Doyle (marvelously played by Burt Lancaster) and Archie Long (an excellent and vigorous Kirk Douglas) get paroled from prison after serving a three decade sentence. Not only do the pair have to dodge crazy myopic hit-man Leon B. Little (a gloriously batty Eli Wallach), but they also have a hard time adjusting to the wild'n'funky 1980's.Director Jeff Kanew keeps the enjoyable story moving along at a snappy pace, maintains a likable good-natured tone throughout, and stages the rousing train hijacking climax with gusto. The witty script by James Orr and Jim Cruickshank delivers plenty of funny gags concerning Harry and Archie's difficulty in dealing with life's limited options and the radical changes that have happened in the world thirty years down the road as well as makes a few valid points about society's prejudice towards and lack of respect for the elderly (Harry's scenes in which he clashes with the patronizing staff at a hellish retirement home are absolute gold). Douglas and Lancaster display a natural and engaging chemistry in the lead roles; they receive fine support from Charles Durning as bitter and grouchy detective Deke Yablonski, Alexis Smith as Harry's adoring old flame Belle, Dana Carvey as friendly probation officer Richie Evans, and Darlanne Fluegel as perky oversexed gym owner Skye. King Baggot's slick widescreen cinematography provides an attractive glossy look. James Newton Howard's bouncy score hits the sprightly spot. A real riot.

I thought this movie was very funny and who can forget ** Spoiler ALERT ** Kirk Douglass in spandex! It was great to see the two actors at it again and work so well together. Yes the plot may be a bit cheesy, but who cares! You watching this to see these two great actors work together in perhaps their last movie together and enjoy their chemistry and the situations they get into. It was one of the best movies I have seen with them in it and it was so good to see them together again and work so well together. I have watched it many times and wish I could get it on DVD now as I would love to see it again many more times.A must see for old fans and new!

Tough Guys re-unites after a near 30 year gap the screen pairing of Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster and as such it's a wonderful piece of nostalgia. The premise suits the stars very well Archie Long and Harry Doyle after 30 years in prison for a train robbery are released into society and find things aren't want the used to be back in the old neighbourhood. The duo are soon mixed up with a short sighted hit-man (a scene stealing Eli Wallach), a hero worshipping parole officer (Dana Cavey), an old time cop convinced they'll rob again (Charles Durning) and some seriously 80's style thugs. Add to this just dealing with Archies day job and Harry's new life in a retirement home and their is a recipe for comedy and some surprisingly touching moments as the pair come to terms with old age.The film is fun and well paced although there are some big plot holes and inconsistencies you can overlook these as its not a serious film. Douglas and Lancaster are clearly having a blast making the movie and seeing them on screen again one last time is great. I'd recommend this film for a feel good comedy or a bit of nostalgia for older movie fans. 7/10

Tough Guys, for me, is a very intriguing film, you have two film greats together, and despite their ages, which are beyond their heyday so to speak,, they are still upthere..Of special interest to me was the train the train used, it is not a fictional train but one owned and currently kept up by the City of Portland,Or. -in constant us..it is considered to be the most beautiful train in the world..forerunner to Amtraks Coast Starlight..Overall, the movie is well worth watching to watch two aging guys still pull it off, and if you are a train buff you'll shudder at some of the things that happen to the train too.. See it, Shame it is only VHS