Another Stakeout (1993)

Another reviewer said there's a caveat to this film. It's hard to find. Hard, maybe. Impossible, alas, no. Hubby found it, more's the pity.I saw the first Stakeout. It was not bad. Not brilliant, but quite watchable. I am very wary about sequels and rot like Stakeout 2 is the reason. The makers of this film hit on every single cliché with dismal regularity: from the dysfunctional married couple/family to the 'clever woman who kicks dumb men @$$' (hah, hah, hah), to toilet humor, they didn't leave one out. Not one. I don't know who told these guys that people shouting their heads off at each other is funny, but he certainly told them to pitch it strong. The only reason I'm going on is that I cannot submit a review less than ten lines long. Oh, and to add insult to injury, Rosie O'Donnell is in this mess, in all her loud, shrill obnoxiousness (can she be anything else?).Give this one a pass, do your brain cells a favor. Do your laundry, walk your dog, watch the grass on your lawn grow. Anything, but avoid this (bleep).

Six years after the first "Stakeout" (1987), cameras catch detectives Richard Dreyfuss (as Chris Lecce) and Emilio Estevez (as Bill Reimers) on another mission. It's nowhere near as good as the first. The format is similar. We begin with an action-packed opening. In Las Vegas, mobsters want to kill Cathy Moriarty (as Luella "Lu" Delano) because she's going to testify against them. This leads to the explosion of what appears to be a small town. Police search the rubble, but can't find Ms. Moriarty...They think the missing woman is going to contact a couple - Dennis Farina and Marcia Strassman (as Brian and Pam O'Hara) - so Mr. Dreyfuss and Mr. Estevez are recruited to pose as neighbors...Madeline Stowe (as Maria), from the first film, appears only sporadically and her chemistry with Dreyfuss is gone. The crime and criminals being investigated are confusing. To make the ruse more realistic, assistant district attorney Rosie O'Donnell (as Gina Garrett) is added to the mix. Accompanied by her rottweiler "Archie", Ms. O'Donnell pretends to be Dreyfuss' second wife and Estevez' step-mother. It's a funny situation, providing this sequel with a little freshness. Otherwise, the story is stale.***** Another Stakeout (7/23/93) John Badham ~ Richard Dreyfuss, Emilio Estevez, Rosie O'Donnell, Dennis Farina

What a hidden treasure this movie is! Quite possibly the best sequel ever, though that MIGHT be a toss-up with Godfather 2.Richard Dreyfus is always a solid actor, but his work here really deserved an Oscar.Emelio Estevez might be best known for being Charlie Sheen's sane brother, but check out this movie and you'll be a life long Estevez fan, like I am.Of course, it goes without saying that this is the movie that made Rosie O'Donnell. Before this film, she was just a bit player. A stand-up comedienne. But this is where she made her mark. Even Donald Trump would agree that she's genius in this near-masterpiece of a movie.

Reading others comments on Another Stakeout, I can't believe we watched the same film. It is one of our family's favorite movies. It's not deep or meaningful, but when you talk about sheer comedic genius while at the same time having a well-paced drama, with some of the best performances I've seen from these actors, well, we call this one a winner.While not quite The Fugitive, it has the same sense of story, suspicion and climax. Yes, the explosion is a bit over-the-top (viewed several times from different angles) but the bad guy is really bad, and the good guys really hilarious. Rosie O'Donnell gives, imho, a FABULOUS performance, and the dog is such a perfect touch! My favorite scene? "No, Archie...not the bunny Archie..." and then her warbled scream...perfection. I think those who said nasty things just don't appreciate some other aspect of her life, as it's certainly not her acting ability.The cops are wonderful, and the lines so funny you'd swear most of it is ad-lib. Take my advice if you're in the mood for something dramatic, but funny...this is it. When we get together during those rare times now when our entire family is together, it's the one film we can count on that everyone will like, and we've all seen it at least thirty times.Not for kids under about 13 without adult supervision, in my opinion.