Tango & Cash - A lesser-known action classic

Okay, so maybe ‘classic’ is a little generous to describe Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell’s collaboration ‘Tango and Cash,’ but just because it isn’t up there with ‘The Godfather’ doesn’t mean that it isn’t a whole load of daft fun.  Our two action heroes play the two titular characters – both ‘hero’ cops in L.A. who get framed by a mob boss for a crime they didn’t commit and have to then go about proving their innocence.

Stallone and Russell make it watchable as they’re both clearly enjoying themselves in their roles (special mention to Kurt when he dresses up in women’s clothes!) and that’s about all the film is good for.  Jack Palance is the villain whose scenes seem to have been filmed after the filming and then just dropped in afterwards.  He does his best to be menacing, but because he never properly interacts with our heroes, he seems almost a bit redundant.

You may have heard the phrase ‘suspend your disbelief.’ Well, this is one film where, if you’re to get anything out of it at all, you have to do just that.  Nothing really makes sense if you scrutinise it.  The story bounces from one action-packed ridiculous scene to the next with no real explanation for what has gone on in order to get our protagonists to that stage.  It almost feels like a computer game where you’re watching one stand-alone level after the next. 

I enjoyed ‘Tango and Cash,’ but I’m quite aware that some people will find it too ridiculous to appreciate.  When I watched it, my group were laughing at just how bizarre and totally stupid things were getting.  Take, for example, the scene where our cops are finally sent to prison – the head mob boss visits them one night – yes, he actually ‘breaks in’ to prison – then, when the fighting starts, he just ‘breaks out’ again and no one really says anything.  Then you have scenes involving car chases where the heroes’ vehicle changes from one scene to the next.  It’s just bad.  But, like I said, if you’re in the mood to suspend your disbelief, it’s actually quite good fun.

Sure, it may be a ‘poor man’s Lethal Weapon’ but if you like your ‘buddy cop’ movies loud and dumb, you should get something out of this.  Did I mention Kurt Russell ‘drags up?’ Just don’t get me started on one of the henchmen’s awful attempt at a cockney accent!

7/10 if I woke up on Groundhog Day and had to watch this again, I could live with that