Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

The Squeeze Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 8, 2019

Michael Keaton broke big with 1982’s “Night Shift,” emerging as a fresh comic talent in need of suitable material. With 1983’s “Mr. Mom,” Keaton found himself with a real hit (starring in the 9th highest grossing feature of the year, besting “Risky Business” and “National Lampoon’s Vacation”), becoming a hot commodity in Hollywood, but he couldn’t capitalize on sudden fame, losing momentum with some efforts (including “Johnny Dangerously” and “Touch and Go”) that couldn’t do much with his unique screen presence. Part of the problem was 1987’s “The Squeeze,” which endeavored to stuff Keaton’s jittery rhythms into a semi-noirish caper that tries to be twisty and mysterious, but also makes room for Keaton’s on- brand tomfoolery. “The Squeeze” isn’t a mess, but it doesn’t feel complete, putting immense pressure on its leading man to cook up some sizable laughs while working on a production that’s a bit more interested in noise than performance.

Artist Harry (Michael Keaton) is barely getting by, turning to small-time hustling to fund his vision for electronic sculptures, including his latest installation inside a new nightclub. Dealing with crime and avoiding punishment, Harry’s world is turned upside down when he’s contacted by his ex-wife, Hilda (Liane Langland), who left a special black box inside her apartment and needs him to retrieve it while she tries to avoid detection. Accepting the mission, Harry comes into contact with a mysterious electromagnet device that French businessman Rigaud (Ronald Guttman) would like to see returned, unleashing two goons, Titus (Meat Loaf) and Ralph (Danny Aiello III), to catch up with the innocent man, who doesn’t enjoy the company. Struggling to understand exactly what he has in his possession, Harry is pestered by Rachel (Rae Dawn Chong), a skip-tracer initially after Harry for missing alimony payments, only to be hired by Rigaud to collect the black box, hoping to capture the wanted man, only to team up with him when she realizes the danger they’re both in.

Harry is a strange character, and it’s difficult to know how much of the man comes from the screenplay (credited to Daniel Taplitz, “Commandments,” “Chaos Theory”) or from Keaton, who infuses as much of his traditional sense of humor into the personality as possible. We meet Harry at a backroom poker game, watching as he tries to collect some much needed money from angry players, joined by his partner, Norman (Joe Pantoliano). Harry is the king of distractions, and he employs his fandom of the television show, “Bonanza,” to help irritate others, putting focus on the earworm title tune while he figures out how to best his opponents. Matters escalate when Harry offers a car he doesn’t own as a raise, which helps to break up the less-than-friendly game, putting the con man on the run, finding a safe haven inside his cavernous fortress of a living space. While Harry initially comes across as a small-time crook, he’s actually more artistic and resourceful, creating statues that blend neon, metal, and televisions into animal shapes, with his latest offering being a triceratops. “The Squeeze” is a head-spinner even before it begins, presenting a character who lives a double life, gifting Keaton something to play, though it’s often clear there’s very little leadership from director Roger Young, who frequently relies on his star to charm his way through scenes.

There’s a mystery at the heart of “The Squeeze,” with the black box causing immense problems for Harry, who aims to innocently pick it up for his manipulative ex-wife, only to find a thumbless dead body in her apartment, compelling him to grab the box and hide in his compound. The question mark remains with the box, as Harry tries to figure out its special use, discovering electromagnetic power along the way. Pulled into the chase is Rachel, who begins as a skip-tracer simply trying to get Harry to touch a summons, soon becoming his partner as she begins to suspect Rigaud is up to no good. Banter between Chong and Keaton isn’t up to snuff, as the actress simply can’t keep up with her co-star, ordered to match his screen presence and comedic curveballs, which she can’t do. The writing tries to push Harry and Rachel together as a romantic pairing, but, mercifully, “The Squeeze” doesn’t pursue the idea, keeping the pair in panic mode for the majority of the film, which is where Chong works best.

“The Squeeze” tries to merge comedy with action sequences, keeping things lively for Harry and Rachel as they make their way around town. There are plenty of near-misses and mad dashes for the characters to master, and they have menacing pursuers in Ralph and Titus, whose primary character trait is that he’s constantly sweating (why he carries a miniature fan and not a towel is beyond me). The bad guys make life difficult for Harry and Rachel, and Young hopes to rev up “The Squeeze” with plenty of stunt work, offering jumps into the East River (which triggers a running gag about Harry’s corrosiveness), boat crashes, and demolition derby action with cars. It’s a surprisingly danger-seeking endeavor (a stuntman was killed during production), and it keeps the feature moving along, which isn’t easy at times, as all the business concerning the black box doesn’t lead anywhere interesting, resulting in an anticlimactic conclusion, which seems impossible when the finale takes place on the deck of an aircraft carrier.

The Squeeze Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation should please fans of "The Squeeze" who've been working with VHS releases and cable viewings for the last three decades. Color is impressive, securing the production's interest in extravagant lighting, with blasts of neon and nightclub hues coming through with power. More streetwise moods are set as well, offering appropriate coldness for the concrete jungle. Warmer sights are found with office settings and apartment visits. Skintones are natural. Detail is a bit soft at times, but it remains inviting, delivering a dimensional look at New York City streets (with tons of signage to spot). Interiors also welcome exploration, with Harry's textured sculptures and crowd scenes. Costuming is fibrous, offering plenty of period fashion. Delineation is adequate, with some solidification, especially on darker clothing. Source is in fine condition, without major areas of damage.

The Squeeze Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix offers a passably dimensional listening event, with compelling separation effects during the opening titles, and a pleasant handling of scoring cues and soundtrack selections, which offer clarity and fullness. Dialogue exchanges are sharp, detailing Harry's jokey personality and banter with Rachel. Atmospherics are appealing, capturing hectic scenes of crowd control at a nightclub and on top of an aircraft carrier, and street life is noted.

The Squeeze Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this disc.

The Squeeze Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Squeeze" should fall apart completely, as it lacks a decent mystery and character motivation, while many of the script's ideas come off half- realized in the finished film (cinematography is weirdly emphasized, offering a wonderfully colorful viewing experience). However, there's Keaton, a tremendous actor working overtime to make the movie connect as it should, doing whatever he can to slap dead moments awake with his timing and improvisations. His alertness certainly helps "The Squeeze" get where it needs to go, but it's clear the script was initially aiming to be something much different and more dangerous than what's ended up on the screen.