Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		4.0

Tough Guys Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 24, 2017

I’m sure they never intended to become a team, but audiences were certainly interested in the on-screen pairing of acting legends Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster. They collaborated on several pictures, including “Seven Days in May,” “The Devil’s Disciple,” and “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral,” merging their meaty sense of performance and tremendous charisma, forming an unusual but successful partnership, and one that faded away for a few decades while both actors had to figure out how to age in Hollywood, finding their position in a rapidly changing industry. Their reunion of sorts is “Tough Guys,” a 1986 comedy from director Jeff Kanew (“Revenge of the Nerds,” “Troop Beverly Hills”), which deals directly with the autumnal years for Douglas and Lancaster, using their senior status to participate in the “old people still got heart” movement of the mid-‘80s, coming a year after the release of Ron Howard’s “Cocoon.” “Tough Guys” isn’t a thrill-a-minute effort, but it does know what to do with its leading men, staying out of their way as Douglas and Lancaster revive their practiced dynamic for one last go-around, out to prove to the audience that they still pack quite a punch, often quite literally.

30 years ago, Harry (Burt Lancaster) and Archie (Kirk Douglas) were arrested and sent to prison for a botched train robbery, trying to take command of the Gold Coast Flyer. Now achieving parole after three decades together behind bars, the men are ready to rejoin the life they once knew, only to quickly realize it’s gone, take over by the 1980s, with Los Angeles far from the gleaming city it once was. While Richie (Dana Carvey), their parole officer, worships the pair, he’s forced to play by the rules, sending Harry to a retirement home where he can peacefully wait for death, while Archie is put into welfare hotel, forced to accept humiliating jobs to get back on his feet. Frustrated with their new set-up, Archie and Harry trying to rekindle their old gangster spark, only to be blocked by Detective Deke (Charles During), the arresting officer from the initial train heist, and Leon (Eli Wallach), a hitman trying to pull off two assassinations after three decades waiting for his shot. Faced with limited options after grasping their senior status, Harry and Archie consider a return to crime, just to reconnect with their old spirit.

There’s a great idea for “Tough Guys” that’s caught in a mediocre screenplay by James Orr and Jim Cruickshank. The concept of old bruisers discovering the world has passed them by while they were stuck in prison has potential, especially with Douglas and Lancaster, two beloved pros with action movie experience, and actors who’ve relied on their dented charms for decades. They were born to play Harry and Archie, and the stars are easily the highlight of “Tough Guys,” with Lancaster assigned the more docile role as a retirement home instigator, while Douglas claims the more vigorous part, with his screentime often devoted to showing off his weight-lifting achievements and sexual allure, with Archie getting involved with twentysomething gym owner, Skye (Darlanne Fluegel), and she can’t get enough of the old man stuff. Kanew knows to keep his distance, allowing Douglas and Lancaster to milk scenes for laughs, often through comedic intimidation as the ex-crooks come into contact with street gangs and loudmouths, but there’s always a feeling that the feature isn’t exactly living up to its potential, with aimlessness periodically creeping into view.

The production gets a lot of mileage out of the time warp aspects of “Tough Guys,” with the first half of the feature highlighting the parolees and their adjustment period to a modern Los Angeles. Archie is eager to revisit old haunts, only to discover his favorite nightclub is now a gay bar, leading to a few homophobic jokes that reflect the 1986 production year. The bodybuilder is also confronted with a new coed world at Skye’s gym, trying to figure out weightlifting machines and avoid direct eye contact with females in body-hugging outfits. And there are a few vocational asides as Archie has to deal with the indignity of customer service, failing to keep his patience with a pushy kid at a frozen yogurt shop, while his time as a restaurant busboy results in a frustrated outburst. Harry has the easier subplot, orchestrating a revolt in the retirement home while romancing old flame Belle (Alexis Smith), easing back into sex and his disgust with authority.

Laughs are there in “Tough Guys,” just not enough of them, with Kanew overdosing on silly encounters with Leon, a near-blind killer with a shotgun who can’t best the crooks, getting slapped around in the process. Sight gags fare a little better, with Douglas subjecting himself to a fashion montage as Archie is forced to shed his Rat Pack suit to play modern love with Skye, getting help from a clothing attendant who appears on a monitor. “Tough Guys” is a comedy, no doubt, but it almost works as a reminder to preserve youthful energy, with Archie and Harry often subjected to the stigma of aging, forcing them to return to criminal activity just to refuse social condemnation. It’s an interesting idea that’s not developed in full, but it carries throughout the movie, with supporting characters also exposed to dismissal, including Deke, who’s looking for one last bust to restore his importance to the police department.

Tough Guys Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Delivering a bright, clear look at "Tough Guys," the AVC encoded image (2.34:1 aspect ratio) presentation is helped considerably by the picture's '80s-all-over look. Colors are exaggerated but cleanly represented, offering bold primaries from ornate costuming, while pop hues also look healthy. The feature's use of graffiti also makes an impression, filling backgrounds with hearty reds and blues. Skintones are natural. Detail is strong, capturing fibrous suits and set decoration, while unexpected textures, like Douglas's pumped-up body, come through with sharpness. Distances are also preserved. Delineation is secure, preserving frame information. Grain is fine and filmic. Source is in good shape. A few thick scratches during the main titles seem to be an inherent addition.

Tough Guys Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Keeping its period sound, the 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix for "Tough Guys" isn't built for surprises, but it retains full power, handling action beats with care. Sound effects are loud and deep, delivering train crashes and physical altercations with some punch, and atmospherics are reasonably detailed, providing a sense of surroundings in bars and gyms, while exterior visits maintain their open air space. Dialogue exchanges are sharp and comfortable. Bursts of activity don't push the track to shrill extremes, maintaining balance.

Tough Guys Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Jeff Kanew.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

Tough Guys Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Tough Guys" eventually returns to a train heist scenario, which gives the production an opportunity to stage some large-scale action with a runaway locomotive, and Douglas receives a chance to play with an Uzi as Archie samples modern weaponry. It's never noisy, remaining close to the original dynamic between Archie and Harry, who maintain their old married couple relationship to the end. However, "Tough Guys" tends to be the most effective in character moments, getting to know the aged crooks and their fears, observing their cantankerous ways when facing the blinding glow of the 1980s. Adding violence to the mix is more formulaic than organic, especially when it takes screen time away from Douglas's participation in additional dressing room montages.