Partners

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

TV director James Burrows made his feature debut with this unusual film that's a situation comedy-style twist on both The Odd Couple (1968) and Cruising (1980). The murder of a male model in a gay, beachfront enclave of L.A. warrants an undercover investigation, so police officer Benson (Ryan O'Neal), a straight, macho, law-and-order type, is assigned to partner with file clerk Kerwin (John Hurt), a mild-mannered homosexual. Benson and Kerwin are to pose as a gay couple who have just moved to the area. At first, Benson's slovenly ways drive the fussy Kerwin to distraction, while Kerwin's sexual orientation and prissy manners are a source of constant frustration for straight-arrow Benson. However, the two eventually become friendly roommates, if not exactly friends, and Benson even begins to see the world through Kerwin's eyes. Although he carries a badge, the fussy Kerwin is essentially a civilian, but as he and Benson close in on the murderer, Kerwin reveals himself to be a far more capable cop than Benson assumes him to be. Partners was written by Francis Veber, author of La Cage aux Folles (1978) and The Man with One Red Shoe (1985). ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 (Alternate Wide Screen)
• Audio: Dolby Digital
• Encoding: NTSC
• Screen: Color, Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Features:
  • • cc

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Director:

  James Burrows

• Producer:

  Aaron Russo

• Screenwriter:

  Francis Veber

• Cinematographer:

  Victor J. Kemper

• Composer (Music Score):

  Georges Delerue

• Editor:

  Danford B. Greene

• Production Designer:

  George P. Gaines, Ida Random, Richard Sylbert

• Executive Producer:

  Francis Veber

• Set Designer:

  George P. Gaines

• Costume Designer:

  Wayne A. Finkelman

• First Assistant Director:

  Thomas Lofaro

REVIEW:

• Movies -- in general -- don't get much worse than this flat, woefully misconceived odd-couple "comedy" that somehow manages to be offensive while being utterly toothless. Apparently a gloss on the same subject matter as 1980's reviled psycho-sexual thriller Cruising, Partners seems to forget from moment to moment what it's trying to be: an "outrageous" gay-straight farce, a sub-Scooby Doo murder mystery, or an unusually static police procedural. Scenes last far longer than they should, the score is meek and arbitrary, and most of the performances seem to be unrehearsed first takes. The one bright spot -- if you can call it that -- in this debacle is John Hurt, who at his best is trying to imbue the material with more dignity than it deserves. At his worst, however, he looks utterly dejected and visibly embarrassed by the tasteless, denigrating gay jokes perpetrated by the script. Most audience members will likely be on the same wavelength. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi