Tango and Cash Review

MPAA Rating: R
Released: 1989

Tango and Cash was a buddy-cop movie starring Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell as a pair of mismatched, egotistical hot dog cops framed for murder by a drug lord. Although the two mesh about as well as oil and water, they must team up to clear their name and take the villain and his extensive posse down.

Featuring equal parts excitement and hilarity, Tango and Cash is just as enjoyable as other 80's buddy-cop classics such as 48 Hours and Lethal Weapon.

The introduction of Tango and Cash gives us a perfect preview of what the remainder of the film is to be. Ray Tango (Sylvester Stallone) is pursuing an oil tanker along a barren highway. Not allowing the relatively minor and inconvenient fact that the tanker escaped his jurisdiction to dissuade him, Tango takes the drivers down in a glorious display of chaotic action. All the while, one of the best synth-driven soundtracks to have graced the 80's is pumping in the background.

Yep, we're in for an action-packed affair. But wait, there's more…

Upon arriving on the scene, the country cops whose jurisdiction Tango invaded are unable to find any evidence that the tanker was involved in a criminal operation, so they begin lashing out at and mocking Tango.

Cop 1: Who the f**k do you think you are?
Cop 2: He thinks he's Rambo!
Tango: Rambo… is a p***y.

With that simple response, he shoots the tanker and a stream of cocaine starts flowing from the pierced steel shell. And with that verbal exchange, we can see this action movie is going to have its tongue fully in cheek.

Tango's well-publicized successful drug raid annoys Yves Perret (Jack Palance), a crime overlord that has lost millions to Ray Tango and Gabriel Cash (Kurt Russell). Tired of the hotshot cops disrupting his enterprise, he devises and executes a plot that will frame both of the cops for murdering a federal agent.

Watching Tango, a dignified rich Beverly Hills cop, jockey for top L.A. cop position with Cash, a reckless cop from the other side of the tracks, is pure entertainment. Both stars possess a strong screen presence individually, but watching them work together takes it a notch higher. Their chemistry together rivals that of Gibson and Glover in Lethal Weapon, if not exceeds it!

And who can forget Jack Palance, who with his charisma and distinctive drawl plays the perfect menacing and cheesy nemesis? Choosing these three stars was a definite trifecta for director Andrei Konchalovsky, but the good casting doesn't stop there as the supporting actors feature pleasing stars such as Teri Hatcher and Brion James. In a word, the casting for Tango and Cash can be described as perfect.

This adrenaline-packed film contains a constant stream of action ranging from hard-hitting fistfights to blazing gun battles, taking place everywhere from a dank prison basement to the big city streets. The action-packed extravaganza is capped off at the end with a larger-than-life car chase featuring everything from monster trucks to construction vehicles.

But the eye candy alone is not what makes this film such a success. The adversarial relationship between Tango and Cash sets up many hilarious scenes (such as their criminal trial) that are propelled by their constant stream of brilliant one-liners. If you're looking for a fun film, this movie delivers the goods.

Sure, some may view Tango and Cash to be a larger than life cheese-fest, but nonetheless it remains one of the 80's best action-comedies available.

Movie rating: 8 stars

If you enjoyed Tango and Cash you may also find the following films to be of interest:

Enjoy the Tango and Cash experience in the comfort of your own home with these products!

DVD

VHS

DVD Set

Movie Sitemap

Wondering if the Netflix service is all
it's cracked up to be? Read our
detailed review and find out!