Hot Stuff (1979)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Dom DeLuise

Writers:

Michael Kane (writer)
Donald E. Westlake (writer)

Release Date:

21 January 1980 (Norway)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

You can't turn this mob over to the cops. They _are_ the cops.

Plot:

Three cops try to set up a sting by establishing their own Fencing operation. They have less than complete...

Plot Keywords:

Scam | Stolen Goods | Pawnshop | Police

Cast

Dom DeLuise	...	Ernie Fortunato
Suzanne Pleshette	...	Louise Webster
Jerry Reed	...	Doug von Horne
Ossie Davis	...	Captain John Geiberger
Luis Avalos	...	Ramon
Marc Lawrence	...	Carmine
Richard Davalos	...	Charles
Alfie Wise	...	Nick
Bill McCutcheon	...	Paully Albadecker
Sydney Lassick	...	Hymie
Barney Martin	...	Kiley
Pat McCormick	...	Man with Cigars
Sid Gould	...	Sid
Carol Arthur	...	Gloria Fortunato (as Carol DeLuise)
Peter DeLuise	...	Peter Fortunato

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Miami, Florida, USA

Company:

Rastar Pictures

Trivia:

The shot of police cars racing through the night is actually of Atlanta police cars.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the 78 or 79 Trans am explodes, it is replaced with a early model Camaro 70 to 73 for the destroyed car.

Quotes:

Doug: Ernie, you want a doughnut?
Ernie: I'd rather have the money instead!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989)

Soundtrack:

Hot Stuff

A Classic Action-Comedy!!!

Directed by and starring Dom Deluise, the story it tells actually was way ahead of its time and based loosely on fact. A group of cops begin a stolen goods sting by "purchasing" the items, and using videotape as evidence against the "sellers". The movie provides a good look at what extremes the police will do to get the bad guy. There are even worse hazards than the thieves, such as the mafia getting involved and a corrupt cop blackmailing them.

The rest of the ensemble cast includes Jerry Reed, Luis Avalos, Ossie Davis (watch for his "black Godfather"), and Suzanne Pleshette, and their excellent acting proves that they are as good as the bigger Hollywood folks. However, it is really Deluise who shines through, with charm, wit and very funny lines, including a running joke about his retirement as a police officer. The random folks who walk into the "trade store" are also funny, and good actors. A few standouts: Deluise "samples" some marijuana, a gun sting resulting in a hilarious but exciting shootout, the climactic brawl that is funny, well choreographed and has an incredible payoff.

This particular movie is underrated and especially overlooked. As a little kid I always watched it a lot on HBO, so I was hooked. I like big budget, modern action-comedies, but the creators of "Showtime" (2002) should have taken a lesson from "Hot Stuff". See it!