The Michael J. Fox Database :: Career - Motion Pictures :: The Hard Way

Disclaimer: These views are the opinions of the Webmaster only, unless otherwise noted.
The Hard Way, released on March 8, 1991, is a unique film in Michael J. Fox's career for a couple of reasons. First, it is his only full-blown action film (live-action) and second, he's not really the hero of the movie. In this early 90's film, that feels more like a mid-to-late 80's film, Michael J. Fox portrays a whiny, self-absorbed, rich, spoiled brat actor. The true hero of this flick is portrayed by the ever-intense James Woods.

However, it is Michael J. Fox's charm and wit that makes his character so likeable, and hence, causes him to steal almost every scene that he's in. It has always been one of Michael J. Fox's greatest talents to take a character that is morally reprehensible, or just down-right idiotic, and make him a guy that you care for and even identify with. Even though Nick Lang has everything, or can get anything, that anyone could ask for, the audience is apt to feel sympathetic towards his plight of wanting to be taken seriously as an actor.

This trait is interesting, as it is a shared plight in Michael J. Fox's own career. It is admirable that he was willing to poke a little fun at his own public image and the fact that he was, himself, the popular movie star wanting to be taken more seriously by taking on more gritty, realistic roles. (Light of Day, Casualties of War)

The only major complaint I have with this film is the fact that the love interest for John Moss feels like it was shoe-horned into the picture and feels very out of place. Perhaps the producers felt that the character of John Moss needed to be toned down a bit, to be shown to posses a soft side. However, the scenes with Susan just slow down the picture. It is hard to feel anything for this character who isn't given enough screen time to develop into a real personality. She's basically a characterless plot device to lend more emotional weight to the climactic ending of the film.

The best performance in this film is given by James Woods. His specialty has always been hard-edged, overly intense characters that cause the audience to believe that this guy really cares about what he is doing, whether it be chasing serial killers in The Hard Way, hunting down vampires in John Carpenter's Vampires or persecuting Jodi Foster in Contact.

The Hard Way follows a brief period in the lives of two men who couldn't possibly be more opposite. One, a hard-boiled cop after a manical serial killer loose in New York and the other, a pompous over-rated actor who wants to be taken more seriously. Their lives converge when the actor, Nick Lang, happens to see John Moss, the cop, on television and decides that he is the man to teach Nick Lang how to be a tough policeman, which happens to be very much like a role that he desires - but is currently being offered to Mel Gibson. (It must be a 'butt movie.')

Lang weasels his way into John Moss' life, despite Moss' vehemenant protests, and makes his life miserable, fowling up his investigations and basically getting in Moss' way in every aspect of his life.

The comedic tension between Lang and Moss is often hilarious and watching Fox and Woods play off each other is worth the price of admission - or, at this late date, the price of renting or buying the DVD. If you want to know if they catch they killer and if John Moss gets the girl, you won't find out here (I'm not going to give it away) but since this is a pretty typical Hollywood movie, I think you can guess.

Why to watch this movie: Michael J. Fox always gives a spirited performance, no matter how formulaic the material happens to be, and this movie is as formulaic as they come. James Woods gives an almost flawless performance as the hard-boiled cop with a soft side. Stephen Lang gives a truly chilling performance as the vigilant vigilante, The Party Crasher. Christina Ricci fans will also enjoy her small part as Susan's antagonistic daughter.

When to watch this movie: When you're in the mood for a buddy-cop-action-comedy film -- much like the Rush Hour films without the martial arts.

--Brandi M. Mills

All original text © Copyright by Brandi M. Mills, 2005