Obviously not as sharp, strong, or funny as the original 1987, I have grown to appreciate ANOTHER STAKEOUT (1993) over time. It's always been strange to me that a sequel to the 1987 classic (one of my personal favorite movies) even exists. Stakeout itself is not the most popular movie, albeit a relative hit back in the 80s. So Another Stakeout is a forgotten successor. Everyone knows there are Lethal Weapon and Die Hard sequels, but how many even knows there's a sequel to Stakeout? And then they waited 6 whole years to even make a sequel, which is odd.
The sequel has the same beats as the original with our Seattle detective heroes Chris Lecce and Bill Reimers (both reprised admirably by Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez) engaged in a farcical stakeout, contrasted with a more serious subplot of the person (or in this case, persons) they are watching. The major difference between the original and this one is the comedy felt more natural in the '87 film, where at times it is strained in this sequel. Yet I find myself smirking at some of the humor.
The subplot of AS is that a Vegas couple under federal protection are attacked by the mob goons of the gangster they are slated to testify against prior to going under witness protection. The husband is killed, but the wife escapes. The wife is played by Cathy Moriarty (in a rare film appearance). The FBI suspects she may try to get in touch with her close friends, an affluent Seattle couple who live in a seaside community across the bay. The couple is played by Marcia Strassman and Dennis Farina. Chris and Bill are tasked by their Captain to stakeout the couple undercover as an affluent father and his son. Accompanying them is a Seattle ADA (played surprisingly well by none other than Rosie O'Donnell) who goes undercover with them as Bill's wife. She also brings her dog. The trio gets into hijinks along the way. The danger is in the form of a mob lawyer (well played by John Rubenstein) and a mob hit man, played effortlessly by Miguel Ferrer in a scary performance, as lethal as Montgomery from the first film.
O'Donnell plays this role straight, not even trying to force comedy and for that reason, I think she's the standout in this piece. SHE is the normal center amids a sea of silliness. I wish she had done more roles like this in her film career. I think she's actually funnier in this than she was in A League of Their Own where she just talked loud all the time. In AS, she tones it down and just acts like herself, all for the better. Dreyfuss and Estevez are the funny clowns contrasted with O'Donnell's straight man humor. Additionally, Madeleine Stowe, the femme fatale Maria from the original movie, makes a very welcome cameo appearance in this in several scenes in a disconnected subplot of her and Chris, whose 6-year relationship has become strained over them living together sans being married.
AS is a generally lighthearted, oft funny movie, although the comedy bits are a bit strained and forced, unlike the ones in Stakeout, which flowed within the plot. The beautiful seaside setting is eye-popping. The slightly larger cast actually helps as vet actors Ferrer, Moriarty, Strassman, and Farina all play well realized roles in support of our 3 stars. Like I said, the film has pretty much the same beat as Stakeout, with a larger cast. It's one of those movies that gets a bit better over time with me.
The sequel has the same beats as the original with our Seattle detective heroes Chris Lecce and Bill Reimers (both reprised admirably by Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez) engaged in a farcical stakeout, contrasted with a more serious subplot of the person (or in this case, persons) they are watching. The major difference between the original and this one is the comedy felt more natural in the '87 film, where at times it is strained in this sequel. Yet I find myself smirking at some of the humor.
The subplot of AS is that a Vegas couple under federal protection are attacked by the mob goons of the gangster they are slated to testify against prior to going under witness protection. The husband is killed, but the wife escapes. The wife is played by Cathy Moriarty (in a rare film appearance). The FBI suspects she may try to get in touch with her close friends, an affluent Seattle couple who live in a seaside community across the bay. The couple is played by Marcia Strassman and Dennis Farina. Chris and Bill are tasked by their Captain to stakeout the couple undercover as an affluent father and his son. Accompanying them is a Seattle ADA (played surprisingly well by none other than Rosie O'Donnell) who goes undercover with them as Bill's wife. She also brings her dog. The trio gets into hijinks along the way. The danger is in the form of a mob lawyer (well played by John Rubenstein) and a mob hit man, played effortlessly by Miguel Ferrer in a scary performance, as lethal as Montgomery from the first film.
O'Donnell plays this role straight, not even trying to force comedy and for that reason, I think she's the standout in this piece. SHE is the normal center amids a sea of silliness. I wish she had done more roles like this in her film career. I think she's actually funnier in this than she was in A League of Their Own where she just talked loud all the time. In AS, she tones it down and just acts like herself, all for the better. Dreyfuss and Estevez are the funny clowns contrasted with O'Donnell's straight man humor. Additionally, Madeleine Stowe, the femme fatale Maria from the original movie, makes a very welcome cameo appearance in this in several scenes in a disconnected subplot of her and Chris, whose 6-year relationship has become strained over them living together sans being married.
AS is a generally lighthearted, oft funny movie, although the comedy bits are a bit strained and forced, unlike the ones in Stakeout, which flowed within the plot. The beautiful seaside setting is eye-popping. The slightly larger cast actually helps as vet actors Ferrer, Moriarty, Strassman, and Farina all play well realized roles in support of our 3 stars. Like I said, the film has pretty much the same beat as Stakeout, with a larger cast. It's one of those movies that gets a bit better over time with me.