The movie critique portion of this review was written by my colleague Michele Arbir.
In 1982 we got the classic 48 Hrs. with Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte. Eight years later they came back for more in Another 48 Hrs. Now it was not as good as the first but I will start out by saying this buddy cop team still has great chemistry on screen together. Nolte reprises his role as San Francisco police officer Jack Cates, who is in a bit of a pickle. Cates has 48 hours to clear his name from a manslaughter charge. Guess who he needs the help of? You got it, Reggie Hammond (Murphy), who is a newly released convict. He may be free but he’s not out of the woods. There’s a mastermind known only as the Iceman who has hired a biker gang to kill Reggie.
While trying to capture this drug lord “The Iceman,” policeman Jack Cates confronts two criminals and kills one of them in self-defense. The head of internal affairs (Kevin Tighe) wants to prosecute Jack since there was no weapon found on the victim. In order to prove his innocence, Jack rescues ex-convict Reggie Hammond from a hit ordered by The Iceman. Reggie, who knows the real identity of the criminal, may be Jack’s last hope.
This was an enjoyable sequel that focuses on the action and story. The characters feel consistent with how they behaved in the original which is always a good thing for a sequel. Watching Murphy and Nolte bicker just does not get old. Directed again by Walter Hill, the plot is a little less contrived this time, and the storytelling is reasonably solid. Additionally, the action is especially well-shot in a way that adds a lot of intensity to the film. In 1990 the film got a lot of backlash for being too violent, but audiences today won’t bat an eyelash at what they see here.
Another 48 Hrs grossed more at the US box office than its predecessor and made $72.7 million from foreign markets for a total of $153.5 million. Unfortunately, it was still considered a box office disappointment because the film was so costly that the profits were minimized. Part of that cost was due to the increase in Eddie Murphy’s salary. Previously he was paid $200,000 for his role in the original film. By the time of the sequel, his fee was $12,000,000 upfront, plus a percentage of the gross. What a difference a new decade makes. In the end, Murphy accused Paramount of not spending enough on advertising and changing the release date. Paramount counter-alleged that Murphy did not spend enough time promoting the film. It was likely a little of column A and a little of column B.
Another 48 Hrs is basically the same as the first one. Nothing new or memorable – a pretty good twist at the end but that’s it. Again the shootouts and the onscreen chemistry between Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy was just as good as the first. I think the critics were a bit harsh but it is pretty much just the same for most of the movie. It was a fun watch and really helped a rainy day be more fun.
Video Quality
Another 48 Hrs. makes its Blu-Ray debut with a gorgeous 1080p transfer sourced from a 4K remaster which is a thing of beauty. Like its predecessor, this presentation is stunning and preserves the filmic look with proper film grain and texture throughout. The level of clarity and detail on this release is very impressive, with only the occasional shot that looks a bit on the soft side. There are very subtle details in the production design that are visible here for the first time from subtle details on outfits to some of the intricate settings. There are a lot of bold colors in the film that pop off the screen with an intense vibrancy. Skin tones are natural and lend themselves to showcasing an amazing amount of detail. The black levels are extremely deep and allow for real detail to come through well. Paramount has done an excellent job of restoring this, as all print damage has been cleaned up without messing with the natural look of the film. Those who have been waiting for this one to finally come to Blu-Ray should be thrilled it has been treated so well.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack that captures this film perfectly. Music is used very purposefully throughout the presentation, but it never overpowers the dialogue or other important information. The activity focuses heavily on the front channels with the stellar score from James Horner filling the room in a nice way. The classic dialogue comes through clearly and never falls victim to any digital anomalies. Rear speakers get some consistent activity with ambient sounds including the bustle of the city and chatter in crowded bars. There is a substantial amount of low-end support when the scene calls for it including some forceful gunshots. This track accomplishes everything it needs to do with immense ease.
Special Features
- Filmmaker Focus – Director Walter Hill on Another 48 Hrs.: A fifteen-minute conversation with Hill in which he discusses the initial reluctance to return to this franchise, the innovative stunts in the film, the contradictory nature of making a sequel, having a bigger budget, the “exaggerated realism” of the film and more.
- Theatrical Trailer: A minute-and-a-half trailer is provided for the film.
Final Thoughts
Another 48 Hrs. is a prime example of wanting to see performers inhabit their classic roles again without much of a pressing reason behind why they are doing so beyond money. The film is entertaining, but it is not interested in blazing a new trail. If you had fun with the Eddie Murphy-Nick Nolte dynamic the first time out, odds are you will enjoy it again here with some slightly different action set pieces. Paramount Home Entertainment has given this one a Blu-Ray with a tremendous A/V presentation and at least one decent supplemental feature. If you are picking up the first one, you might as well add this one to your collection as well. Recommended
Paramount Presents Another 48 Hrs. is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
