Dorathen Better Late Then Never

ThrillMessage There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Cristal The movie really just wants to entertain people.

moonspinner55 Richard Rush directed this (intentionally?) uneven blend of comic-macho clumsiness and violent police action set in San Francisco. Two cops (well-cast buddy couple, Alan Arkin and James Caan) bust chops and wreck cars in an attempt to nab a numbers-racketeer. Rush is attracted to a messy visual style--cajoling comedy combined with bursts of bloody violence--yet the blood is cartoon-red, a signal to us this is all in good fun. One of the villains is an evil transvestite, another cue for derisive approval (villainous gays quickly became a lamentable cliché, coming right on the heels of murderous hippies). The leads are wired for self-detonation (was Rush trying to get them to emulate Elliott Gould and Donald Sutherland from "MASH"?). Supporting cast is solid, with Valerie Harper exceptional in small role as Arkin's wife, and some of the comedy works, but much of the rest is decidedly off-putting. ** from ****

cmorley50 It was my first starring role in a major motion picture. Richard Rush, the director, was a doll and held my hand every step of the way knowing I was a newbie. He is responsible for really molding my performance, which is what made this 'buddy' movie stand out. Alan Arkin is a genius. He can speak backwards. James Caan was an arrogant asshole. I myself hung out with Alan's son, Matthew, who was about 12 at the time. He was a 30-year-old man inside a twelve-year-old. And I was a ten-year-old inside a 21-year-old body so it worked. Matthew was so bright and so funny and never asked me stupid questions. We had a great time together. What a pair we must have made!

Kirby Palm Thoroughly enjoyable to watch, Alan Arkin and James Caan make a great comedy duo. Plus, perhaps the only time you'll ever see a car crash through a third-story window.Here's a spoiler -- and what lifts this movie above most others in the genre: After an hour and a half of silly shenanigans, you suddenly discover that there was a serious plot going on. One is tempted to start the film over from the beginning because you clearly weren't paying enough attention.The one downside of the film, IMHO, is the ending, where one guy that's supposedly seriously hurt is suddenly OK and being silly again. That didn't work for me.

Kieran Green This Is a classic 70's 'Buddy Buddy comedy/Actioneer, that certainly paved the way for '48hr's 'Leathal Weapon' and many more cop flick's 'Freebie And The Bean' star's James Caan, as the macho tough guy 'freebie' Alan Arkin, is the short fused and neurotic 'Bean' Freebie And The Bean have one goal together and that's to bring down the Obnoxious 'Red Myer's who is the local mafia kingpin, but whilst waiting for the Warrant to Arrest their man,They have to wait until Monday for the Important Warrant to arrive,The pair have to fight off various hit men,It's down to Freebie And The Bean, to catch the assassins's And try and get their man with hilarious and riotous result's which have some of the finest car stunt's committed to celluloid!, Freebie And The Bean Also star's Lorreta Swit, Alex(Godfather Rocco) And Valerie Harper AsArkin's wife,There is a mildly amusing subplot which has Arkin Convinced his Ethnic wife is cheating on him with equally hilarious result's!The film also excel's in the verbal Chit Chat between Arkin And Caan, The film has numerous funny moment's including the scene where Arkin/Caan, whilst in pursuit of the Assasain's Accidentally Skid off the highway and crash in to two old people's apartment wall! That scene has got to be seen to be believed!The stunt men and women must have got paid a lot for this film, and it show's incidentally the director Richard Rush, later Directed another cult favorite 'The Stunt Man,Hopefully warner brother's will finally release this although the film like a lot of 70's classic's is overtly not PC(politically Correct) It'll be great to view it in It's 2:35 -1 Aspect Ratio, a commentary track by Arkin And Caan, would make a load of fan's happy,