NekoHomey
Purely Joyful Movie!
Ensofter
Overrated and overhyped
Griff Lees
Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.
Scarecrow-88
For a 90 minute movie, there sure is hell a lot of plot. We watch as a variety of cases converge at the end as Boston's *cough* finest *cough* set out to make arrests regarding two arsonists who set fire to bums, a trio behind a series of bombings which are killing city public figures, and a duo who plan to rob a liquor store. The punchline is how, not through "solid police work", the cases are solved basically because those who commit the crimes fall right into their laps.This cop comedy doesn't exactly paint a flattering view of a specific precinct whose detectives seem unable to catch a serial bomber, who leaves notes demanding ransom money in exchange for the lives of those targeted. We also see how busy the precinct can be during serious renovations, as the desks are cluttered, phones are ringing, people pass to and fro, and two goofy painters cause mischief as they often get in the way of the daily routines, causing the officers unneeded pains. Good cast has Burt Reynolds, Tom Skerritt, Jack Weston, James McEachin, and Racquel Welch as detectives assigned to various cases, often assisting each other at times. I was rather surprised to see Yul Brynner show up as the infamous "deaf man with the hearing aid", the mastermind behind the bombings.For some reason, Fuzz just didn't satisfy me. It seems that the filmmakers just had too much damn plot and not enough time to dedicate to the endless stream of characters and stories. Trying to provide equal screen time to the actors involved seemed quite daunting. It's a superb cast and if they were given a central case, the mad bombings, maybe this could've been a little more cohesive. The preposterous finale where our heroes get the bad guys gift-wrapped to them must've been quite amusing on paper, but I was shaking my head at the mere absurdity of it..it's quite a coincidence(s)that all the cases burdening the Boston precinct's cops would culminate in one general area in the city, allowing them to close chapters they couldn't do on their own. The cops in the film have their share of bumbling errors, often muscling the wrong people as Brynner constantly fools them. These cops, however, have a camaraderie that's admirable, clowning around with each other to keep the pressures and unpleasantness of the job from getting to them. Welch is almost raped by the man she's assigned to capture. Reynolds is almost burned alive by two teenagers who he's horrified to discover are the serial arsonists. Skerritt is often arresting people who have little to do with his desired suspects. McEachin actually apprehends the painters attempting to steal precinct equipment while in surveillance. We see that police work isn't always cut and dry, that the daily grinds associated with the duties of detectives often result in mistakes, bad judgments, blunders, and situations which they unfortunately inherit while trying to solve cases that are certainly difficult and tiresome.Reynolds works the usual charm and Skerritt is breezy. Chubby Weston is jolly fun as Reynolds oft-humiliated partner falling prey to one problem after another while moving from case to case. Welch, with a rather underwritten role, doesn't have much to work with, probably hired for her sexiness. Brynner is suave and cool, despite being a diabolical killer. I do think where the film does succeed is in capturing the madcap mayhem of a busy precinct, and there's nothing quite as effective as seeing the authentic Boston locations..that's what made the 70s so good, the abilities they once had to capture the atmosphere of the city streets and the array of eccentric people who live within it's confines.
jbartelone
I was expecting a decent police drama out of the movie "Fuzz." With the talents of Burt Reynolds, Yul Brynner, and Raquel Welsh, viewers would anticipate a memorable picture. But considering the acting talent involved, the film is a near disaster with several plot-holes and mood changes in scenes and story lines that confuse, alienate, and annoy the viewer.To the best that I can make out (as I was half-asleep waiting for anything to happen in this picture) Yul Brynner plays a deaf man who has orchestrated the assassination of several high ranking political officials and other selected targets. Bert Reynolds and Jack Weston are the cops who dress up as Nuns. ("NUNS?") to try to stop them, against a backdrop of a discombobulated police station and staff that makes Barney Fife look like an organized lawman! What a mess! There is absolutely no continuity to this film or plot development. You would think that some of the random shooting events would place an element of dramatic suspense, giving the viewers some reason to see this picture. However, in the next scene it's a comedy, than in the following scene it turns serious again. Fuzz is a perfect example of a movie that is only removed from being a 1, because I have given an extra point to the recognition of the actors, and another point for perhaps two good scenes that I liked in the whole movie. However, that's it. Fuzz in my judgment scores a VERY GENEROUS 3.If the script would have stuck to ONE quality serious element, with concern about a strong issue from the cast, Fuzz could have been a passable police film. However, with too much going on at once, a weak and extremely confusing script, and a picture who's writers look like they crammed material from at least three different movies into this one, Fuzz is extremely fuzzy and never comes into focus.
merklekranz
I like Burt Reynolds in a comedy such as "The End", and was hoping for something along those lines here. "Fuzz" is not even close, and certainly cannot be considered a comedy. Any effort at humor seems extremely forced, and just plain not funny. A pretty good cast is almost totally wasted, Reynolds and Welch most notably. Tom Skeritt seems simply along for the ride. Too many characters with little or no development, and a plot that stretches credibility to the extreme. I mean, letting anybody near a bomb target's car, nevertheless under the hood, is a real rubber band job. I rate this 1.0 out of ten for all of the above reasons. - MERK
udar55
This is billed as a Burt Reynold's vehicle but he is actually part of a great cast in this Ed McBain 87th Precinct comedy-thriller. The police in Boston are searching for an extortionist dubbed "The Deaf Man" who is demanding cash or he kills a high ranking city official. Reynolds along with Tom Skeritt and Jack Weston are the cops on the case. The film really has a great ensemble feel and, I hope, accurately predicts the goings on inside a police station. Raquel Welch co-stars as a female detective out to snag a rapist. Yul Brynner, who must have been having lots of fun at this point in his career, is "The Deaf Man." His screen time is minimal but he does a good job. Familiar faces pop up in nearly every other scene with guys like Charles Tyner, Albert Popwell, Tamara Dobson and a very young Charles Martin Smith in small roles. The film's only major problem is that it neatly wraps up everything in the end. Seriously, every crime the cops are investigating is solved in one scene that relies heavily on convenience.
