Spidersecu Don't Believe the Hype

TeenzTen An action-packed slog

Odelecol Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Suman Roberson It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

richard-fieldhouse Released in 1989, The Mighty Quinn is currently rated as Denzel Washington's 46th best movie (on IMDB). I'm not saying it's bad but it's never going to become a classic and it is starting to show its age a little. Denzel plays Xavier Quinn, the police chief on a Caribbean island where some stereotypical eccentricities are maybe rather over-emphasised. He's very dashing in his formal uniform and while out of favour with his wife, he's still not short of admirers. His not-so-smooth life is then even more disturbed by a murder at a smart local hotel. The powers that be seem rather too keen to close down the investigation fast and pin the blame on Maubee - a colourful ne'er-do-well who was also Quinn's childhood friend. A role that gives Robert Townsend plenty of scope to enjoy himself. Denzel himself, though, is perhaps at his 46th best. What in later his roles becomes a cool stillness, here sometimes just looks a little stiff. His Jamaican accent also occasionally wanders and his singing is a departure.Don't be totally put off though. Denzel is still easy to watch and it's a gently diverting classic murder mystery set in a colourful community and beautiful scenery. 6/10

Woodyanders Smooth and charming Police Chief Xavier Quinn (a fine and likable performance by Denzel Washington) has to search his Jamaican island beat for lovable local rascal and old childhood pal Maubee (a wonderfully engaging portrayal by Robert Townsend) in order to clear Maubee's name after he's accused of murder. Capably directed with considerable flashy panache by Carl Schenkel, with a pleasantly casual pace, and a colorful and absorbing script by Hampton Fancher, further buoyed by an extremely catchy'n'bouncy reggae soundtrack, nice touches of wry humor, and a flavorsome Caribbean tropical setting, this film possesses a certain affable laid-back appeal that's impossible to either dislike or resist. The strong cast helps a lot: Washington and especially Townsend excel in the lead roles, with fine support from James Fox as jerky rich resort owner Thomas Elgin, the lovely Mimi Rogers as Thomas' neglected and enticing wife Hadley, the always great M. Emmet Walsh as hearty, yet vicious hired killer Fred Miller, Esther Rolle as fearsome witch Ubu Pearl, Art Evans as irritable Sergeant Jump Jones, Sheryl Lee Ralph as Xavier's fiery and sultry wife Lola, Norman Beaton as the meddlesome Governor Chalk, and Key Luke as the helpful Dr. Raj. Washington easily carries this picture with his supremely amiable and charismatic presence. Jacques Steyn's bright cinematography gives this movie an attractive sunny look while Anne Dudley's frothy score keeps things bubbling along. A winningly breezy and carefree romp.

Robert J. Maxwell Relaxed -- very relaxed -- murder story, with Denzel Washington as a detective ordered to find and capture his friend so the murder can be rapidly cleared up and the tourist trade flow along liquidly. Halfway through, Washington begins to believe that there is more to the case than meets the eye, and that his buddy will be no more than a scapegoat.Very nice location shooting in Jamaica. If you like reggae, you will LOVE this film's score. There are lots of shots of the beautiful beach. Hey, mon, why you jomp in dee wah-tah faw? The more desperately seedy areas of Kingston are avoided, as they would be in one of Hitchcock's movies set in an exotic locale. The viewpoint is that of the tourist used to saying in nice hotels, the kind with jacuzzis but no venomous snakes.Denzel Washington handles the accent pretty well without quite shedding his own phones. Sometimes it fades more than others. The other performers don't really have too much to do. Everyone seems to be enjoying himself, as if on vacation.The movie is rather good-natured considering the plot. The white guys tend to be bad, while the local people of color are at worst raffish. Is there still such racial friction in Jamaica? I don't know, but in the Bahamas the races get along well with one another, as they do in much of the Caribbean. Maybe big cities breed animosities spontaneously.There's nothing truly outstanding about this routine flick, except, as I've noted, the score. It's not especially exciting, mysterious, amusing, or engaging in any other way. It's not a bad flick if you're prepared to let it take you by the hand and lead you along the colorful streets, pointing out sites of interest, suggesting you taste the jerky and try one of those pink drinks in a tall glass with a flower and a paper umbrella sticking out of it. We call it Captain Bluebeard's Mango Flavored Rum Punch. Mind the umbrella. One of awah tourists lost an eye last year. Don't drink? Fine, bad faw the health. Care for one of awah Jah-may-can cigars? You might not remember much of it later but you won't object to having watched it.

BarryPepper This movie was great. Plenty of action and great acting sums up this masterpiece in movie history. Denzel Washington had a believable accent and very cool scenes. The fact that almost everyone in this movie were American actors playing Jamaican roles really made this movie what it is. The mystery made this movie a thrill ride and plenty of beautiful scenery. Robert Townsend gave this movie the bonus of comedy and the huge manhunt going to find him. Denzel Washington makes want to watch this movie over and over again in some of the dazzling action scenes and the great Jamaican signing.