tavm
During the hiatus of "All in the Family", Carroll O'Connor starred in this feature film about a couple of New York guys who join the auxillary police force in order to clean up the neighborhood. I'll just say this film meanders quite a bit with many comic interludes of which some of the funniest involves Carroll's co-star Ernest Borgnine. Karen Black is also a hoot as Borgnine's not-so-helpful hairdressing assistant. The way it all ends is quite bittersweet. So on that note, I highly recommend Law and Disorder. P.S. This review is dedicated to the late Ann Wedgeworth-playing O'Connor's wife here-who passed a few months ago.
moonspinner55
Neighbors in a New York co-op join their local precinct's auxiliary police force to fight the crime dominating their once-peaceful neighborhoods. Any movie comedy attempting jokes on robbery and rape isn't going to be pretty, but it should be nimble enough to successfully tread the line between satire and the reality we see every night on the TV news. Director Ivan Passer, who also co-wrote this grossly exaggerated farce with Kenneth Harris Fishman and William Richert, isn't trying to make a statement on life in the Big City, he's just sending it up (the relatively sober conclusion is meant to be ironic, I suppose, but what's the point after all the cheap gags foisted at us?). The ugly conception of the jokes coupled with an ungainly presentation and broad performances quickly turn the film into a sour enterprise--an extension of the themes in "Little Murders" but with a sitcom undermining. Pairing Carroll O'Connor (then-hot from TV's "All in the Family") in a commercial enterprise with eternally-frustrated Ernest Borgnine must have seemed surefire, but only O'Connor comes through with a legitimate characterization (would you believe Borgnine as a beautician?). The supporting cast is encouraged to ham and mug, while the theme of the picture--urban decay--is treated shallowly for crass laughs. *1/2 from ****
Greatornot
Basically this was a film about a couple of blue collar NYC guys that are fed up with their city. They are great friends and organize an auxiliary police force. Getting caught up in this venture, they take this way too seriously and like to believe they are real cops. Gradually , they become out of control. This film had some of the funniest moments but out of nowhere, reality would hit. I liked the film and felt it was a very creative effort. Some wonderful scenes featuring Karen Black , in what may have been her best performance, as an over the top hairdresser. You also had an actor named J. Frank Lucas as a flasher who was funny. Perhaps the best character in the film was Gary Springer billed as the F.U. Kid. I am not making this up folks. It is right here on IMDb. The couple scenes Mr. Springer participated, were worth the price of admission, back in the day. In summation, I would say this is a dramady , with more emphasis on comedy than drama. Be prepared for some harsh moments and appreciate the great comic moments, of which there are many.
stevenfallonnyc
Having not seen this film for over 20 years, and remembering how great it was as a kid seeing it on cable, I was very happy (and surprised!) to see it released on DVD and picked it up immediately. I discovered it was a lot funnier when I was a kid, although making up for that was watching two great stars like Carroll and Ernest, as well as all the NYC locations, as I've always been a fan of NYC films, my hometown.One interesting thing is, this being a motion picture, Carroll O'Connor is upstaged in every scene by movie star Ernest Borgnine. And not that Carroll is bad, not at all, he's actually decent, and the two actors make a good pair with some good chemistry (a re-pairing in a future film would have been great even!). But on the silver screen Carroll doesn't have the immense presence he has on the tube as Archie Bunker, and Ernest is clearly the "leader" here.The two head an auxiliary police force to battle the crime in their neighborhood. It's obvious a pre-Rudy Giuliani New York City, NYC being quite legendary in the 70's for it's high crime and smut. NYC isn't cast in the best light, but then again, in 1974 it just wasn't in the best light yet. (Thanks Rudy for all you've done!) Like "Cooley High," it's a bit odd to see such a downbeat ending in a comedy, but it's still a good viewing.If you like NYC films, and want to see two old pros do their thing and take the young'uns to school, "Law and Disorder" is a good DVD buy, before it goes out of print.
AD
