lost-in-limbo Burt Reynolds's really made an impression with his smartly catered cop thriller "Sharky's Machine" and four years later he churn out another directorial crime outing. Maybe not as effective and complete, but still acceptable time filler. The story is penned by the reliable Elmore Leonard, who has a knack for building crime and character interactions within a busy framework. That's were I found it to peter out at times, as there seems too be so much going on and from that it can get a little distracted. It starts off strong, but then it goes wayward and stalls too often. Reynolds' sober direction seemed rather uneven in trying to balance out the explosively grimy moments with the uneasy comic relief. The film was more character driven (likeable relationships are struck or quick fuses erupt) and held together by its plot developments, but the script just didn't bite hard enough and its ending is quite lousy. Gladly the performances stand-up; namely that of the support cast. Where the bad guys are truly vile. Dar Robinson (who's mainly a stuntman) is magnificently threatening as the albino hired killer. A true scene stealer. While he hands out some nasty punishment and the gravel voice strikes fear. Alone just looking at him is frightening enough. Charles Durning playing a scummy low-life crook sticks out with his loud, bright Hawaiian shirts, feathered hair and wild bushy eyebrows. It's hard to take your eyes off either one. Leading the way in the bad guys is a dashing Castulo Guerra. You know the man with the power… the one you don't want to get on the wrong side of. To go with that, he's quite spiritual, but with a mean-streak. Burt Reynolds' character finds himself stuck in the middle of this trio when after getting out of prison he joins a buddy on job involving some of Miami's lowlife criminals. However it's a set-up, where his friend is killed and he is soon targeted. So he seeks payback, but on the other side of the coin he wants to go straight so he can catch up with daughter. Reynolds plays it with that laconically tough shade and knowing attitude, letting his charm carry him along. His weapon of choice seems to be his smartarse lines… physical wise gasoline or matches… that you only get disappointed when he can't get a hold of one of these objects. The next best thing was death by scorpion. Another scene stealer would be George Segal as a cheerfully naïve millionaire that loves the company of criminals. Some sequences with him were priceless. Also showing up is Candice Bergen (the love interest), Jose Perez and Alex Rocco. Clunky, but amusing.

fredmant I agree with Chuck O'Leary from Pittsburg. I loved this movie. In fact, in the mid-80's it was one of the first VHS tape productions that made my sorry old Samsung (1973) look good! I ran the sound in "hi-fi stereo" through my stereo rig and this was my first home theater (don't laugh!). Anyway, the story is good and if you like Burt, well, you have to see the movie. Unfortunately, no DVD out yet, nor any great demand. But, hey, if Green Ice can be released on DVD, can Stick be far behind? Things to look for on the (eventual) DVD . . . the many fine Florida sunsets. There's lots of "perfect lighting" in this movie, with both exterior and interior shots. The bad guys are sufficiently deserving of your verbal lashing. Finally the soundtrack is very mood inducing but not ornate. Think Miami Vice meets Live or Die in LA. I'd give the movie as a whole, 7 out of 10 stars, especially considering its age.Oh one last thing, very important. Hit the mute button when Candice Bergman starts to sing. Life's too short. . . .

a_genda The Good Stuff:Candice Bergen looks gorgeous. Small role by David Reynoso. The late Dar Robinson as the "Albino Hitman". The Albino Hitman falling to his death while emptying his six shooter looks real cool.The Bad Stuff:Charles Durning in a blond wig is really hard to take (those crazy looking eyebrows!).The Verdict:Typical 80's flick with lots of flashy cars, drug dealers, one colorful hitman, directed by Mr. Reynolds, that even if looking dated manages to entertain.

Mister-6 Burt Reynolds for the "Miami Vice" generation!Even though pretty faithfully adapted from Elmore Leonard's book (by no less that Leonard himself!), Burt foregoes the good ol' boy routine to play the mean, tough, down and dirty characters like he did in "The Longest Yard", "Sharkey's Machine" and "White Lightning". But even though he did everything but sweep the sets afterwards, Burt just doesn't convince as a career criminal trying to settle a score from a drug deal that killed his friend.Everyone is grim, nasty and vile (stunt-man/actor Dar Robinson comes off best as hit-man Moki - true enough to say he has the best scene!) and with Burt as the lesser of, say, a dozen evils, SHOULD show at least some charisma in the part. But all he does is glower, grimace, threaten and shoot guns. Even love interest Bergen is pretty bland as she plays a character that suggests what would have happened if she never had any "Carnal Knowledge".The only one who comes off good is Segal, who plays a loud, crass, banjo-playing millionaire who hires Stick (Reynolds) for protection, little knowing he is just a cog in a serpentine plot to get back at drug mack Nestor (Guerra). Segal even goes as far as telling the "What's-the-last-thing-to-go-through-a-bug's-mind-before-he-hits-a-windshield" joke. (Punch-line? Go ask your Dad).The worst fate, though, is held for Reynolds steadfast Durning, who has to play a druggie that would look more at home at the circus (Charlie, orange-red hair is NOT your style). How does he intimidate people, by daring them not to laugh??In the end, you just can't help but figure what Michael Mann could have done with something like this. Well, Leonard's stuff is getting made and remade all the time now. Who knows, maybe in a few years....Three stars, one for the effort, one for Robinson's last scene and one for Murphy, whose career survived to do better things (hello, "Murphy Brown"!).Don't get stuck with "Stick".