If there was ever a star determined to break out of a certain image in 1991, it was Michael J Fox, whose pivotal role in BACK TO THE FUTURE as Marty McFly made this just one aspect of his talents.
In John Badham’s THE HARD WAY, he plays spoilt Hollywood star Nick Lang, who wants to do something more real as a cop. In his bid to secure this new role, he goes to New York where he seeks out John Moss (James Woods), a dedicated but brusque cop John Moss (James Woods) who hits the roof when he finds out he has to chaperone Lang amidst a new case involving a killer called ‘The Party Crasher’
Lang’s Hollywood charm proves to be a thorn in the side of Moss, who simply wants him out the way, but when he rides alongside him, things do get a little too Method as the ‘Crasher’ continues his crime spree…
One of the best comedies of the 1990s and a joy to watch Fox and Woods in action. Woods captures perfectly the role of the bog-standard NYPD cop, whilst Fox is clearly having more fun with the role as somebody who was keen to branch out. The scene in the bar, in which Lang tries to help Moss overcome his relationship issues with his girlfriend (Annabella Sciorra) , is side-splitting.