Synopsis: Two Hollywood detectives, a cantankerous veteran and his rookie partner, are assigned the case of what appears to be a gang shooting. While solving the murders of the up-and-coming rappers, the two have to balance out their personal lives on the side. But it isn't easy as the bad guys are coming at them from all sides in this action comedy.

Now for the Zone's Eye View:

By Michelle Snow

Director: Ron Shelton

Cast: Harrison Ford, Josh Hartnett, Lena Olin, Bruce Greenwood, Isaiah Washington, Lolita Davidovich, Master P, Kurupt, Dwight Yoakam, Martin Landau and Lou Diamond Phillips

Veteran cop Joe Gavilan [Ford] and his good-looking rookie partner, K.C. Calden [Hartnett], are detectives in the homicide division of the Hollywood Police Department. They are assigned to the case of a gang style shooting in a popular club. Four rappers, just about to break big, are gunned down after a performance. With not much to go on, the duo start piecing together the case by investigating the group's record label, Sartain Records. Owned by Antoine Sartain [Washington], the record label is not only devastated by the loss of the group, H2O Click, but by the recent murder of another of their artists. This sets suspicion in the mind of Gavilan, who starts looking at Sartain as a prime suspect. 

While trying to solve the case, the two cops also have to deal with unrest in their personal lives. Gavilan, deep in debt from alimony, has a second job as a real estate agent. Investigating the murders, he discovers the club owner [Master P] is looking for some prime real estate. Gavilan thinks he'd be a perfect match for the house that legendary movie producer Jerry Duran [Landau] has put on the block. He's also trying to carve out a personal life with popular radio talk show psychic Ruby and deal with an I.A.D. investigation by Lt. Bennie Macko. Macko has issues with both Gavilan's money dealings, and his relationship with an informant, a madam [Davidovich} wanted by Vice as well. It turns out the Macko and Gavilan have a personal tie beyond the precinct, but I won't ruin that surprise for you.

Gavilan's partner, Calden, is the son of another L.A. police officer, killed during a drug bust gone wrong. Like Gavilan, he has a side job, teaching yoga to classes of young women. Many of whom he ends up bedding. But he secretly longs to be an actor, and spends a good deal of the movie rehearsing for his upcoming production of A Streetcar Named Desire.

It would be easy to disregard this movie as just another bunch of cop movie clichés, but there are so many fresh spins on the clichés that it's really fun to watch. Ford and Hartnett have a good chemistry together and it's refreshing to watch a movie in which the cops are human. They have personal problems, their money problems and aren't perfect cops. When they fight the bad guys, they have the blood and aches to go along with the victory. But they try their hardest to do their best and in the end, it's just enough to solve the case.

This movie has a healthy dose of comedy to go along with all the action and drama. My favorite scene is when Macko separates Gavilan and Calden into separate interrogation rooms. Ford gives a whole new meaning to "professional conduct". There are a lot of inside digs at the whole Hollywood scene that elicited laughs from the entire audience, too.

I also enjoyed playing "spot the star", as this movie is just filled with cameos and supporting roles by musicians. Kurupt plays a secret witness, with Gladys Knight as his mom. An beefier Dwight Yoakum plays a cop secretly working with Sartain. The lawyer representing both parties in the real estate deal is Frank Sinatra, Jr. H2O Click is played by members of Bone Thugs & Harmony. In addition, I do have a suspicion somebody associated with this film has a huge Motown fetish, since not only does Knight appear in the film, but there is a cab driver cameo by Smokey Robinson and Joe's cell ring tone plays the Temptations' "My Girl". 

I also really enjoyed the surprise appearance by Lou Diamond Phillips as a Vice cop undercover on a stake out. It took me almost the entire scene to recognize it was him. 

Hollywood Homicide is the perfect blend of action and comedy. Ford and Hartnett are at the top of their game in this movie and you'll enjoy how all of the pieces fall into place. This movie is the perfect excuse to get out of the heat and into a nice cool theater this summer.
8 out of 10