Here Comes The Judge

Bill Murray was one of the biggest stars of the 80's, so of course Hollywood was looking for it's next Murray. There was a group of young actors that seem destined to take the Murray mantle. The wisecracking but lovable underdog that you want to cheer for. Some, like Michael Keaton and Tom Hanks, were able to prove that they had the acting chops and break free of the Murray shadow. Others, like Jim Belushi and Steve Guttenberg, weren't so lucky and proved that they were better off in supporting roles. Judge Reinhold falls in the latter catagory.

After supporting roles in Fast Times At Ridgemont High, Stripes, and Beverly Hills Cop, Hollywood felt that Reinhold had what it took to be a leading man. Even though he had mild success with films like Ruthless People and Vive Versa, most of his starring roles, like Head Office, went unnoticed. One of those unnoticed ones was Off Beat. Today, for my should be on dvd, I look back at Off Beat.

After blowing the cover for his undercover cop buddy, Cleavant Derricks, a mild mannered librarian, Reinhold, reluctantly agrees to take Derrick's place at an audition for a dance recital at a police charity function. Reinhold falls for a fellow officer, Meg Tilley, and begins to take on the macho cop mentality, which leads to some pretty funny consequences. Joe Mantegna, Harvey Keitel, John Turturro, and Penn Jillette head up the great supporting cast.

I'm actually a fan of Reinhold's, and a pretty big fan of this movie. It should be released on dvd/blu ray so it can find a bigger audience.