48 Hrs. (1982) Directed by Walter Hill. With Nick Nolte, Eddie Murphy, James Remar, Sonny Landham and Annette O Toole.
Walter Hill’s 48Hrs is perhaps most notable for boasting the first big screen appearance of stand-up comic turned A-list movie star, Eddie Murphy. Co-written by Hill with three other writers, one of which is Die Hard writer, Steven E. de Souza, the film is clumsy, noisy and entirely predictable for the duration of its 96-minute run.
The story is a simple twist on the buddy-cop thriller; two contrasting personalities thrown together to chase bad guys and crack wise. Murphy is a convict given a 48 Hr release from prison to help ‘cop’ Nick Nolte catch some bad guys.
These films tend to stand and fall based on the chemistry shared between the seemingly reluctant leads. The more they rub-up against each other, the better for us. On this level, 48 Hrs manages to be some fun. Murphy is a born scene-stealer and the moment he arrives on screen things get a big lift. His comic talent brushes up against a scabrous (and questionably racist) Nick Nolte, who spends most of the film fighting, shouting, drinking and firing his gun.
Like much of Walter Hill’s work, it revels far too happily in the joy of masculinity. Women are treated as second-rate human beings; sexy hookers, angry lesbians, pissy girlfriends. It renders many of his films one-dimensional and frankly boring. The men too are pigs – interested in sex (“trim”as Murphy calls it) and themselves, all the while demonstrating textbook emotional reticence.
The bad guys too are about as stock as they come. James Remar and Sonny Landham play a pair of violent prison escapees for Nolte and Murphy to chase. The script isn’t geared towards spending any time fleshing them out, serving us the bare minimum insight into why these guys are so angry and pissed off. It’s this kind of one-note characterisation that further saps our interest, as we’re expected to accept gunfire and testosterone as a substitute for any kind of real human touch.
Without the star power of Eddie Murphy, 48 Hrs would be nothing. He (just) keeps it afloat with his upbeat energy and cheeky charm. The film constructed around him is a lazy, often stupid trudge through the already worn clichés of the genre. 2.5/5
Gareth Rhodes Film Reviews 
I agree Eddie Murphy was great; as he usually was during this period, it’s a shame the film takes almost half an hour to involve him. Seriously, it was pretty dull until he came into it. After his entrance it’s just a serviceable and forgettable cop film.
I think I remember my Dad liking this film back in the day. I have vague memories of seeing it, although I couldn’t remember one single thing from the film. Now I know why.
Been a while since I’ve seen this but sounds like it’s probably not worth revisiting…let alone ‘Another 48 Hrs’ haha!
I had originally planned to watch both films, but after struggling with the original, I can only imagine the sequel will be a slog. Again, its passable as a midweek, late evening film when you’ve had a rubbish day at work and your mental capacity is running on empty.
Beverly Hills Cop it is then haha!
Never thought of Walter Hill that way, but you’re right. Everything you said about masculinity and the treatment of women could have come right out of a review of The Warriors, etc.
It’s low-rent stuff. I understand its place in time and space, but I think much of Hill’s work is blunt-edged. The likes of Red Heat, Trespass, Supernova – all mostly forgettable fare.