Very well executed

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

When I'm watching it this is my favorite movie. If I'm watching, 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum', that's my favorite. The rest of the time I'm torn. This is one of the flicks I'd give an 11 if I could. It has very nice eye candy, good action, a great cast, excellent tunes AND the funny is the sh*t. Not sh*t sh*t, good sh*t. This is a must see for fans of buddy cop flicks. It is simply outstanding and I can watch it every year.

Danny Costanzo (Billy Crystal) and Ray Hughes (Gregory Hines) are streetwise Chicago cops. They are surprised to see drug dealer Julio Gonzales (Jimmy Smits) out on the streets so soon after sending him to prison. They catch his associate Snake (Joe Pantoliano). They use Snake in a sting on Julio who seems to have new cash and trying to be the new Al Capone. It's a trap. Snake is killed and the guys are almost killed when Julio's associates turn out to be undercover cops. They manage to capture Julio but Captain Logan (Dan Hedaya) orders the guys to go on vacation for their sloppy work. They are enchanted by their Key West vacation and plan to open a bar there. They give their 30 day notice but Julio manages to get bail. They vow to get Julio before their time is up but Danny starts to be careful. The captain thinks the guys are short timers running scared and make them teach those undercover cops the ropes. Julio kidnaps Danny's beloved ex-wife Anna Costanzo (Darlanne Fluegel).I love the duo of Hines and Crystal. Their banter is hilarious and I love the 22 muggers scene. They've got great chemistry and I wish they could have made a sequel. At least, they should have made another buddy comedy. There is a great car chase onto the train tracks. I must admit that I didn't get the title when I was young. I kept thinking it's the bad guys who are running scared.

Ray Hughes The much missed Gregory Hines and Danny Costanzo Billy Crystal are a pair of wisecracking Chicago cops. In an effort to bring down Drug Baron Gonzales, (Jimmy Smits) the pair unintentionally blow the lid off an undercover operation, Their superior Officer Dan Hedeya orders the pair to take a vacation where whilst upon vacation in Florida they sample the good life and plan to develop a further taste for it, but the pair decide to try and take down Gonzales, 'Running Scared' is a terrificly paired Comedy thriller from Peter Hyams, the director of other such great films as 'Capricorn One' 'Outland' who most film buff's neglect to mention these days!

This is a really silly movie, but I don't think that I would have done it any other way. The scene in the Florida Keys is right out of a teenage fantasy. No one picks up beautiful women that easily. No one goes around acting beyond the law. And yet, maybe that was a point to this film. At times, Billy Crystal is obnoxious. For example, who is imitating while speaking on the phone in the drug dealer's car? It's annoying. Yet, you see a full range of Billy Crystal. Both Hines and Crystal act as if there is no camera rolling. The film is just fun. They are very laid back and machoistic. And this somehow makes this film into a memorable film. The scenes are ridiculous. You can't drive a car on the el tracks like they do, but this is a film. Films can be lots of implausible fun.The supporting case is very dedicated to portray the decadence and bleakness of cops versus drug dealers. Joe Pantoliano is a nerd, but very elusive. He knows how to pretend to be a pushover, but beneath that is great slyness. Jimmy Smits is convincing as a single-minded drug dealer. Dan Hedaya is great as an authoritarian, yet diplomatic precinct captain. The two rookie cops are funny as arrogant and self-serving who have the nerve to think they are better than veteran cops. All these supporting characters are very good at showing how cops never believe that they have accomplished enough in their job to gain respect. This is displayed whenever the Hines and Crystal characters show up at a crime scene. Although recognized, the beat cops clearly look down upon undercover cops. There is another big reason I like this film. Many of the actors speak in a visibly New York Italian lingo, rather than Chicago Italian lingo. Still, the actors appear to want to showcase Chicago. It is the bleakest time of the year - probably January or February. It is grey. It is the city I knew and loved during the 80s. It was in-between the decline of the city during the 60s and 70s and the revival of the city during the 90s. It is Chicago in the 80s that I remember so well. That's why I recommend this film. It brings back memories of Chicago was like 20 years ago.