Director Tom Holland attempts to bring the "Whoopi Goldberg caper comedy" into a new era by adding more serious, dramatic content, drugs and violence. The picture ends up being a murky hybrid of different styles, with Goldberg cast as a cop in Los Angeles tracking down a narcotics ring dealing in killer drugs (isn't that redundant?). Sub-plot romance between Whoopi and fellow cop Sam Elliott never gets off the ground (mainly because Holland keeps most of this story-thread off the screen), while Goldberg tosses in a few sassy asides to reassure us she hasn't become Dirty Harriet. The end result shows definite signs of post-production tinkering, and very little of it is successful. *1/2 from ****
27 Reviews
"You scare me Rizzoli".
lost-in-limbo14 February 2015
With a title likes this, starring actress Whoopi Goldberg would you believe me if I told you this was a searing crime film of a L.A. undercover cop tracking down a drug dealer dealing a lethal tainted cocaine known as 'Fatal Beauty'. Probably not, but this is far from a comedy, despite some humorous exchanges and low-grade dialogues. Offsetting it is its drama and violence, which can be forcefully preachy and visually jarring. Still the script remains moronic and bloated, despite its good intentions and edginess. A fitting Goldberg portraying a female version of Dirty Harry but with wisecracks and flaunting a pink Cadillac to show her lighter side, goes about her job in almost a rogue manner, getting on the bad side of her bosses (played with vigour by John P Ryan) and waging a personal war against an Los Angeles drug ring. Brad Dourif plays the smarmy drug dealer and he brings a mean intensity, although I wished he had more screen time than he had. But he does get an explosive climatic cat and mouse shootout with Goldberg. Wonder if this performance convinced Holland to use him for his following feature "Childs Play." Yep that's right, Tom Holland (better known for his horror films; "Fright Night" & "Thinner") directs this straight-laced, violent formula with predictable results. Still he manages to keep it moving with fineness, using locations to good affect and resourceful in delivery the tough action in spades. Acting across from Goldberg is Sam Elliott, but his weakly pitched character (bodyguard) is little more than a distraction and there for Goldberg's character to open up to. Also in the cast are Ruben Blades and Harris Yulin with some of these performances almost being played with mock seriousness. An action-comedy that doesn't all come together.
Underrated movie
rangesterling28 June 2021
Whoopi whips it up
DeeDee-1017 March 1999
Rita Rizzoli (Whoopi Goldberg) is going to put the drug king out of business who is producing a deadly drug that's killing people off at an alarming rate. The drug king's top security man, Mike Marshak (Sam Elliott), takes a shine to Rita, although we aren't sure why. I spent the entire film thinking he might be an undercover cop -not so. Had it been any other actor besides Elliott I think this flaw might have prevented the film from being believable. But Elliott, and his cool, understated style just swept me away with his obvious attraction to Rita. There are some very moving moments, some frighteningly real back alley scenes of drug dealings and shootout after shootout. I didn't know what to expect with this film, and was hoping Whoopi would sail with it. She did!
Whoopi is fatal for a few
bkoganbing8 December 2018
I do love what Whoopi Goldberg does with her character Rizzoli as an undercover
narcotics cop. But the term Fatal Beauty is for a certain deadly designer drug that
she is tracking down the source of. Nevertheless Whoopi proves to be quite
fatal to any number of the characters in the film.
But this film suffers from a really muddled script and the distinct possibility that the several bad guys who want this shipment of this nasty Fatal Beauty stuff are imbibing a bit too much of it themselves. Whoopi's target is Harris Yulin a big New Orleans contractor who is deep in the narcotics trade unofficially. But Yulin himself has troubles in his own ranks.
Sam Elliott's character as Yulin's bodyguard and enforcer is also a mystery. I couldn't figure out what his function is as he keeps saving Goldberg.
Whoopi is fun to watch especially slugging it out with rich society woman Jennifer Warren. But the film is just too murky.
But this film suffers from a really muddled script and the distinct possibility that the several bad guys who want this shipment of this nasty Fatal Beauty stuff are imbibing a bit too much of it themselves. Whoopi's target is Harris Yulin a big New Orleans contractor who is deep in the narcotics trade unofficially. But Yulin himself has troubles in his own ranks.
Sam Elliott's character as Yulin's bodyguard and enforcer is also a mystery. I couldn't figure out what his function is as he keeps saving Goldberg.
Whoopi is fun to watch especially slugging it out with rich society woman Jennifer Warren. But the film is just too murky.
"Smith & Wesson a**hole."
surugon22 February 2010
Whoopi Goldberg succeeds in adding spunk, wit, and a little heart in what could have been a boring pro forma shoot-em-up. Tired cop movie clichés suddenly seem fresh with a woman, especially one as charismatic as Whoopi in the lead role.
She and Sam Elliot have an undeniable chemistry that's evident from the moment they appear on screen together for the first time. Go figure!
The film is pretty climatic; shoot outs where the bad guys miss and the good guys don't, and some moments where the hero's in a jam but their partner appears out of nowhere to save the day, etc.
But the film is full of solid, engrossing performances, particularly Goldberg, Elliot, and Dourif, and an engaging, albeit derivative plot.
Overall not a bad way to kill an hour and some change.
6.5 stars.
She and Sam Elliot have an undeniable chemistry that's evident from the moment they appear on screen together for the first time. Go figure!
The film is pretty climatic; shoot outs where the bad guys miss and the good guys don't, and some moments where the hero's in a jam but their partner appears out of nowhere to save the day, etc.
But the film is full of solid, engrossing performances, particularly Goldberg, Elliot, and Dourif, and an engaging, albeit derivative plot.
Overall not a bad way to kill an hour and some change.
6.5 stars.
Beverly Hills Copy
NoDakTatum6 November 2023
Whoopi Goldberg, complete with a stressed lieutenant and a Harold Faltermeyer score, becomes Axela Foley in a horribly written film. Rita (Whoopi Goldberg) is a female cop in a stew of police male chauvinism. The opening of the film has a drug bust go wrong, as Rita tries to save one of her informants, but loses the perp. Because of a high cocaine cutter- it really is hard to get good help these days, a batch of PCP-laced cocaine is released on the streets of Los Angeles. The powder has a buzz before driving the user crazy and then killing them. It's being distributed by Leo (Brad Dourif), with the blessing of millionaire Kroll (Harris Yulin). Kroll's right hand man, Mike (Sam Elliott), is assigned to follow Rita as she investigates where the deadly drug is coming from. What follows is a bunch of action sequences that do not make a lot of sense leading up to the violent finale.
As is the case the majority of the time, Goldberg is better than her material. She tries to turn Rita into a character, and almost succeeds. Too bad director Tom Holland does nothing but string together a bunch of shootouts instead of moving the story forward. The gore and language are plentiful. Elliott and Goldberg have a nice chemistry together, and you have probably heard by now of their deleted love scene. This could have been a good first entry in a Goldberg franchise if it was not for the fact that it looks like every other cop film to come out in the last few decades. John P. Ryan is the beet-faced Lt. Kellerman, Rita's boss. He screams and rants, complains about the pressure from city hall, and even has a bottle of Pepto Bismol on his desk. He is every captain or lieutenant you have ever seen in a movie like this. When Goldberg gets a good scene, like her memories of her daughter, or her scene with young punk Zack (James LeGros) in a deli, she shines. But I am so disappointed that the film makers decided no one came to the movie for that, and throw in a bunch of lame shootouts. Goldberg's fistfight with Zack's mother (Jennifer Warren) is so calculated it is scary. I liked pre-"The View" Goldberg. She made acting, whether it be comedic or dramatic, effortless. She deserved more awards. She also deserved better choices than "Fatal Beauty" and the unwatchable "Burglar." Fatal is the operative word here.
As is the case the majority of the time, Goldberg is better than her material. She tries to turn Rita into a character, and almost succeeds. Too bad director Tom Holland does nothing but string together a bunch of shootouts instead of moving the story forward. The gore and language are plentiful. Elliott and Goldberg have a nice chemistry together, and you have probably heard by now of their deleted love scene. This could have been a good first entry in a Goldberg franchise if it was not for the fact that it looks like every other cop film to come out in the last few decades. John P. Ryan is the beet-faced Lt. Kellerman, Rita's boss. He screams and rants, complains about the pressure from city hall, and even has a bottle of Pepto Bismol on his desk. He is every captain or lieutenant you have ever seen in a movie like this. When Goldberg gets a good scene, like her memories of her daughter, or her scene with young punk Zack (James LeGros) in a deli, she shines. But I am so disappointed that the film makers decided no one came to the movie for that, and throw in a bunch of lame shootouts. Goldberg's fistfight with Zack's mother (Jennifer Warren) is so calculated it is scary. I liked pre-"The View" Goldberg. She made acting, whether it be comedic or dramatic, effortless. She deserved more awards. She also deserved better choices than "Fatal Beauty" and the unwatchable "Burglar." Fatal is the operative word here.
Female version of Beverly Hills Cop!
PredragReviews4 April 2017
"Fatal Beauty" may indeed be a crime/comedy/action flick, but for those who have not seen it, there is a serious underlying message that comes over loud and clear about the potential consequences of taking illegal narcotics. There are no underlying messages in the aforementioned Eddie Murphy films. The most moving part of the film is when Whoopi (Rita Razzoli), gives Sam Elliott (Mike Marshak), her reasons for her dedication in fighting the good fight against the targeted crime boss. If you have not seen the film I will not spoil it here by telling you her reason. See the film for yourself.
Then we have Sam Elliott, who is an excellent if unwilling partner, to begin with. He is actually head of security for the crime boss (Harris Yulin), tasked with keeping Rita from coming to harm and siding with Rita in two well staged gunfights. I also have to mention Rubin Blades, who actually does a good job, playing the role of Rita's somewhat put upon cop partner. All in all, it's one of my favorite films in this field.
Overall rating: 7 out of 10.
Then we have Sam Elliott, who is an excellent if unwilling partner, to begin with. He is actually head of security for the crime boss (Harris Yulin), tasked with keeping Rita from coming to harm and siding with Rita in two well staged gunfights. I also have to mention Rubin Blades, who actually does a good job, playing the role of Rita's somewhat put upon cop partner. All in all, it's one of my favorite films in this field.
Overall rating: 7 out of 10.
Another Fatal Flaw From Whoopi.
phillafella12 December 2003
Whoopi fails again in this preposterous film in which she plays a narcotics cop who takes on a gang of drug hijackers by making disguises that are just plain silly. But that's nothing compared to the film's sophomoric humor and a pointless plot. A pure waste of a movie that even makes BURGLAR look good. Quite possibly the worst of Whoopi's films.
0 out of 5
0 out of 5
Decent movie to watch
leilanibz16 November 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Enjoyable movie, albeit a bit violent for my liking. Whoopi shows sentiment and goofiness at the same time. She and Sam Elliot are an odd combination tho, but it seems to work. Whoopi plays a drug cop who made some poor choices as a young mother. She is attempting to pay back society for her mistakes by being a caring cop. She tends to be the butt of the department, but her devotion to her job is endearing. Sam Elliot is self-righteous and not entirely believable, I mean, who would be a body guard for a drug baron and then for a drug cop? Just a bit of a stretch. Still, the movie is better than middle. Bottom line - I wouldn't rush out and buy the DVD, but I do enjoy watching it when it comes on TV.
This is even worse than I expect!
Marko-3012 August 1999
Goldberg-movies in generally are not so good and I have accept that but this is too much. This movie is in my short list of terrible movies. I just can`t understand why they do so stupid movies like this. Whoopi is not funny, period. 2/10
One of the VERY BEST Whoopi Films!
jasonbartworks27 January 2007
This film is fantastic, containing action, comedy and drama. Typical 80's style (i.e: Beverley Hill Cop style). Its good to see a comedian based actress playing parts both funny and serious. If you are a Whoopi Goldberg fan, you will not be disappointed.
Alongside Whoopi, Sam Elliott (Mask, Road House) plays a good guy on the wrong side and the chemistry between him and Whoopi shows very well. What makes a good film is when two different style actors/actresses bounce off each other in a positive way.
Also includes the brilliant actor Brad Dourif (Child's Play). Never fails to play an excellent bad guy.
Not going to give much away in this review as you can tell, because the movie speaks for itself... However, if you enjoy a good action film with a side of humour, without all the 'star wars' special effects... Fatal Beauty should be on your list!
Alongside Whoopi, Sam Elliott (Mask, Road House) plays a good guy on the wrong side and the chemistry between him and Whoopi shows very well. What makes a good film is when two different style actors/actresses bounce off each other in a positive way.
Also includes the brilliant actor Brad Dourif (Child's Play). Never fails to play an excellent bad guy.
Not going to give much away in this review as you can tell, because the movie speaks for itself... However, if you enjoy a good action film with a side of humour, without all the 'star wars' special effects... Fatal Beauty should be on your list!
A video store classic!
tarbosh2200031 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Rita Rizzoli (Whoopi) is an L.A. undercover cop with a sassy attitude. So far, so Whoopi. Things get very un-Whoopi-like when a shipment of a hot new drug called Fatal Beauty hits the streets. Its mixture of cocaine, PCP, and God-knows-what-else is so deadly and destructive, it's turning obese men of color into unstoppable zombies. When the Whoopster traces the drug cartel back to criminal mastermind Conrad Kroll (Yulin) - and you know he's evil because his name is Conrad Kroll - she wants answers and justice. Kroll's head of security, Mike Marshak (Elliott) at first tries to keep Rita away from his employer, but soon is following her around town on her adventures like a puppy dog. Eventually, the two unlikely heroes team up to fight under-baddies such as Leo Nova (Dourif) and Earl (Jolly). What hijinks will Whoopi come up with next? Will it mix well with drug-fueled violence? Find out today! Much like how in the great Collision Course (1989), Jay Leno shot people and beat them up, here fellow comedian Whoopi Goldberg does more of the same. The 80's were the golden time for the action comedy - Red Heat (1988) and Action Jackson (1988) come to mind as parallels here, but the obvious comparison is Beverly Hills Cop (1984). There are many comparisons to be made, right down to both having a Harold Faltermeyer score, and we won't bore you by running down the list of similarities, but let's just say this: Fatal Beauty is a surprisingly entertaining and fast-paced jaunt with a great cast, wonderful 80's vibe, and a wisecracking Whoopi. That's a pretty nice package if we do say so ourselves. As regular readers know, we always enjoy when an unorthodox star tries their hand at action, and we applaud Whoopi for playing against type as an Italian-American (?) cop with her finger on the trigger.
Speaking of unorthodox, the main baddie, played by Harris Yulin, is mainly known to us as co-star of Short Fuse (1986) - remember when Art Garfunkel had a Short Fuse? We certainly do, and if you think Whoopi was an unusual choice, that's nothing compared to that inspired casting decision. John P. Ryan is a sort of under-the-radar fan favorite of ours, having appeared in Avenging Force (1986) and Delta Force 2 (1990) among many others, and here he plays the WYC (or White Yelling Chief) who is always riding Whoopi but knows she gets results. Sam Elliott's mustache is comforting, Ruben Blades is wry, Brad Dourif is unhinged, James Le Gros and M.C. Gainey are in the mix as well, and Cheech Marin has a cameo as a bartender. We haven't seen a cameo like that since Whoopi was in Beverly Hills Brats (1989). Maybe we should say Fatal Beauty is a cross between Beverly Hills Cop and Beverly Hills Brats.
It all ends with a pretty cool mall shootout, and it should also be noted that there are plenty of racial slurs that most likely would not be in the script today. That's just one extra element that preserves the 80's vibe. Director Tom Holland does indeed keep things moving, and that may come from a background in horror movies - he's probably best known for Fright Night (1985) and Child's Play (1988). Interestingly, in further comparisons with Action Jackson, they both have an end-credits song by Madame X.
Fatal Beauty, at this point in history, could fairly be called (what we have termed) a 'Video-Store Classic'. You know how we're always asking about the more obscure titles, "who actually rented this?", well, we know people actually rented Fatal Beauty. And they probably had a good time watching it, as we did, and you more than likely will too.
Speaking of unorthodox, the main baddie, played by Harris Yulin, is mainly known to us as co-star of Short Fuse (1986) - remember when Art Garfunkel had a Short Fuse? We certainly do, and if you think Whoopi was an unusual choice, that's nothing compared to that inspired casting decision. John P. Ryan is a sort of under-the-radar fan favorite of ours, having appeared in Avenging Force (1986) and Delta Force 2 (1990) among many others, and here he plays the WYC (or White Yelling Chief) who is always riding Whoopi but knows she gets results. Sam Elliott's mustache is comforting, Ruben Blades is wry, Brad Dourif is unhinged, James Le Gros and M.C. Gainey are in the mix as well, and Cheech Marin has a cameo as a bartender. We haven't seen a cameo like that since Whoopi was in Beverly Hills Brats (1989). Maybe we should say Fatal Beauty is a cross between Beverly Hills Cop and Beverly Hills Brats.
It all ends with a pretty cool mall shootout, and it should also be noted that there are plenty of racial slurs that most likely would not be in the script today. That's just one extra element that preserves the 80's vibe. Director Tom Holland does indeed keep things moving, and that may come from a background in horror movies - he's probably best known for Fright Night (1985) and Child's Play (1988). Interestingly, in further comparisons with Action Jackson, they both have an end-credits song by Madame X.
Fatal Beauty, at this point in history, could fairly be called (what we have termed) a 'Video-Store Classic'. You know how we're always asking about the more obscure titles, "who actually rented this?", well, we know people actually rented Fatal Beauty. And they probably had a good time watching it, as we did, and you more than likely will too.
Bad 80's movie music and lots of bullet-resistant bad guys
peterwcohen-300-9472009 November 2021
Sometimes you see a cop-action flick where a bad guy gets shot about 5 times in the torso, and keeps on going, eventually, slowly crumpling up, but not before squeezing off 10 more rounds. Meanwhile, the cops who hit a body with that many rounds never think to put one in the noggin. That's bad when it happens once, but in this movie, it happens over and over again. It's like LA is populated by maniacs with Kevlar skin. Then you have the plot-necessitated multiple occurrences of massive shootouts in public places, where, for the interminable duration of the Whoopi-based action, no other cops show up. Why be so picayune? Only because these mounting implausibilities invade my consciousness and detract from any possible enjoyment. I am instead asking myself why the writers/director couldn't be bothered to stage even remotely believable scenarios. I could go through every scene of this movie, and catalog multiple things that wouldn't happen, don't make sense or are obviously shoehorned to service a lazily constructed plot.
But let's talk about what's really important. This movie is another in a long line of 80's movies with the absolute worst synth-pop, drum machine musical dreck. Even good 80's movies have been dragged down with crap music. Then there's the ugly-ass 80's wardrobe, but what ya' gonna do? I was even wearing that crap back then. But I sure wasn't enjoying synth-pop.
But let's talk about what's really important. This movie is another in a long line of 80's movies with the absolute worst synth-pop, drum machine musical dreck. Even good 80's movies have been dragged down with crap music. Then there's the ugly-ass 80's wardrobe, but what ya' gonna do? I was even wearing that crap back then. But I sure wasn't enjoying synth-pop.
Beverly Hills Flop (some spoilers)
bob the moo26 May 2003
Warning: Spoilers
Rita Rizzoli is an undercover cop working in the narcotics section. When a job goes sour she loses her lead on a high ranking middleman she suspects deals for `legitimate' businessman Conrad Kroll. When the same guy turns up dead later that night in what looks like a large raid on a drug deal she realises that Kroll may have other players involved. When the same drug starts turning up cut into a lethal mix Rizzoli confronts him but finds that another group may be responsible. Rizzoli continues her investigation but has the help of Kroll's chief of security who has been assigned to keep an eye on Rita.
Clearly designed as a vehicle to do for Goldberg what the Beverly Hills Cop movies did for Eddie Murphy, this sees the traditional mix of wise cracking cop and action mixed up in a plot that scores as few points for logic as it does for originality of genre. The plot seems to barely keep moving forward and feels like it was added to on a scene by scene basis rather than developed as a story hence whole scenes just lead to other scenes in a very disjointed way. Also it asks us to accept a lot of big plot holes as well as some things that are just plain silly (businessman Kroll coming into a gunfight and pulling out on Rizzoli even though she has nothing on him!).
The film has dated badly and feels very 80's. The original Beverly Hills Cop may be 80's as well but it is good and hasn't dated so badly this film is very much of it's time and is full of clichés that typify the period. The action is very basic and there is no real tension at any point, this was a surprise considering there is a 15 minute shoot out at the end which surely could have been done with much more suspense rather than just shooting up lots of extras. Aside from this the film adds an almost unnecessary string to it's bow by including the romantic subplot with Mike. Now the fact that he doesn't suspect his boss does anything wrong, the fact she lets him get close and the way he always seems to turn up in the nick of time, suggested that the film could really have done without him. He isn't around long enough for the romance to really develop and I just assumed it was a way to bring the film into the `mismatched bickering partner' stable that was very popular at the time.
That said, Elliott does do quite well in the role he has an easy charm and the two stars do have some chemistry going on. Goldberg works hard with the wisecracks but really the material isn't there for her to do anything with. Her style of exaggerated clowning doesn't really fit with the hard edge either turning this into more of a standard thriller than an action comedy. Brad Dourif is on form as the bug eyed drug dealer, he has little screen time but makes a good impression. Yulin is a by-the-numbers bad guy that the film doesn't even know what to do with once it creates him (hence the lazy dispatch he receives). Blades is comical but underused.
Overall this has dated quite badly and is probably only of interest to real fans of Whoopi Goldberg. Compared to the film that that this is clearly trying to emulate, Fatal Beauty is low in excitement, low on laughs, low on plot logic and sadly lacks it's own style. A fatal combination that almost kills off the film.
Clearly designed as a vehicle to do for Goldberg what the Beverly Hills Cop movies did for Eddie Murphy, this sees the traditional mix of wise cracking cop and action mixed up in a plot that scores as few points for logic as it does for originality of genre. The plot seems to barely keep moving forward and feels like it was added to on a scene by scene basis rather than developed as a story hence whole scenes just lead to other scenes in a very disjointed way. Also it asks us to accept a lot of big plot holes as well as some things that are just plain silly (businessman Kroll coming into a gunfight and pulling out on Rizzoli even though she has nothing on him!).
The film has dated badly and feels very 80's. The original Beverly Hills Cop may be 80's as well but it is good and hasn't dated so badly this film is very much of it's time and is full of clichés that typify the period. The action is very basic and there is no real tension at any point, this was a surprise considering there is a 15 minute shoot out at the end which surely could have been done with much more suspense rather than just shooting up lots of extras. Aside from this the film adds an almost unnecessary string to it's bow by including the romantic subplot with Mike. Now the fact that he doesn't suspect his boss does anything wrong, the fact she lets him get close and the way he always seems to turn up in the nick of time, suggested that the film could really have done without him. He isn't around long enough for the romance to really develop and I just assumed it was a way to bring the film into the `mismatched bickering partner' stable that was very popular at the time.
That said, Elliott does do quite well in the role he has an easy charm and the two stars do have some chemistry going on. Goldberg works hard with the wisecracks but really the material isn't there for her to do anything with. Her style of exaggerated clowning doesn't really fit with the hard edge either turning this into more of a standard thriller than an action comedy. Brad Dourif is on form as the bug eyed drug dealer, he has little screen time but makes a good impression. Yulin is a by-the-numbers bad guy that the film doesn't even know what to do with once it creates him (hence the lazy dispatch he receives). Blades is comical but underused.
Overall this has dated quite badly and is probably only of interest to real fans of Whoopi Goldberg. Compared to the film that that this is clearly trying to emulate, Fatal Beauty is low in excitement, low on laughs, low on plot logic and sadly lacks it's own style. A fatal combination that almost kills off the film.
Deja vu all over again
VADigger12 February 2022
Yet another cop who doesn't always "play by the rules". Not a bad movie, it just seems like such a superfluous one, full of cliche characters and excessive violence. As you watch you keep thinking you've seen it all done before - and better. It doesn't have the gravitas of "French Connection" or "Bullitt", nor does it have the subversive wit of "Lethal Weapon" or "Beverly Hills Cop".
Alas, the combo of Whoopi Goldberg and Sam Elliott just does not work.
You won't miss much if you skip this one.
Alas, the combo of Whoopi Goldberg and Sam Elliott just does not work.
You won't miss much if you skip this one.
Wiggin' Whoopi!
mark.waltz12 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
While this is listed as a comedy action film, it is closer to an action film with comic moments, particularly the cat fight she gets into with Jennifer Warren, the nasty upscale mother of the drug addicted James Le Gros, a teenager whom she initially is threatened by due to the arrest of his druglord father. He then comes back to her when 10 of his friends are killed by tainted street drugs. Whoopi's an undercover cop on the vice squad who becomes personally involved through her determination to clean the streets up from the low lives knowingly selling tainted drugs. She initially despises bodyguard Sam Elliot who works for one of the drug lords she's trying to bring down but he proves himself to being a decent guy and offers to help.
Known for her colorful wigs while under cover, Goldberg is tough but decent, a hard fighter and downright beaten when she learns about kids dying as a result of the tainted drugs. Earlier it's revealed how the tainted drugs ended up on the street, put together by a kid too high to know what he was doing, yet sold on the streets anyway. The code Fatal Beauty indicates what is stamped on the packages and obviously it is fatal if certainly not beautiful.
This is not as good as "Jumping Jack Flash" (Whoopi's entrance into film comedy), but certainly much better than her predecessor to this, "Burglar", a dreadful action comedy. Thanks to its profound script, this becomes a thoughtful look at the low lives who have no interest in who they kill through the drugs they have sold on the street as long as they make a profit.
Whoopi has a scene with Elliot that almost sounds semi-autobiographical and the emotions she utilizes in that scene are obviously sincerely her own. Her initial confrontation with Warren (who always reminds me of Jane Fonda) is violent but funny, yet there's a follow-up between them that is truly touching. Add Whoopi to the comics who could make you laugh one moment and break your heart the next, and that is not fatal beauty. That's eternal beauty.
Known for her colorful wigs while under cover, Goldberg is tough but decent, a hard fighter and downright beaten when she learns about kids dying as a result of the tainted drugs. Earlier it's revealed how the tainted drugs ended up on the street, put together by a kid too high to know what he was doing, yet sold on the streets anyway. The code Fatal Beauty indicates what is stamped on the packages and obviously it is fatal if certainly not beautiful.
This is not as good as "Jumping Jack Flash" (Whoopi's entrance into film comedy), but certainly much better than her predecessor to this, "Burglar", a dreadful action comedy. Thanks to its profound script, this becomes a thoughtful look at the low lives who have no interest in who they kill through the drugs they have sold on the street as long as they make a profit.
Whoopi has a scene with Elliot that almost sounds semi-autobiographical and the emotions she utilizes in that scene are obviously sincerely her own. Her initial confrontation with Warren (who always reminds me of Jane Fonda) is violent but funny, yet there's a follow-up between them that is truly touching. Add Whoopi to the comics who could make you laugh one moment and break your heart the next, and that is not fatal beauty. That's eternal beauty.
harden cop drama
SnoopyStyle5 October 2017
Leo Nova and Earl Skinner attack a drug plant behind a Los Angeles Chinese storefront run by Tito Delgadillo. They steal Fatal Beauty drug packets. They don't realize that a mistake has left the packages with lethal doses. Narcotic officer Rita Rizzoli (Whoopi Goldberg) has been pursuing Delgadillo and is assigned the case. She finds Delgadillo's dead body and links the case to wealthy businessman Conrad Kroll. Mike Marshak (Sam Elliott) is Kroll's unwitting head of security. The drug starts killing its users or making them psychotic.
This is one of those 80s/90s harden cop dramas. It's Beverly Hills Cop or Lethal Weapon without the humor. There are a few bothersome issues. It's a lot brutal violence but some of it doesn't make the best sense. Rizzoli is Italian which Whoopi struggles to fit. The most glaring is the title which refers to the drug. Without that knowledge, it seems to refer to Whoopi. It makes it sound like a sexy femme fatale which runs counter to Whoopi. Also Whoopi and Sam Elliott struggle to develop romantic chemistry. There are lots of little flaws which makes this less than compelling.
This is one of those 80s/90s harden cop dramas. It's Beverly Hills Cop or Lethal Weapon without the humor. There are a few bothersome issues. It's a lot brutal violence but some of it doesn't make the best sense. Rizzoli is Italian which Whoopi struggles to fit. The most glaring is the title which refers to the drug. Without that knowledge, it seems to refer to Whoopi. It makes it sound like a sexy femme fatale which runs counter to Whoopi. Also Whoopi and Sam Elliott struggle to develop romantic chemistry. There are lots of little flaws which makes this less than compelling.
A bit uneven, but pretty fun overall
I_Ailurophile30 May 2022
This is quite the experience, in a number of ways. There are more than a few parts that haven't aged well, including a lot of racist jokes, and the totally free-wheeling, "devil may care" attitude of the detective protagonist. Stylings of the 1980s are plastered all over the production, from neon lights, and colorful sartorial arrangements or hair and makeup work, to the gratifyingly excellent soundtrack. (I'm also a big fan of Harold Faltermeyer's original score, which carries similar instrumentation and sensibilities.) There's some wonderful cleverness in the writing at many points, building into some swell comedy, while instances of action are distinctly more violent than I'd have expected. And at the same time that there's terrific detail in some aspects of the writing or the production at large, taken as a whole the plot is relatively light and simple. Whatever else is true of it, though, 'Fatal beauty' is well made, and entertaining - and that's what matters most.
Putting aside the utmost indelicacies, there's plentiful wit in the dialogue, quips that alongside situational humor defines the comedy. The action scenes are marvelously well orchestrated, with fantastic stunts, set pieces, and effects, and naturally that goes for the climax most of all. The cast is a blast, including even those in smaller roles, but especially irreplaceable Brad Dourif as the antagonist - startlingly dark and wild, in the way he does so well - and Whoopi Goldberg as protagonist Rizzoli, given an opportunity to illustrate fine range in a part that's surprisingly dynamic. The production design and art direction, at large, are really quite superb, offering a minor sense of nostalgia as the 80s are so vividly brought to life.
On the other hand, it should be said that there's a small matter of balance - for 90% of the runtime, 'Fatal beauty' is squarely an action-comedy. Heading into the third act, however, there's a sudden tonal shift for a couple scenes that would fit better into a much more dire and straightforward drama. Make no mistake, it's all excellent, and the second of these in particular is a major emotional beat that's completely solid as it's written and executed, providing welcome character information. And, in breaking from the tenor of the rest of the film, Goldberg takes the spotlight for a monologue that lets her pour her heart out, and it's very moving. Still, for those few moments, the movie also becomes something else entirely, and it's a little odd. This very much dovetails into another consideration - that for as much as the picture wants to be a romp, it also leans hard into a somber narrative thrust of "drugs are bad, mmmkay?" This is not insensible - for all the weirdness in culture, the 80s were also known for a huge push in the "war on drugs," and there's much to be said for the unpredictable danger of street drugs. One just can't help but wonder, though, if the Drug Enforcement Administration, or maybe the Los Angeles Police Department, didn't funnel some money into the production. Some of the writing just feels a tad too on the nose.
And for one last major critique: the romantic element between Goldberg's Rizzoli and Sam Elliott's Marshak isn't believable for one moment. It's forced and contrived as written, and with all due respect to Goldberg and Elliott, the spark just isn't there. This part of the feature feels like nothing more than an obligatory trope: if a man and a woman share the screen, they MUST fall in love, dontcha know!
With all this said, I didn't know what to expect what I began watching, and I had a good time. This isn't without its faults - not by a long shot - and the writing could have benefited from a tighter focus and a hair more nuance in the plot. Yet more than specifically anti-drug propaganda, or romance, or strictly action or strictly comedy, 'Fatal beauty' wanted only for its audience to enjoy themselves. It falls short of perfectly achieving that aim, but I'd also say that I think maybe I'm too unkind as it is. When all is said and done this isn't necessarily an 80s flick you need to go out of your way to see, but if you have the chance to watch it, 'Fatal beauty' is pretty fun, and not a bad way to spend 100 minutes.
Putting aside the utmost indelicacies, there's plentiful wit in the dialogue, quips that alongside situational humor defines the comedy. The action scenes are marvelously well orchestrated, with fantastic stunts, set pieces, and effects, and naturally that goes for the climax most of all. The cast is a blast, including even those in smaller roles, but especially irreplaceable Brad Dourif as the antagonist - startlingly dark and wild, in the way he does so well - and Whoopi Goldberg as protagonist Rizzoli, given an opportunity to illustrate fine range in a part that's surprisingly dynamic. The production design and art direction, at large, are really quite superb, offering a minor sense of nostalgia as the 80s are so vividly brought to life.
On the other hand, it should be said that there's a small matter of balance - for 90% of the runtime, 'Fatal beauty' is squarely an action-comedy. Heading into the third act, however, there's a sudden tonal shift for a couple scenes that would fit better into a much more dire and straightforward drama. Make no mistake, it's all excellent, and the second of these in particular is a major emotional beat that's completely solid as it's written and executed, providing welcome character information. And, in breaking from the tenor of the rest of the film, Goldberg takes the spotlight for a monologue that lets her pour her heart out, and it's very moving. Still, for those few moments, the movie also becomes something else entirely, and it's a little odd. This very much dovetails into another consideration - that for as much as the picture wants to be a romp, it also leans hard into a somber narrative thrust of "drugs are bad, mmmkay?" This is not insensible - for all the weirdness in culture, the 80s were also known for a huge push in the "war on drugs," and there's much to be said for the unpredictable danger of street drugs. One just can't help but wonder, though, if the Drug Enforcement Administration, or maybe the Los Angeles Police Department, didn't funnel some money into the production. Some of the writing just feels a tad too on the nose.
And for one last major critique: the romantic element between Goldberg's Rizzoli and Sam Elliott's Marshak isn't believable for one moment. It's forced and contrived as written, and with all due respect to Goldberg and Elliott, the spark just isn't there. This part of the feature feels like nothing more than an obligatory trope: if a man and a woman share the screen, they MUST fall in love, dontcha know!
With all this said, I didn't know what to expect what I began watching, and I had a good time. This isn't without its faults - not by a long shot - and the writing could have benefited from a tighter focus and a hair more nuance in the plot. Yet more than specifically anti-drug propaganda, or romance, or strictly action or strictly comedy, 'Fatal beauty' wanted only for its audience to enjoy themselves. It falls short of perfectly achieving that aim, but I'd also say that I think maybe I'm too unkind as it is. When all is said and done this isn't necessarily an 80s flick you need to go out of your way to see, but if you have the chance to watch it, 'Fatal beauty' is pretty fun, and not a bad way to spend 100 minutes.
If you enjoyed Beverly Hills Cop, this is for you!
tdavidson-6082213 August 2022
I didn't know what to expect on this one but while channel surfing it caught me eye a bit so I gave it a shot and glad I did. With an underrated cast and a vibe that just screams 80s buddy cop action flick, I immediately was hooked. Whoopi was entertaining in the lead role. Sam Elliot and Ruben Blades were witty. Brad Dourif...The man I grew up watching terrorizing people as a killer doll. He was one year shy here before he went on that multi film rampage which would earn him millions no doubt was great in his antagonist role. I'll def be watching this one again.
Witty, But Gritty Knock-Down, Drag-Out, Shoot-Em-Up Cop Flick!
FiendishDramaturgy8 April 2007
Fatal Beauty has the advantage of allowing Whoopie Goldberg to bounce her keen and cutting wit off Sam Elliott's straight and penetrating gaze. The action is bone-crunching gang-banging blended with South of the Border stylized gun battles, Corporate money, and big drugs.
I particularly like this one for Sam Elliott's prominence. He portrays hired muscle for a corporate big wig, who has no idea what his boss is up to. He also has a hint of a love interest with the star, and I found that delightful. His down to earth personality is perfectly cast, and wittingly executed.
This one always surprises me.
It rates a 7.8/10 on the Buddy Cop Scale from...
the Fiend :.
I particularly like this one for Sam Elliott's prominence. He portrays hired muscle for a corporate big wig, who has no idea what his boss is up to. He also has a hint of a love interest with the star, and I found that delightful. His down to earth personality is perfectly cast, and wittingly executed.
This one always surprises me.
It rates a 7.8/10 on the Buddy Cop Scale from...
the Fiend :.
Needed more action
wargojason-946989 March 2022
Whoopi Elliott
dustinclousher-1600210 September 2021
The writing was bad, but Whoopi had some good one liners that will bring a smile to your face. The banter in the movie did not age well and will affend people today. They had a shot at making something great with Whoopi and Sam but fumbled it bad with trying to do to much with a basic story line.
Not so fatal
Newsense22 December 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Whoopi has been in plenty of good films and a very little bad films. Fatal Beauty is not a bad film but it's not the best Whoopi can give you. I loved Jumpin Jack Flash but this movie doesn't have the appeal that Jumpin Jack Flash did. Fatal Beauty is still worth a look despite its flaws.
Plot: Fatal Beauty is in reference to a drug that kills its users within a few hours of its use. Whoopi Goldberg plays Rita Rizzoli, a cop who constantly goes undercover to find crooks and bust them. She stumbles unto the lethal drug called "Fatal Beauty" one night during a bust and is bent on finding out who is supplying it. She has to put up with a corrupted millionaire who she believes is in on the whole operation and his bodyguard Mike Marshak(Sam Elliot) who is attracted to her.
Opinion: Fatal Beauty has its share of positives as well as negatives. Positives: Its funny(even though the laughs are sometimes sporadic), there are serious moments in the movie that sometimes work(like Rita revealing why she does what she does), the action scenes are decent, and the movie as a whole is a decent watch. Negatives: The laughs are sporadic, there is no chemistry between Whoopi's character and Sam Elliot's character(hell, there is more chemistry between Boris and Natasha of Rocky and Bullwinkle than these two), Sometimes there are more unintentional laughs then genuine laughs, sometimes the movie feels like a Beverly Hills Cop knockoff(Rita gets so deep into a case that it costs her her job just like Axel Foley). Other than that this movie is still worth watching. Its far from the best movie that Whoopi has been in but its also far from the worst(Theodore Rex and Burglar). Its still worth being in your Whoopi Goldberg collection.
Plot: Fatal Beauty is in reference to a drug that kills its users within a few hours of its use. Whoopi Goldberg plays Rita Rizzoli, a cop who constantly goes undercover to find crooks and bust them. She stumbles unto the lethal drug called "Fatal Beauty" one night during a bust and is bent on finding out who is supplying it. She has to put up with a corrupted millionaire who she believes is in on the whole operation and his bodyguard Mike Marshak(Sam Elliot) who is attracted to her.
Opinion: Fatal Beauty has its share of positives as well as negatives. Positives: Its funny(even though the laughs are sometimes sporadic), there are serious moments in the movie that sometimes work(like Rita revealing why she does what she does), the action scenes are decent, and the movie as a whole is a decent watch. Negatives: The laughs are sporadic, there is no chemistry between Whoopi's character and Sam Elliot's character(hell, there is more chemistry between Boris and Natasha of Rocky and Bullwinkle than these two), Sometimes there are more unintentional laughs then genuine laughs, sometimes the movie feels like a Beverly Hills Cop knockoff(Rita gets so deep into a case that it costs her her job just like Axel Foley). Other than that this movie is still worth watching. Its far from the best movie that Whoopi has been in but its also far from the worst(Theodore Rex and Burglar). Its still worth being in your Whoopi Goldberg collection.
Very good movie
wkozak2213 October 2020
I like this movie. It has a very good cast. The storyline is good. The action moves along well. The Mustang is very nice except for the color. It has one of my favorite actors. Brad Dourif. He is excellent in every role. Since Richard Lynch passed he has taken over as my favorite bad guy.
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