In this episode of Retromade, we travel back to 1989 for another Kurt Russell cult-classic; a super fun buddy cop team-up with the one and only Mr. Sylvester Stallone!

I'm joined by a fellow Last of the Action Heroes Podcast Network host, Sean Malloy, from the "I Must Break" This Podcast!

Sean was raised on a healthy diet of action cinema from the glory period of the 80's and 90's. Check out Sean's show: www.imustbreakthispodcast.wordpress.com

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I want your badge.

I want your weapon.

I want your ass, who the fuck your take you are.

Thinks he's Rambo.

Rambo It's a plus

It isn't Armani with a badge.

hello Hello I'm Katie and welcome to Retro Made Your Pop Culture

Rewind Let's continue the exploration of the best of the eighties and

nineties, and in case you missed the premiere episode, be sure to go back

and check out my discussion with Ryan about big trouble in Little China.

I'm continuing coverage of one of our , ultimate everyman Kurt Russell,

with yet another of his COL classics.

time we'll travel back to December, 1989 for his buddy cop

team up with the one and only Mr.

Sylvester Stallone.

you worry, I'll you Swayze fans.

He's on deck for next episode.

And tonight I am delighted to be joined by Sean Malloy, the man behind

a podcast very near and dear to my heart, the I Must Break This podcast.

Clever, right.

Sean and I are both in the last of the Action Heroes Podcast Network, , Sean

for his wonderful DOF Lundgren coverage, and me as the co-host of a Rocky

series podcast called One More Round.

Sean, thank you so much for joining me on one of my first episodes of Retro Made.

Thank you for the invite And man when you when you I guess

what's the word I'm looking for broached the idea of this particular show and

you gave me the list of of films it was without a doubt Oh tango and Cash

Most definitely so thank you for this opportunity This will this will be fun

Glad to hear it.

, so I think we'll start by opening the little time capsule from December, 1989.

According to Nielsen ratings, the popular TV shows in 1989, or specifically

December, were The Cosby Show.

Roseanne Cheers.

A Different World, the Golden Girls, one of my favorites, the Wonder

Years Empty Nest, who's the boss, and a little known show called

The Simpsons premiered in 1989.

Can you believe that The Simpsons premiered in 1989 and isn't it still on?

It's still on but you know what's so funny about it is I have yet

to meet anyone who is still actively watching it it's amazing to me that it's

still it's still going but it's that show that I think even the most loyal

followers seem to have dropped off at about season 19 it's still going man

that's a pretty good, run.

I'm a big fan of the Golden Girls, picture it America late 1980s on Thursday evening,

shows are can't miss in your household

1989,

man I can tell you I distinctly remember when Golden Girls

was on I did not watch that one My my grandparents did but I do remember it was

empty Nest was also on alongside it right Empty Nest And I'm trying to remember what

I watched in 1989 I mean when symptoms came on that was a game changer And I

did watch experience or excuse me my TV viewing experiences are from the nineties

to be perfectly honest Cause I'm trying to think In 1989 I was seven So I don't

have a heck of a lot of TV memories which is weird But 1990 that year is burned

in my brain because there was Simpsons obviously also the short-lived television

show the Flash aired on cbs loved The Flash Oh that was Thursday nights and

also yeah wonder Years I was a big fan of Wonder Years as well So 1990 was a big

The eighties are a little tricky cuz it's more, for me it's

memories of watching whatever my parents were watching.

And my grandparents too.

I do remember watching Golden Girls with my grandparents a lot,

but I, you know, I can remember.

Who's the boss?

Empty Nest.

Golden Girls, vaguely

And the Wonder Years.

They were more known to me along with Cheers, later, maybe more

when they were in syndication.

Yeah And And when I say the nineties it's interesting because yeah

I mean I mentioned the shows from the nineties but I wanna say it was I mean

I know we're going a little bit past the 1989 but around that same time I remember

Monday nights evening Shade with Bert

Well, heard of it.

Not seen it, I don't think,

Uh coach with Craig t Nelson

the The other one which it's funny cuz they played it on Netflix a couple years

ago and I did watch an episode and it's kind of amazing to me that it lasted as

many seasons as it did But Major Dad That was another one That was a big one I don't

That's but I, can picture it,

Anyway going down the rabbit

The lineup, in 1989 for the Saturday morning cartoons were a pup

named Scooby-Doo, gummy Bears, Winnie the Poo Bugs Bunny and Tweedy Show.

Slimer and the Real Ghostbusters, beetlejuice Smurfs, Muppet Babies,

which was one of my favorites.

PeeWee's Playhouse, California Raisins, Garfield and Friends

and Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Do any of those sound familiar to you?

Wow Yeah No those take me back Yeah I mean Saturday

morning cartoons Now that's actually what I remember much more

was a whole thing,

a thing and it's so sad that we don't have that anymore yeah no that

was was that was primetime for kids And I do of course I remember PeeWee's Playhouse

I remember that one oddly enough if you want to go further down the timeline I

distinctly remember where I was when I found out that his show was being canceled

and what Paul Rubins did that caused that And I remember being about nine 10

years old and being like what did he do

I, too recall it being a major scandal, which is kind of hilarious.

That wouldn't be a scandal at all.

Now, um, You know, where we are

We do have different perspectives on things, so it's Saturday morning

in the mid to late eighties.

In your household, what were you most looking forward to watching

and bowl of cereal are you eating while you're watching it?

Excellent excellent question man You're hitting the hard ones I'm

trying to think You didn't mention it and I'd have to go back but I remember

the real Ghostbusters was a classic Beetlejuice was also one of my favorites

although Beetlejuice was one of those movies In fact it's one of the ones that

my my kids love as well You know it's one of those ones that just never gets old

But what was always so frustrating is I remember like Beetlejuice wasn't friends

with Lydia you know what I mean Like why is he why is he ping around with Lydia

going on adventures that You know what I mean so that was one of my favorites

there was a version of Superman by Ruby Spears who was animator back in day he had

a version of Superman that aired but the problem is those episodes were so early

in the morning that I was never able to wake up on time to catch those ones So I

didn't see those regarding cereal that's an easy one It was either Cocoa Puffs

or um cocoa Pebbles The the Flintstone version Because what was great about

those is you'd finish the bowl and then you'd have just a bowl of Chocolate milk.

to drink

of the Flintstones, while not, so yes, there are tons of

cartoons that I didn't mention.

I was only showcasing the ones that just so happened to be on the lineup 1989.

The

we're going to discuss, but there's so many.

I know cocoa Pebbles reminds me of the Flintstones, which while not

an eighties cartoon, I do remember watching that a lot as a kid.

I loved the Flintstones and

Babies

Transitioning more so maybe for older kids, but there was midday

programming back in the day as well.

I don't remember watching, but in 1989 the lineup included Alf,

the animated series raggedy Ann and Andy also, I don't remember.

Kissy fur seems like vaguely.

I can picture it.

any of those sound familiar to you?

No In fact it's always it's always fun to kind of go down a rabbit

hole and go on Wikipedia just read about some of these television shows The

especially for children's programming in a lot of ways was kind of this lawless

frontier in so many ways because you had movie properties that were not kids

movies suddenly getting cartoons I mean you mentioned Beetlejuice but that's

really not a kids movie if you really think about it we had Rambo we had

Rubble Cop and these are all cartoon series that the source material is not

for kids but we were sold it as uh as Saturday mornings there I mean it's kind

of wild You mention a lot of these and I remember seeing the ads for them but I

never watched them obviously but yeah it's just kind of wild there There's some

others that kind of aired around that time called Brave Star Which is about a

cowboy on another dimension or something and it's just kind of wild Like a lot

of these cartoons you wouldn't get them nowadays No way Would you get any of these

It's true.

You know what's interesting is over the course of researching a little

bit of this and I didn't even realize that when I was a kid and cartoons

and Saturday morning programming, was all because of deregulation.

They were all just commercials to sell us toys.

in the seventies it was more regulated.

But here comes the 1980s

It's just basically a big free for all.

And all of the mascots for the cereals were all cartoons.

So there was no line between.

A commercial and a show for us kids.

But I think you might recognize a little show that started around

this time called Saved by the Bell.

I don't think I'll ever make it on time.

Course

was,

Yeah

that sort of epitomizes like the late eighties and early nineties for me.

It's interesting you mentioned Saved by the Bell because I

actually did watch a documentary I highly recommend it there's a wonderful series

that's out called the Dark Side of Comedy if you're familiar with it but each

episode profiles a comedian And the I don't wanna say the dark life they led

but they're rise and fall if you will And one of the episodes is on Dustin Diamond

and his episode is absolutely fascinating because it shows how it was his career

that essentially in a lot of ways maybe it didn't kill him but it's that's what

caused his downfall But they do talk about saved by the Bell And one of the

big reasons why that show is so colorful if you think about it every time those

characters are in the max it is just total neon and all these colors The big reason

is is because it was a Saturday morning show that was also selling cereal and

everything And so while it was a bit of a gamble putting a live action TV show on

the air on a Saturday morning they made it so colorful so that it could kind of

exist in the same world with all of the

It

interesting.

I think I've seen something similar about Dustin Diamond.

Saved by the bell

I'm making an assumption maybe incorrectly, but the W W F at the

Seems to also embody the 1980s.

Were you a fan of wrestling

Oh are you kidding Ultimate Warrior that was that and

you asked my son That's his favorite too Yeah No ultimate Warrior was

that ww You know it's funny because I and I've said it before and I think

most wrestling fans would agree the wwe while it is a huge entertainment

business it's not as fun today as it was in the 1980s I mean there there's

nothing more you can say Those guys might as well have been superheroes You

I mean

so I come from a family of three girls, but some of these names that

I'm gonna reference from this time.

I remember watching it with my grandpa, and they called it like Raslan.

And it was the ww f at the time.

and I sort of remember people thinking that it was real.

Mm-hmm

I guess the curtain hadn't been pulled back that

it's, scripted more or less.

So apparently there was a maybe it still exists, but Pro Wrestling

Illustrated, I don't know if that still exists, but in 1989 it did.

And they listed a few things.

One is the Wrestler of the Year for 1989, Rick Flair,

Most popular, Hulk Hogan.

Most hated Randy Savage.

those two teaming up at some point.

Hulk and Randy were they like on a tag team together at some

It it depends on the year to be honest I think even nowadays if

you look at WWE now in 2023 the heels if you were if you are were also the

heroes a couple years ago I mean they all go back and forth It's basically a a

Okay.

that makes

Feud of the year for 89 was Rick Flair versus Terry Funk

and most improved Lex Luger.

These names all sound very familiar to me, so it's a nice little blast from the past.

Well and Rick Blair's daughter is is

wrestling now and is quite good

No no Charlotte Flair And she's quite good I took my son to a

an event a couple months back actually And she was one of the

headliners It was pretty cool

that's a, that's fun wrestling who to thunk it.

A few other things.

So the Top 10 Billboards from this particular week that the

movie was released, just before Christmas in December of 89.

You know, I gotta say a lot of these I don't really remember.

The number one song was Another Day in Paradise by Phil Collins.

Okay

Know much.

Linda Ronstadt is number two, three.

We didn't start the fire by Billy Joel, which I do remember.

And then four is Rhythm Nation by Janet Jackson.

good

one.

Five is with every Beat of My Heart by Taylor Dane.

Back to Life, soul to Soul.

Seven.

Pump Up the Jam by Techtronic featuring Fell.

Do you remember this like Techtronic era in the late eighties?

Yeah De definitely I mean I don't know if what was what

was the group the c and c Music

Yes.

even

you know

don't know if it would push

Or was that salt and pepper?

Anyway, there was some good ones in the late eighties, early nineties.

Yeah Phil Collins though is interesting that's I mean it doesn't

surprise me but I'm I am at the same time I would not have picked a Phil

Collins song as being number one in

Well, it's week over week, so I'm sure the week before, the

week after these shift a lot.

This is literally a snapshot in time from the actual week that Tango and Cash was

Oh

interesting

The number eight billboard song at that time was

just like Jesse James by Cher.

Good one.

The new kids on the block, this one's for the children

forgot about new kids somehow.

Were you into new kids at all

Not, no

No no

be honest, I wasn't, it was such a phenomenon and I was I don't quite,

I don't know if I didn't quite get it.

Like I, I wasn't in love with

lot of

Well it's so wild that we look upon that now as being a joke

when flash forward 10 maybe maybe eight years later Um We had Backstreet Boys

in nsync who were doing the exact same thing you know what I mean but but

what's so funny is by the time NSYNC and Backstreet Boys and all those boy bands

came out new Kids on the block were kind of like yesterday's news It was who are

these guys You know And they were they were a joke But it's like they you know

if it wasn't for the new kids then we wouldn't even have these other teams these

true.

Yeah.

I mean, and there were a few others earlier, but new

kids they were everywhere.

I mean, the dolls, the bedding.

And actually did see them in concert as an adult.

A friend of mine in California wanted to see them when we were in our

twenties, so I saw them in concert.

And then Bonjovi has had the number 10 song that week with Liven and Sin.

So yeah.

Dare I ask you to mention a few groups or songs that you can recall?

That you played all the time or taped from the radio?

Oh man From 1989

No sadly I don't remember I mean I remember Mc hammer but the but no MC

hammer was 90 wasn't it Yeah that was yeah So you got me at this Yeah you got me at

this spot where I just

I couldn't Yeah Yeah I remember I do remember my parents had the record to

the music from Rocky and I do yeah And it was like all the songs and I do remember

asking them to play that record quite

Your parents raised you

If they played a rocky soundtrack for you.

Oh.

Okay.

So , there's one more category here news and events that happened during that time.

The Soviet President, Mihail Gorbachov and US President h w

Bush, declared the Cold War over.

I guess they always thought that Rocky did that in Rocky Four, though.

Am I wrong about that?

Now Yeah we we I think we were lied to by one or the other Yeah So

Also, I didn't really, you don't hear much about Canadian mass murder, but

the worst, apparently the worst Canadian mass murder had happened at that time.

Mark Lapine kills 14 women at U Montreal.

The US troops invade Panama and Oust Manuel Noriega, but they don't catch him.

then there was an insane cold wave in the center of the us most

notably a negative 60 Fahrenheit in the Black Hills, South Dakota.

And for the rest of the world that's not in the United States that uses the

proper system of measuring the temperature that is a negative 51.1 Celsius.

That seems really cold.

I don't remember.

That's, shocking

Yeah Wow That I mean I I don't know one more to say you

but you definitely pulled up some current events that are from completely

different ends of the aisle there so Oh

I just have a few last questions

the movie.

I do know that you are a big fan of Kurt Russell.

Please

yeah Oh man Yeah Oh boy

kid

Kurt Easily since I was a kid you know what's interesting is he

Kurt Russell I think I was saying this to you earlier Kurt Russell is one of those

guys who has this swagger about him And not many actors have this I would say

but he has always had this ability where he is just cool know what I mean Where

he is cool And you want to be him you want to hang out with him I remember I

mean I don't know if you're a Seinfeld fan or not but there was the there was

the hilarious episode of Seinfeld where Elaine was dating Tony who was what was

that actor's name who played Tony I'm drawing a blank and anyway Tony was super

cool and George was just infatuated by him He was just thought he was so cool

And how I feel about Kurt Russell Keanu Reeves is another one There's You know

when he walks in the room and when he screen you just he he's cool He just

this magnetism about him Kurt Russell I will say compared to Keanu Reeves though

Kurt Russell is a better actor Okay Um I mean the the guys been acting since

the late sixties or whatever in Disney movies then when he transitioned into

the seventies adult mo movies like you know there were adult films That doesn't

sound right You know what I'm movies

but just like

audience.

Once he he did escape from New York and I think that was a game

changer for him And like I said there's I mean first of all the hair Can we just

say his hair Okay I think any dude in the world right now who is listening right

now who claims that they did not want Kurt Russell's hair in the eighties is

lying That is completely It just false Okay Because his hair was amazing in

the eighties you know it was would you call it was like a mullet but it just

I was gonna ask you if you would've classified it as a mullet.

It's technically, I think is, but I hate mullets,

I do.

Like

No

me some Kurt Russell

he pulls it off Yeah And you know what's so great about Kurt Russell

is I mean he's one of the few actors to be perfectly honest who has been able

to transcend and do multiple genres And I honestly think anybody who wants to

be able to see what Kurt Russell could do I think the three movies you need to

look at are big trouble in Little China Overboard and the one I'm talking about

today tango and Cash because he could be an action hero His comedic chops are

stellar They're impeccable He knows how to be funny and he's a romantic lead Not many

actors Can juggle those different genres in those arenas as well as he does But

the guy is just a badass I mean here I am I'm I'm I feel like I'm swooning and I'm

gushing over the guy but I mean he really is just so cool And what's also amazing

about him I honestly feel the older he gets not many actors have this ability

either but I honestly feel the older Kurt Russell gets the better he gets He still

just has that swagger he is awesome In the Hateful eight I remember when

Denver Broncos played Seattle Seahawks the the pregame kind of thing where he's

hyping them up or whatever

for the Super Bowl Yeah And I mean and his voice we haven't said that either

His hair is great but his voice is just amazing He's always had just this electric

Magnetism about him and I don't think there's any other actor out there who

when he gets angry and he yells still just looks so cool I can't say enough

about Kurt Russell but I think that's half the reason why I love this movie

He does exude.

Cool.

got those

Oh

eyes too.

He is got really beautiful blue really like electric, blue, almost

yeah.

So yeah, he's, he does have the total package.

This Kurt Russell.

And when he goes when he leaves which I mean I hate I mean it's not

gonna be anytime soon but he also comes from a class of actor that we just don't

get anymore because he is old now let's be honest And that's why we don't see him

as much anymore because I think he likes hanging out on the golf course And if

there's a script that comes his way that he feels is worth his time then he will

He will you know saddle up and do it But for the most part I think he's content

being retired But what's cool is if you see on talk shows he's he's that rare

breed of actor who speaks his mind and says whatever is on his mind even if it's

not maybe the most politically correct if you will You know what I mean And that's

I don't know sometimes I feel like in this day and age it's kind of interesting

to see an actor who has the balls to to to do those things to say those things

I should probably say he has not said anything disparaging or anything like that

by any means but You don't get actors nowadays that carry that kind of moxie

that's

I'm trying to say

a good point.

I don't know if you caught it or not, but listeners, I did do a bit in my

season one trailer for the retro made show about all the names that I had

come up with for, these stars that I am using for season one, Kurt and Patrick

about how they resemble each other.

Think that Kurt Russell and Patrick Swayze look alike?

Well you know what's interesting I'm sure you were gonna

be getting to it but originally it was gonna be Patrick Swayze in

the role of Ray Tango No no Excuse me Cash Not Ray Tango Cash Sorry

Yeah Yeah it was gonna be Patrick Swayze but he opted to do Roadhouse instead So

they went to Kurt Russell you know what's interesting is the similarities in terms

appearance is I mean it's definitely there but on like well I don't know if

I could see Patrick Swayze in many of the roles that Kurt Russell did Same

thing with Kurt Russell I don't know if I could see him in many of the roles

that Patrick Swayze did You know what I mean like point break Swayze owned that

I don't think I could see Kurt in that

They have a very different presence and yeah, like their types of roles,

they do seem to be a little different.

They do both kind of bring in every man quality and they're both very attractive.

I just think that they physically have a strong resemblance to each other.

And and I mean kind of like what I said about Kurt Russell

earlier Patrick Swayze has also been able to straddle that line where he's

done a couple action movies He's been a romantic lead I don't think Patrick

Swayze did a heck of a lot of comedies Did

No, he did have a few, and unfortunately he left us far too soon.

He has said that he was always very careful about the roles that he

took because he didn't want to get pigeonholed into any specific genre.

But he has done a few comedies.

Fatherhood

Oh yeah But fatherhood came I mean that came what's interesting is

the nineties was a clear transitional period for all of these action guys but

I remember fatherhood came that one came and went I mean it wasn't even in theaters

long enough for Even critics to see it It was kind of sad He you know Patrick

Swayze unfortunately passed away but he he god goodness he had a double whammy

of films cuz he would do Roadhouse Then he did Ghost and then he kind of struggled

with a lot of films and then I just

kind of finding his

He talks

yeah

but

or not.

It's great.

I own it anyway.

At any rate, do you

Patrick Swayze movie

or

Um well point break is the easy one That one comes to right right

away because that one is just that one is just amazing for so many reasons I

really liked E In the Outsiders he did an adaptation of The Outsiders the se

Hinton book Um I'm a fan of that book obviously he had a wonderful role in

that film it's kind of become a little forgotten film but he had a bit role in

a film with Rob Lowe called Youngblood

uh,

uh

movies that we'll be getting to in this season of Retro Made, but

of people haven't seen that.

It's so, I recall it being so fun.

I loved it.

Yeah I remember seeing it as a kid and thinking it was pretty

cool but I haven't gone back to it But I remember he was cool I mean he was

one of those actors who when he he when he took on a side role supporting he was

still able to to bring the funder and

But if I had to pick which actor I always preferred over the other I think I'd go to

Kurt Russell just because I've seen more of his movies I own more of his movies He

was always more at my wheelhouse I mean like I said I feel like I'm man crushing

on this dude pretty hard But I think every guy in the world I mean obviously

if you grew up in the eighties and the nineties okay there was Arnold there was

Stallone there was Doll there was Van Dam of course but Kurt Russell was that one

that you know I think every dude wanted to

Agreed.

I don't think you're alone man crush of Kressel.

a legit thing.

yeah hair the hair is so

It was good.

And we get a lot, we get a nice taste of it in Tango and cash,

let's get into it

okay, so as we've discussed, Tango and Cash was released just before

Christmas, December 22nd, 1989.

It was rated R,

recall it being rated R.

We'll, get into some of the cast and what people thought of it, but it was a little

bit troubled in the directing department.

I'm going to butcher the original director's name Andre Khaki.

He's a Russian filmmaker, which you wouldn't probably

know him for a whole lot.

Maybe runaway train from 1985, but that's about it.

Anyway, he was later replaced, he was given impossible scheduling

demands and was made the scapegoat when he fell behind.

And also he had a much darker vision for this film than what we got apparently.

So he was replaced with Albert Magnolia.

But Albert Magnolia wasn't actually credited in the film credits of

the movie, even though he ended it.

He filmed all the chase and fight scenes.

So according to Kaki, Stallone was the one who held the production together despite

the fact that Stallone was also actively involved in trying to get him fired.

He since stated that he believes that if it weren't for Stallone,

he would've been fired sooner.

And big shocker.

I think anyone who is familiar with Stallone from this era.

Won't be surprised to hear that by the end of principal photography, stone

was reportedly working in an unofficial capacity as producer, director, writer,

as well as starring in the film.

What do you think about that?

Is that surprising at all?

No So here's the problem here's the big issue for why tango and

cash kind of became the mess behind the scenes that it was and it all falls on

one person It's Sylvester Stallone I mean let's be honest I love Sylvester Sloan

now to give him credit The guy has been in the movie business for almost 50

years okay he was the embodiment He was one of the biggest stars in the world

in the 1980s so this is a guy he knows what works I mean for him you know what

I mean He knows how to light himself He knows how to do things so I don't wanna

mitigate that or discredit that I mean because the he is a talent okay Having

said all that if you look at Stallone in the 1980s in his prime at the peak of

his powers it's gone on the record okay I'm not anything hasn't been stated

already but he had an ego that was bigger than Mount Everest And I think everybody

would agree and everybody has said this that when Stallone was on set he was the

one controlling everything He was the one calling all the shots he might as well

have been the director And so if you look at a lot of his films in his prime he

was the director of a lot of them but the ones that he did not direct So Here's

what's interesting If you look at look at this film tango and Cash look at

Demolition Man and look at the Specialist All of those films are fun on their own

on their own merits I enjoy those films But if you look at them they're all

directed by no names They're all directed by relative nobodies And the big reason

for that I honestly think is because they needed someone who gonna essentially be

pushed around by Stallone and not bitch about it They're not gonna bring in a

Spielberg or or a Walter Hill or anybody like that They're just simply not gonna

take that And so that's basically I think what happened on this film is you have

Stallone in his prime of his powers pretty much running the show And again the guy

knows what works for him But on the other hand like if you look at stories on what

he did with Cobra behind the scenes of Cobra he basically directed that one You

know what I mean And he did that with I'd say about 98% of all the films he did

in the nineties Interestingly It seems like his ego kind of Got a bit in check

back in the nineties because he later worked with Renny Harlan and then later on

down the line he worked with Walter Hill for bullet to the head But the eighties

Stallone he was not um he didn't sound like he was fun to work with in the least

Now I of course have to come to his rescue a little bit

because I am Stallone is I.

could just gush forever.

I mean, I'm on a podcast about him.

I love him so many reasons.

But he even admits, so he really was literally at the top of the

world at this time and has admitted that his ego got out of hand.

And so this doesn't surprise me.

I think we've all heard the stories that he takes over filming.

However, I will say the one thing that people do say ego aside is that he

does have a very strong work ethic.

Mm-hmm

There was some problems on this film

lightly.

Yeah And that's why I was so looking forward to chatting about this

film because I can honestly I will just say right now about this film you can

tell I mean you can see that this film had too many cooks in the kitchen there is

a in my opinion at least there is a clear point in this film where it goes off the

rails and you can tell that the script was changed and the script was altered

So I'm really looking forward to getting that with you because I will just say

right now I think this movie has a rock solid awesome opening 35 minutes I think

the first 30 to 35 40 minutes or so of this film are awesome It is amazing But

there is a clear point that I can pinpoint where it goes off the rails I mean it's

not a great movie in the first 35 minutes it's not like it's gonna win Oscars or

anything like that but it just becomes it It devolves and gets stupider along

the way and I think that's one of the things that in the end kind of hurts it

But having said that though the first 40 minutes of this film are stellar They're

perfection I wish the final 45 minutes were on par with the opening Do you

That's an interesting take.

I think I see where you're coming from.

I I think that it's problematic from the start, but it's fun.

Listen, it's super fun and you kind of have to, it's also

interesting when we re-watch.

Do you watch this often or when was the last time you saw.

I introduced it to my wife a couple years ago because I've always

been a huge fan of cop movies I love cop movies especially buddy cop movies

So Sylvester Stallone Kurt Russell doing a Buddy Cop movie I mean I'm going to

be there for that I didn't catch this in theaters cuz I was I was seven years old

However I do distinctly remember seeing ads for it in the back of comic books

that I picked up as a kid And I later rented it a couple years later And then

I remember buying the VHS and then buying the dvd the movie is a ton of fun But

the thing I will say about it is while we're kind of talking about Stallone

and how his ego kind of helped um uh derail this film in some respects I will

say He and Kurt Russell have an amazing chemistry together Their chemistry and

their banter back and forth I think is hilarious unfortunately we never got a

sequel and I think a lot of that is cuz of Kurt Russell I just don't think he

wants to do it but you know that if he said okay let's do it Stallone would be

there

sure.

one of my trivia, we'll jump around a little bit, which is fine, was that

Kurt Russell was actually offered in 2010 when Stallone was getting

all the, action guys of yonder together for the Expendables movie.

He actually offered the role of church

Or maybe that was a sequel, but he offered Kurt Russell a role in the

Expendables and he turned it down.

He just said he didn't have any interest in joining that ensemble action Guy cast.

But then what's so frustrating about that But

then Kurt Russell joins the Fast and the Furious which

seen those after, like the second one?

Yeah So that's kind of frustrating I don't really understand

that but I will say this might put things in perspective but did you

know that Tango and Cash is actually the very last action film released in

Yes.

In

it was one of the last films at all tango and Cash.

And then there was a Spielberg film.

Yeah, the Last Movies of the Decade.

And it's almost kind of I mean you look about it now and kind

of makes sense but it's almost very emblematic of what happened to the

genre and how things were changing and how Stallone started to kind of fall

on hard times with the film roles that he was choosing post this one But

know what I'm gonna say it going back to this film it's interesting that

you said that you had some problems with the opening I love it though I

knew

meant by that is you can immediately see what you're in for

you know,

Oh

yeah.

There were some problems immediately, but I took it all in stride.

I mean, I played that opening scene where pokes funded himself being,

, Rambo esque and Rambo's a pussy.

What did you think of that.

Yeah Well not only that but the even before that still alone says

let's do it And then it goes right into the film It's like and you know you you

know that was all Stallone in the editing room you know that he was saying not only

do I get top build but I'm going to open the film Okay Before it's Tango and Ka

before we see Kurt Russell I'm gonna be first and I want to get the first line

of the movie with Let's do it I um you know the the one we have to say with this

film the score by Harold Faltermeyer Is ACEs as well I absolutely love the

score that was composed for this film I think it's it sets the tone perfectly

glad that you brought that up.

I did not take note of the score, so I'm very glad that you brought

that up cuz I, that I missed that.

But, of, let's, like sets the stage here.

As you mentioned, Stallone has top billing as Tango.

Kurt Russell is cash.

Then we get Terry Hatcher as Tango's sister, Katherine slash Kiki, Jack

Pance as Eve Pert, James Hong as Quan.

Now James Hong.

Is literally the ultimate VA guy.

He's in everything, especially from this time.

He seems to have been around forever we just discussed his performance as David

Lopez in Big Trump on little China.

So he was fun to see.

So that's the cast Then the description of the movie.

For, I don't know anybody who hasn't seen this in a decade or two perhaps we

have the polar opposites, Ray Tango, a swab and sophisticated police officer.

And Gabe Cash, his overzealous long-haired partner are a mismatched LAP D crime

fighting duo who worked tirelessly to bring down their arch nemesis,

the ruthless drug Lord Eve Perret.

However, when Perret manages to incriminate the team with falsified

evidence, Ray and Gabe will soon end up in a maximum security prison

where an almost endless par of inmates previously incarcerated by

them are waiting for their captors.

Impatiently.

Now more than ever, tango and cash need to put their differences aside to

quickly come up with a plan, not only to escape the jail's walls, but also to

even the score with the evil kingpin who put them behind bars once and for all.

And of course, that's easier said than done.

movie got some awards?

Yes I imagine probably

Actually, yeah, they didn't win, but they were nominated for three Razzies.

Which I always think those are unfair but I imagine one of them

is one of them is probably worst duo

Well,

so the Razzi historically don't like Stallone.

Again, I know I'm a bit biased, but, so yes.

Worst actor for Sylvester Stallone.

I thought this was interesting.

Worst supporting actress for Kurt Russell he's dressed in drag.

That's, I don't know.

And then worst screenplay for Randy Feldman, who was the writer . So

they didn't think that even the beginning was very good.

But it was a box office hit.

It definitely exceeded its budget and

And it's interesting that you read that premise because I had

some thoughts that I'll be getting to on where the film kind of falls apart

But I honestly think that the film should be set a hundred percent in the prison

and I feel like once they get out of the prison that's where falls apart But we'll

see

get to that

I will say, you know, I'm like kind of backtracking a little bit.

There were some scenes at the beginning that I liked, you know, just kind

of showing them as polar opposites.

So we get like Hills, they even say a play on Beverly Hills Cop, but

Stallone's, highbrow Beverly Hills version with, a three piece suit.

He has an office and then contrasted with Kurt Russell's Uber casual

common man version in downtown LA with jeans and his long hair.

And he's just at a lowly desk in the precinct bullpen.

And their incessant, rivalry.

I'm glad that you said that you liked their chemistry, because I

was gonna ask you about that because

I liked it, I thought it worked, but I can see how some viewers might see it as

just a little bit too much, too redundant.

The constant , ribbing and , joke, joke, joke, joke.

Trope trope, trope, trope.

But for a buddy cop movie, and these two I do, I felt the chemistry

as you mentioned before too.

So I also liked it.

no I mean I I think you know it it does get a little tiresome little

bit I mean there's a few aspects about the film that I have to shake my head at

but one of the things that I just have to kind of roll my eyes at is no way would

a police officer make the front page of a newspaper I mean the these two cops Or

I should probably say we've seen police officers make the front page but not for

reasons like this But I've never seen police officers take the front page and

be treated as heroes if you will it's just kind of funny Ray Tango he's it's

like everybody knows like this is LA's Top Cop and then Gabe Cash well he's also

one of the top cops and it's like one of these things like if you and I were

opening up a paper Hey did you hear what Ray Tango did today Oh well Gabe Cash also

got this cocaine bust It's like okay I never heard that They're making newspaper

that's.

a good point, and to play off of that theme.

There things that I noted.

Now I know when we watch these movies, we do have to suspend our disbelief

and just kind of go with some of it.

were there any others?

I, on a similar vein, I was like, they get 18 months murder.

I mean, I know that it was a plea deal, but 18 months

they were convicted of murder.

Well not only that Yeah no you're exactly right Not only that but

it's amazing it's not just this movie it's it's it's movies in general I guess but

it just amazes me how quick the judicial system works movies Okay Because so if

we were go by this film's timeline if you will Okay You could go out tomorrow on

Friday commit a crime and then by Tuesday you would be in court on trial You know

what I mean Like it doesn't work that fast

but according

know.

Yes, it is.

, the movie Magic

Did this make you feel any type of way?

I was like, okay, Hatcher, who plays Katherine, and then her stripper name

is Kiki, or everybody calls her Kiki,

her brother calls her Katherine.

At any rate, Terry Hatcher's character plays Stallone's sister.

He is the super overprotective brother, but somehow he has zero issues with her

choice of career as an exotic dancer.

the, like what.

Well Not only that but I mean I can see why Stallone liked the

character because I will say that again I I keep going back to this The first

45 minutes of this film I think are really good Okay But then it again falls

apart That's the last time I'm gonna say that But for example Ray Tango I think

Stallone picked some really cool little nuances and character touches to that

character The fact that he's I think he's nicknamed Armani with a badge and

he's like a stockbroker and everything I mean I think that is a really cool touch

the glasses that he wears I think he he looks pretty cool as he's rocking those

Oh, he looked so good that opening scene.

Yeah.

yeah the opening

scene

glasses?

those are actually okay Well I have another fact about the opening

scene for you but what's interesting is how they lose all of that after 45

minutes He no longer is wearing the glasses There's no more mention at all

about him being a stockbroker or anything like that It just gets thrown out the

window fun fact regarding the opening scene as amazing as the opening scene

is do you know that that is a shot for shot remake of a Jackie Chan of a scene

I did not know that.

That's interesting.

it.

story Police they I mean well Stallone is a huge fan of Jackie

Chan And so I think he was kind of pan homage Yeah But I I can send it to you

on YouTube but I mean it is shot for shot Same thing He's standing in the middle of

the road has a revolver the semi-truck halts on the brakes guys go out the

windshield I mean it is exactly the

Interesting.

I did not know that.

I didn't catch that he was a stockbroker.

I just thought that he was really into it.

Maybe sorry

you know,

Yeah No you're

I do feel like Stallone was probably, this is right before Rocky

five, I feel like he trying to distance himself make, try not to be pigeonholed

as this, just like beefy, muscley guy.

Even though

some jabs at that in this movie.

He was trying to be a little more sophisticated and show that he smart.

But that's a good point that you said.

He loses the glasses after a while and

Yeah Well not only does he lose the glasses but he loses every touch

that made that character unique with the exception of the sister I'm just

thinking about this They could have done okay once they get out of prison and try

to find the bad guys who set them up where Stallone has to or excuse me Ray

Tango has to Phone his stockbroker to help him out and get him some information

Or maybe he has to phone his stockbroker to get him some money so that they can

you know I mean something like that But they just throw that out I if I can I

get to the point where I fill this film

goes off

the rails Is that okay

I'm, there's a specific moment.

Okay.

There is a specific moment Okay So I I will say I think there is

a fantastic nugget in this film I think the idea of two top cops two badass cops

who are at odds with one another who are set up for a crime are sent into a

prison And they survive amongst all of the criminals they put behind bars And

they have to figure out not they have to put aside their differences team up

to not only escape but also fend off all these criminals that they locked

up I think that is an amazing idea I think that is an ACEs idea I think it's

wonderful and I think this film does an amazing job setting that up And when they

get to prison some of the little prison antics are a little silly Okay fine the

prison escape sequence I think is kick ass I love the prison escape sequence

It's raining and they're using their belts to scale the telephone wires

if you will so they can escape I've love that scene It's awesome The problem is

once they leave prison all stakes are out the window And in my opinion that

is where I feel the script doctors if it was Stallone whoever it was came in and

started nettling with the stew And the film really does It really does kind of

fall apart in some ways because if you think about it once they're out of prison

they're still wanted fugitives However they're just wandering the streets They're

even I mean Gabe Cash is even I know this is a movie but he's even like calling in

favors to guys on the precinct or whatever and it's like you know you guys are

still wanted right You know that not only were you imprisoned for this crime but

now you're wanted fugitives and they're just not disguising themselves in any

way I guess ta uh cash does later on a

drag when he is dressed up as a

it just

Yeah.

and that's the other thing too It's like why why is that scene in

there Why why is that scene in there Suddenly at the end you get this big

giant truck that feels like it would be more suitable for some kind of

Transformers movie It's just it just gets ridiculous You know what I mean

the,

it it for me it falls

Yes.

So there's all these favors.

There are, were a lot of yeah, probably like post-prison.

lot of characters introduced in quick sequence.

It's like they know the captain is on their side.

They have people to help them.

They have a gadget guy, which again seems very action movie of 1980s.

That helps them with that monster.

It was like the BAT mobile in an RV with a computer system.

Very high tech for 1989.

is cool I mean don't get me wrong it's cool but I mean

I don't know if that needed to be in the film you know what I

Agreed.

There were a lot of things that I was like, why do we keep introducing new care?

Yeah.

I guess I can see your point there.

I got a kick out of the nods or in jokes calling back to previous movies

or just like in jokes, I guess.

So there was the Rambo one at the beginning.

Mm-hmm

I feel like it was a shot at Arnold.

so everyone probably is aware of that.

In the eighties there was a true rivalry between Sylvester

Sloan and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

There's a scene in the prison when they first get to the prison.

There's this neanderthal looking dude.

And Stallone, Ray Tango calls him Conan the barbarian calling back to an

Arnold role, like poking fun at him.

Did you think that's what was happening there?

Like that He was

fun of Arnold?

You know I didn't put that together but no one makes total sense

I mean it makes total sense cuz they they just did not like each other There

was that total rivalry I mean and then there are so many lines in this film

that are there to float Stallone's ego if you will I mean you know what I mean

Like um there's there's the scene in the

Oh, we are gonna need to talk about the shower scene.

mean It's just yeah But going back to what I said earlier I that that's

my big issue with this film that I've always struggled with this film is I love

it don't get me wrong but once they escape prison like I said I feel that the stakes

go out the window a bit there aren't any core villains I think Jack Pance is a

cool villain but I mean you know that he won't be able to stand toe to toe

against either Kurt Russell or Stallone So there's really nothing But again if

they had kept the film in the prison then they could have squared off Conan

and they could had Some real Some real menace there at at some ways but you know

and I don't know I I'd like to see the original script I wonder if the original

script was a hundred percent in prison and then it got changed along the way

It sounds like

Well, the original director had a much darker version,

I that kind of aligns with what you're saying.

And there were far too many cooks in the kitchen.

In fact, there were technically four people directing this movie.

So the original director, an interim person they hired the other guy, and

then unofficially Sylvester Stallone.

So probably hard to coalesce around , one solid idea.

Yeah.

The Jack P.

Guy.

It was almost weird.

I didn't quite buy, talking about not buying, like why he, I mean

these cops keep busting his business.

But I mean, that's just the way that it goes.

It's not gonna stop when these guys are out of the picture.

And then , there was this whole mouse maze.

Backdrop

the, yeah, the mice and then there was just a lot about the mice.

And then at the end, that was kind of the only thing that I thought was like a

little bit staked when there was all the monster trucks, outside of that I dunno

if it was a warehouse or what, where there's a bomb inside and, they're trying

to escape the situation and they realize they're actually kind of in a maze.

And so it was, it's all for Eve Perret's amusement , but yeah, it is a

little all over the place that point.

When you do kind of forget at a certain period because he's off screen

for so long that Jack Pance in the movie That's the big thing I've that one of the

things I've struggled with the film is you know he's the big villain who orchestrates

this huge elaborate setup if you will And then he just kind of leaves the film which

you know PANCE Jack Pance was on Jay Leno And I mean talk about old school actors

who speak their mind and don't give a damn I mean there was a hilarious interview

on The Tonight Show where he's just like Sebastian Stallone and Kurt Russell are

the two biggest assholes around I mean he doesn't say that but he's like you know

they they acted like bastards on set They were completely and so so it is kind of

interesting It's it's kind of sad when you hear that You're like oh man like

these guys are my heroes But on the other hand it's you know also you also gotta

think Jack Pance he was the action hero Of the sixties seventies if you will and

suddenly now he's doing a film where the new action heroes are kind of taken

over There might have been a little bit of bitterness on his behalf where he was

kind of like I'm the original you know

what I mean

old Hollywood, they wouldn't do this cuz

Basically that Kurt and especially Sly , were on a major ego trip.

An interesting interview for sure.

Now the other thing I guess your point about things kind of falling

apart is there were too many bad guys.

I couldn't follow who, like, why were there so many bad guys?

There was James Hong's character Juan who was hired.

There was him and then some other guy that they were hired by Pert.

But then there's also that ponytail guy with the British accent,

And then the jail, all the jail people.

I don't know, there was just a lot of bad guys and it was

hard for me anyway, to be like,

who's who?

Why are they all involved?

I honestly think if they had stripped this back a bit and just

kept it in minimal locations then I mean yeah Because as as soon as you

know Kurt Russell is is hiding and he's putting on the drag and everything and

suddenly you have this love subplot if you will between Gabe Cash and dating

Ray Tangles sister You know how dare he you know what I mean it it didn't need

to be in there And and I have a buddy right now who who's probably gonna be

listening thinking like no I love the truck at the end Okay fine They I guess

they could have kept that in some way but there are so many other little elements

about this film That don't belong in this particular film Again keep it in

the prison you know they could have done

I

much with the prison

know what I

Having said that though I mean I'm gonna go back to what I said earlier the

breakout sequence is awesome I love the breakout sequence where they're teaming

up and using their belts to go from tower to tower I think that's a great

sequence Maybe save that for the end though you know what I mean I remember

seeing this for the first time and after that prison escape sequence the film

really does kind of peter out It really like it it it's it's almost kind of like

Saved some of the best moments for that part there And you know and then the

film it just kind of spins its wheels

With the sister like serves no purpose really, other than

to show a pretty girl, you know?

Yeah And I still don't understand what her dance

Oh my God, it

I guess you

something that she how to drum this role and, It was like

she just hit a few like that.

That's kind of sad actually.

But the escape scene took note of, I loved that it was raining and

they have their skimpy tank tops which segues into the shower scene.

We have to talk about the shower scene.

It was, me, probably one of the highlights of the movie because first

of all, have a Sylvester Stallone and a Kurt Russell in their physical prime.

I mean, they're so handsome, handsome, and then, , with their each other just

constantly, and now they're in the shower.

We get a side by side naked shot of them walking away from us.

I mean, But I will say I, I'm not complaining, but that

shower scene lasted forever.

What did you think about that?

I mean it was it's just kind of funny that there's a joke where Kurt

Russell refers to Sylvester Stallone as Peewee He says don't flatter yourself

peewee And then later on in the film he calls Stallone tripod So it's kind

of like what are we and I honestly

too.

I'm like, well, which is it?

Because tripod is a major compliment, so.

And I honestly think I could be wrong with this but I honestly

think Stallone Was in the editing room and he said Hmm you know what I gotta

end it with Cuz if you notice tripod

It

later on in the

after, but

and so immediately after Yeah And so I honestly think Stallone

was like no you have to end You can you can poke fun but it has to end

where I am complimented You know what I mean And maybe I'm wrong but I don't

I you know, that very well.

Could be.

But I took note of that too.

I'm like, well, this doesn't make sense.

You're negating your insult.

But

I don't know, man, that shower scene was, it went on kind of uncomfortably long.

they just keep fun at each other over and over again.

I mean, it was very nice on the eyes for me to watch, so I shouldn't complain about

scene.

And of course I mean it's be expected Okay You have a film in

the late eighties with two action stars who are in prison you're gonna

have that shower sequence you know what I mean And I'm trying to think

I think just about every movie set in a prison you're always gonna get the

obligatory shower moment I mean it's funny cuz I was watching um I actually

think it's one of Clint Eastwood's best movies Did you ever see Escape from

Oh, it's been a very long time, but yes.

There is a sequence in that film and Clint Eastwood uses the

opportunity in the shower to to beat the hell out of a man You know what I mean

that is always kind of part of it.

I was like, we're in for a treat when there's a side-by-side nude

scene of them, walking away from us.

I quite enjoyed that.

Stall Sloan does like to show his butt in movies, so there's that.

Not as much as Jean Claude Vandam That was always

it seemed like it was in Jean Claude Van Dam's contract where

Hey, I mean, if you got it flaunted, I guess.

and I think Vandam even said that later on is I I remember

listening to was it a commentary track or something of just said like I I work

hard on this so I'm going to Show it off so you know Hey good for him if you got

Yeah

Those guys.

The amount of work that, yeah, that's sculpting of Clay

Let's see.

The, I was just thinking that there was a few other pieces of trivia that I noted.

I was glad that you brought up that Swayze was originally supposed

to play Kurt Russell's role.

Did you see who, some of the other people they considered were?

I did not

I may have heard this though

I mean, according to my internet research they considered

Pierce Brosnan, Kevin Costner, Liam Neon, and Bruce Willis.

But , obviously Kurt ultimately got the role.

You know what obviously I love Kurt Russell in the film but you

hear that list and I could see Any one of those actors also taken on the role

of Gabe Cash You know I but I don't think they would have been able see again

this is the beauty of Kurt Russell is he is able to nail those comedic lines

perfectly And as much as I like Kevin Costner Bruce Willis might have been able

to do it but I don't think her

yeah he he can do comedy But I don't know about the other guys I definitely couldn't

see Liam Neon doing it Plus around this time he was he was doing like next of

kin oddly enough with Patrick Swayze so

yeah.

casting.

What ifs?

Now , here's another, like on the lines of casting.

So Terry Hatcher was not the original actress that they had hired to play.

Ray Tango's sister I forget her name either way, at this time.

Both of them were relatively unknown, but they ended up casting Terry Hatcher.

This is a detail I appreciate because she looked more like Sylvester Stallone, they

look like they could actually be related.

tidbit?

Oh interesting

like the and everything.

Yeah That is interesting I guess that's the only characteristic of

Stallone's character that is from point A of the film to The end of the film is

fact that he has the little sister But everything else about that character is

thrown out I will say about the movie that I've always loved is as much as we've

dogged the the final act of the film how silly it gets I do love the fact that the

film ends with a freeze frame of tango and cash What is it they're holding hands up

in the air high fiving and it just ends That's the other thing too this film does

that not a lot of films do nowadays is it doesn't overstay its welcome to an extent

after that final action sequence They high five boom hit credits We don't need

an epilogue of them putting aside their differences and get ready to suit up for

the next mission No it it knows when to

Yeah, it was that perfect happy ending

really get a lot anymore in movies,

more quips, they're constantly, , can I finally date your

sister , over my dead body?

Okay.

And when the way it ends you wonder okay are they gonna be

joining the department or it seems like both their commanders give them long

leashes on the department so maybe they would be starting up their own unit

where they're given carte blanche to you know that that could the sequel we

never got Right

don't think it needed a sequel, but it is surprising.

And that's the reason I brought up the expendables, how Kurt turned down

the expendables only because, so this was a box office hit, so it's kind of

surprising they didn't do a sequel.

And I wonder if there was a lot of trouble on the set, I guess.

There were went way over budget.

The timeline took way too long.

In fact I was reading that the film just finished weeks before it was actually

in cinema due to those delays and a few other like compounding factors.

The final cut of the film was approved by , the studio just days.

Before it was supposed to be theatrically released,

didn't have

And you can tell

making it

And you can tell I mean it does feel there are elements of this

film that feel Frankenstein stitched

very

together I mean And can very much tell of it's kind of a shame

that that that release was so locked in that they couldn't have you know

Hey you know what let's delay it six months or a year so that we can fine

Wanted to get out for Christmas, I guess.

It being a box office hit, I also saw, it was not a critic darling

by any stretch of the imagination.

I thought this was funny.

The Los Angeles Times called it a waste of talent and energy on all levels.

A bit harsh or What are your thoughts about that?

I mean I think that's a bit harsh I mean because I think you know

both Kurt Russell and Stallone we already talked about Kurt Russell but Stallone

too I mean these guys are movie stars who have that swagger that just lights

up a room what I mean So I wouldn't say it's a it's a waste of their talents if

you want to talk a waste of Stallone's talents take a look at escape plan too

You're right.

I I don't think that's fair I think I don't think this film was ever

gonna be a critical darling because it is a big dumb action movie with a huge

emphasis on dumb it is absolutely just bananas in so many ways but also it's

lot of fun You know what I mean And and something else that we really haven't

talked about that I think is important to note is you know sadly remember on

my respective podcast I remember speaking with will Bell who is he was the writer

for Aquaman he's actually a former police officer himself turned screenwriter and

he said that the the cop movie if you will is fraught right now in Hollywood

So chances are we're really not gonna be getting Any other police themed movies

in Hollywood And if we do let's be honest it's it seems to typically where they are

crooked if you will there's a bad element you know which which is fine I mean you

know training Day is an amazing movie Dark Blue also with Kurt Russell is a great

movie But these type of movies where the where the police officers are just these

kind of renegade mavericks who get the job done but at the same time are so cool I

don't wanna sound completely nostalgic but I I think I can say with certainty I don't

think we're gonna get these ever again We're not gonna a maverick you know the

cop who plays by his own rules but gets the job done we're not gonna see those

part of the fun and that's like really kind of part of the show too.

It is.

It is nostalgia.

It is.

This movie is so a part of its, time that we don't get it.

And that's why it's fun to reminisce about movies like this

because we don't get it anymore.

Mm-hmm

is so different now for a number of reasons that we, won't.

into to bore everyone to death.

Yeah

I'm trying to think through some of, other little tidbits

before we share our final thoughts.

But it does pay Stallone likes you because, oh, there was also two things.

One, there was a scene where he says, I hate Danish.

Somebody's like, let's you know, I don't know if it was Gabe was like,

let's stop and get Danish and coffee.

Mm-hmm That was a

I

that was poking fun at

just going through a bitter divorce with his Danish ex-wife, Nielsen.

a lot of those in this movie that I thought were interesting.

Yeah Yeah Yeah And cool to see an actor poke fun at themselves

and their career but it's really interesting though that they were poking

that much fun at I guess I I say they but Kurt Russell really isn't poking

fun at his career it's more the Stallone show but the fact that he was doing

that in his prime you know what I mean

And if he likes you, so obviously like brae, they were

married for a year and a half and she was in two of his movies anyway.

The guy who plays I think is his name in the movie, but he's referred to by the

guys by Gabe and Ray as Ponytail, cuz he wears that slicked back, low ponytail.

Do you know

about?

Yeah

So apparently, and again it's like why was he there?

Why was he in this movie so much?

Well, it turns out his original role was a very small one.

But he has a British cockney accent that Sylvester Stallone loved, and

his role got expanded because of that.

So

piece of

no that's I was aware of that I believe that actor's

name is Byron Goodness I I've I've lost his name It's Byron something

but he actually passed away

a few years ago but he was a bit actor in a ton of a ton of stuff in roles like

these where he was kind of that that henchman if you will Yeah He was in Red

Scorpion with Dolf Lundgren He shows up in that he was in a very underrated

comedy that does not get the credit it it deserves he was in one with Chris Elliot

called Cabin Boy that was quite funny So um Allen is his name Sorry Byron Oh excuse

me I'm sorry Not Byron Brian J Brian

spelled B r I O n, though,

spelled different,

yes Yeah Yeah Brian Brian James So yeah he was one of those

great character actors that we lost that we don't see too much anymore So

I will say the scenery as the grenade strapped to his mouth is funny it

comes a little late and is a little too silly for The film I will say

I liked that scene too, he puts it in his pants and it's

like, this is my contribution to birth control or something.

I liked , that bit.

So, gosh, I know we've been a little bit all over the place with

this movie because it in and of itself was a bit all over the place.

But , we get a nice super.

Perfect cheesy, 1980s ending.

I mean, it seems like we could go on and on just forever, but we do have

to return to the present day reality.

Until next time, do you have any closing thoughts about this movie

before we talk about your work?

love it I love it I wouldn't put Well you know what Actually no I

I think I will put it in my top 10 of Stallone films because it is Stallone

in his prime Yeah because I mean again it it's Stallone in his prime And I think

when and it's not just Stallone but I think it's any actor to be perfectly

honest their most memorable pieces of work are when they're in there in that sweet

spot if you will of their career that prime period You know what I mean And so

um you know obviously there's the Rocky and there's the Rambo course is gonna

hold a special place so I think this is you know it's big it's dumb it's goofy

It's um a a guy's guy action movie but there's also something there's some stuff

in there for the ladies but it is what it is Um I I think there are some problems

with it as we talked about ad nauseum I'm sorry if I drilled on about those

here for,

But think it's it's a lot of fun What's cool about it too is

it's one of those movies it's a perfect background movie It's one of those movies

that I can that you can put on in the background on afternoon or a Friday night

whatever it may be And you're still gonna love it I've come back to it multiple

times for re watches It's a ton of fun on re watches it does the trick It's

I was curious how often you gave it a rewatch, so that's helpful to know.

I I'm a Stallone girl, so I don't know if I would put this in my top 10.

I just looked to see what the IMDB rating was, and it's a 6.4, out of 10.

that's probably where I would put it.

I love it for what it is.

Like I'm not trying to say, you know, put today's standards on it, or it was a fun,

silly buddy caught movie of its time.

were some problems, but it's fun.

It's fun, it's action.

yes, for me, action isn't my big it's not my favorite genre by, by any

stretch of the imagination, but you add some fun flavor with these two guys.

I mean, Sylvester Sloan and Kurt Russell in their prime.

You almost can't go wrong.

It's gonna be a good time.

So I think people,

if you haven't seen Tango and Cash for a while, put it on, do some

cleaning around the house, make some dinner while you're doing it.

Yeah You're not gonna yeah you're not gonna miss any any

vital plot elements in any kind of way If anything the worst thing that

will happen is I'll say Now who's this character where you know why But in in

the end it doesn't matter It doesn't matter You know if you're wondering

why suddenly Michael Pollard is coming in trying to sell him the uh the the

truck

were a few other guys that I was like, oh, I know him from this and that.

Mm-hmm Yeah Oh wow If you want to go full circle the

auditory expert who is the expert in sound or whatever that is Michael

Jeter who we were talking earlier about evening shade but he was on

evening shade so there you go

To bring it all the

job, Sean.

Yeah

There

you know, I really can't thank you enough for joining me to reminisce

about the last action movie of the 1980s.

Please tell us where people can find even more of your awesome stuff.

Well thank you Um yeah I host uh my favorite action Star is is

Mr Dolf Lindgren And so I host uh I must break this podcast which is of course a

a reference to his one of his most iconic lines yeah uh it it's it's a fun podcast

I've been doing it now for the past five six years me and a special guest look at

his extensive filmography break it down in between a lot of those episodes I've

been very fortunate to speak with a lot really cool people who have had a hand in

making a lot of these films with with Mr Lundgren So um I've spoken with directors

and screenwriters stunt performers actors you name it Um still am holding out hope

that maybe I'll be able to get Mr Lundgren on the show one day never say never but

the show is Fortunately unfortunately we're actually in the the third act I

guess of the show if you will we're coming upon his most recent work And so the show

is going to be wrapping up and kind of being put to bed We'll see cuz um you know

we're we're getting caught up to his most recent efforts but you know we we still

have some gas left in the tank I will say Um but uh yeah it's been a ton of fun So

please check it out it's on its own feed it's also on the last of the Action Heroes

It's great.

I love dolf I'm so glad that your show exists, Sean, and I'm sure you'll

find something to keep you busy, you know, even after the final act

your

Hey as as I keep getting these guest appearance opportunities for

this for shows like this then we'll be

Awesome.

And hey, everyone listening, if you like what you're hearing, why not follow Retro

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