An absolute waste of money

A Disappointing Continuation

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Fuzz follows the trials and tribulations faced by the officers of the 87th Precinct in Boston as they go about trying to put the bad guys away. While they're working a number of cases throughout Fuzz, the film focuses on their attempts to locate and stop a mysterious killer known to them as The Deaf Man. He's already killed two local government officials and now has his eyes set on the mayor.I've been aware of the movie Fuzz for years, but only watched it for the first time last night. My preconceived notions were that the film was a gritty Burt Reynolds / Raquel Welch police drama involving a crazed killer. In reality, only part of that is true and that leads to some of the film's greatest weaknesses. To begin with, while Reynolds and Welch might be the names in the cast, this is actually an ensemble piece. Their participation and importance is no greater than their co- stars. In fact, I'd say that Jack Weston and Tom Skerritt feature more prominently than either of the "stars". And, once the case Welch is working is solved, she disappears from the movie for the final 30 or so minutes altogether. All are capable and talented actors, but if you're going into Fuzz for a heaping helping for old Burt or Raquel, you'll be sadly disappointed.As for gritty, sure, parts are. Subplots involving rape and setting winos on fire isn't pleasant. And the film has that New York, dirty, gritty look to it that you only find in films from the 70s – it really can't be replicated. But this isn't something like Across 110th Street. Fuzz attempts to throw comedy into the mix – and does it very poorly. For example, the police stake-out a local park in an attempt to catch the killer. Burt goes in undercover – but he's dressed as a nun. How (not) funny – Burt Reynolds dressed as a nun, complete with that push-broom mustache. The end result is a very uneven film. Finally, while the police are out to catch The Deaf Man, that's only one plot thread in the film. At the beginning of the movie, the police are so concerned with the painters in the precinct, they can't even be bothered with The Deaf Man's calls to the station threatening a commissioner's life. He actually has to call back about three times before they take him seriously. Even then, the killer still isn't the main focus with the mad rapist and the crazed kids out burning bums taking up valuable screen-time. I'm pretty sure the film is at least at the hour point before we even seen The Deaf Man. And his ultimate capture is a real letdown. The cops sort of accidentally stumble their way into finding him. And just as quickly, the movie ends. Despite all the problems I had with Fuzz, I can't really give it an overall bad rating because I still had a surprisingly good time watching it. As I've already indicated, it's got a nice 70s vibe to it, there are some quality actors in the film, and there are occasions where, despite the flaws, the plot works (the death of the Parks Commissioner being a prime example). Overall, a 5/10 from me.

Writer Evan Hunter concocted this irreverent cop drama, basing it on one of the "87th Precinct" stories which he wrote under the Ed McBain pseudonym. Overall, it's an amusing and watchable addition to the canon of 1970s cop films, although, like a lot of things, it's sometimes funny and sometimes a little tiresome. But its incredible lineup of talent in front of the camera and location shooting help to make it an agreeable diversion.The main story thread here is that of a murderous extortionist known only as "The Deaf Man" (Yul Brynner, who's lots of fun), but other cases that the heroic & "inept" detectives of the 87th Precinct work on include bums being set on fire, a rapist on the loose, and the constant tailing of a lowlife named Anthony La Bresca (top character actor Don Gordon). New to the precinct is Eileen McHenry (Raquel Welch), a female detective hired to be a decoy for the rapist.Top billed Burt Reynolds is in fine form here, and he works well with Jack Weston and Tom Skerritt as his associates. They make for an enjoyable team. Welch (looking *extremely* sexy here) and Reynolds, however, were NOT on speaking terms (dating back to making "100 Rifles" together), leading to some awkward staging. Director Richard A. Colla handles the blend of humor and darker elements with some competence if not flair. The film does have a chaotic feel to it in its earlier portions, especially as the offices are being repainted.There are so many familiar faces in "Fuzz", but it's better if I save time on listing them and just let potential viewers see them for themselves.Fans of the book charge that this falls far short when book and film are compared, but if you take this on its own terms, you too may feel that it yields adequate entertainment. Funniest sight: Reynolds and Weston, undercover, dressed as nuns.Seven out of 10.

I like Burt Reynolds in a comedy such as "The End", and was hoping for something along those lines here. "Fuzz" is not even close, and certainly cannot be considered a comedy. Any effort at humor seems extremely forced, and just plain not funny. A pretty good cast is almost totally wasted, Reynolds and Welch most notably. Tom Skeritt seems simply along for the ride. Too many characters with little or no development, and a plot that stretches credibility to the extreme. I mean, letting anybody near a bomb target's car, nevertheless under the hood, is a real rubber band job. I rate this 1.0 out of ten for all of the above reasons. - MERK

By reading comments left by others, I can tell they never read the book "Fuzz" by Ed McBain. I think this is the WORST adaptation of a book I've ever seen. Ed McBain's stories are great! This movie was one TOTAL let down.In response to other's comments: the final shot with the hand in the water is because the Deaf Man was supposed to survive and come back to terrorize the 87th Precinct several more times. If this movie was any good, perhaps they had a sequel in mind. Also, Eileen McHenry's (Burke, in the book), played by Welch, rape scene seemed almost gratuitous whereas in the book, the rapist was successful and this became the root of her troubles and ambitions in the future of the series of 87th Precinct books.This movie showed NO storyline. It was merely scenes (poorly shot and directed) pieced together to form a not-easy-to-follow plot. All these scenes lacked so much detail and explanation, that the viewer was left wondering what was going on. For example, while in the park on stakeout, the blind man with the dog was really a cop (who later shot himself in the foot). This character was never introduced in the movie.Had it not been for Reynolds and Welch (sex symbols of the time) I don't think anyone would have noticed this movie was in the theaters.