You won't be disappointed!

What a waste of my time!!!

This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

Neighbors in a New York co-op join their local precinct's auxiliary police force to fight the crime dominating their once-peaceful neighborhoods. Any movie comedy attempting jokes on robbery and rape isn't going to be pretty, but it should be nimble enough to successfully tread the line between satire and the reality we see every night on the TV news. Director Ivan Passer, who also co-wrote this grossly exaggerated farce with Kenneth Harris Fishman and William Richert, isn't trying to make a statement on life in the Big City, he's just sending it up (the relatively sober conclusion is meant to be ironic, I suppose, but what's the point after all the cheap gags foisted at us?). The ugly conception of the jokes coupled with an ungainly presentation and broad performances quickly turn the film into a sour enterprise--an extension of the themes in "Little Murders" but with a sitcom undermining. Pairing Carroll O'Connor (then-hot from TV's "All in the Family") in a commercial enterprise with eternally-frustrated Ernest Borgnine must have seemed surefire, but only O'Connor comes through with a legitimate characterization (would you believe Borgnine as a beautician?). The supporting cast is encouraged to ham and mug, while the theme of the picture--urban decay--is treated shallowly for crass laughs. *1/2 from ****

It's a weird thing about this comedy-drama. I first saw it as a kid back in 1975 where it played almost constantly on HBO and was one of the first movies I ever recall seeing on cable TV. At the time I thought it was damn funny and ever since it became somewhat of a lost film until Anchor Bay released it to DVD several years ago. I couldn't wait to see it again. But when I finally revisited it on disc, I'd found that much of the magic had gone and I didn't think it held up quite as well. It's worth watching for sure if you're a fan of Carroll O'Connor or Ernest Borgnine, but still stacks up as kind of a slightly lost opportunity.In this movie, O'Connor is a cab driver (and doing his usual Archie Bunker routine even though I think he was trying to prove he wasn't typecast) and Borgnine is his longtime best friend and a struggling hairdresser who owns his own salon (how's that for bizarre casting?). Karen Black is cast as Ernie's ditzy and belligerent employee, the best hair stylist he's able to find. Dwelling with their heads just barely above water in a typical '70s crime-infested New York City, the men become fed up with it all and decide to become auxiliary cops in order to help straighten the neighborhood out from the wrath of drug dealers, burglars and street scum. They get more than they bargained for in the end, which is the best part of the film, and a very strong climax.While this team-up would seem to be a sure-fire winning combination and set-up, the "story" as it's presented is practically non-existent and all over the place, which is kind of a shame. Golden moments and funnies do show up in odd places, but these share the screen time with all sorts of plot holes and different, undeveloped ideas. Worth a watch anyway if you can see it, but this could have been a lot better. **1/2 out of ****

Given the talent of the two stars of this film (who incidentally happen to be among my favorite actors), I was surprised at how much I really disliked this movie. I will admit that the cinematogrophy was great, really capturing the New York City of the mid-seventies. However, the lack of plot really disappointed me. The film goes nowhere fast, it was all that I could do to keep awake until the end. My brother picked up the DVD at K-Mart for $2.95, but it wasn't even worth that low price. If you must insist on seeing this piece of garbage, however, I recommend the DVD purchase (at the aforementioned low price), as it would be easier to fling like a Frisbee than the VHS version!-Den Corleone

This is truly one of the best serio- comedies I have ever see! The edited version shown rarely on TV does not do this film justice. If you haven't seen the un-edited version, you're missing an outstanding film. I have been looking for this film for over 20 years, but no luck. I would love to see it again, but it is on "moratorium."