How a failed supermarket robbery turned two unemployed men into unlikely Miami police officers
In short: In the 1977 action comedy Crime Busters, two desperate men looking for work at the Miami docks accidentally stumble into a career in law enforcement. What began as a botched plan to rob a grocery store becomes an unorthodox journey to dismantle a dangerous local trafficking gang through slapstick chaos.
Directed by Enzo Barboni, Crime Busters stars the iconic duo of Terence Hill and Bud Spencer as Matt Kirby and Wilbur Walsh. The narrative begins at the Miami docks, where the two men are rejected by shady dealers. Frustrated by their lack of employment, Kirby convinces the reserved Walsh to join him in a heist. However, their plan goes awry when they mistakenly enter a police station; to avoid immediate arrest, they impulsively volunteer to join the force.
The film follows the pair through their police training and into active duty, where their rebellious nature and unconventional arrest tactics define their service. The plot thickens when Kirby befriends a Chinese family mourning the death of an uncle, leading the duo to investigate a criminal syndicate. They soon discover that the same ruffians who denied them work at the docks are central figures in a larger trafficking operation, setting the stage for a series of physical confrontations.
Critical reception of the film has been polarized since its 1977 release. A contemporary review from the Monthly Film Bulletin dismissed the script as a dull variation of the Newman/Redford comedy formula, criticizing the direction and the repetitive nature of the choreographed fights. Conversely, retrospective analysis from AllMovie describes the film as light and likeable, suggesting that its success rests entirely on the audience's appreciation for the chemistry and antics of Hill and Spencer.
Despite the mixed critical legacy, the film achieved notable commercial recognition in its debut year. It was one of three films to receive the Golden Screen Award in 1977, sharing the honor with major productions like The Exorcist and The Towering Inferno. While some viewers find the production shaggy around the edges, fans of slapstick humor often find the performances of Hill and Spencer, supported by actors like David Huddleston and Laura Gemser, to be endearing enough to sustain the narrative.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Crime Busters
- Also: Crime Busters
- Also: Wikidata — Crime Busters · CC0
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