Jeanskynebu the audience applauded

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Lachlan Coulson This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Ella-May O'Brien Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Scott LeBrun "City Heat" pairs two macho screen icons, Clint "Dirty Harry" Eastwood and Burt "The Bandit" Reynolds, in an average cops & gangsters saga set in 1933 Kansas City. Clint is ultra-straight police lieutenant Speer, Burt is wisecracking gumshoe Mike Murphy. They were friends when they were both on the force, but now they're often at odds with each other (exactly why there was a falling out, we never really learn). They must work together when Mikes' partner Dehl Swift (Richard "Shaft" Roundtree) buys a whole lot of trouble by getting mixed up with competing gangsters Primo Pitt (Rip Torn) and Leon Coll (Tony Lo Bianco), and a stolen set of ledgers.There are some interesting behind-the-scenes stories that are, in truth, more amusing than the tale being spun in the movie. Apparently, this was originally going to be directed by Blake Edwards, but Clint gave him the boot, ultimately settling on actor-turned-filmmaker Richard Benjamin as a replacement, and brought on a number of his cohorts, including producer Fritz Manes and composer Lennie Niehaus. And Burt got hurt badly during the opening fight set piece; like a trouper, he finished the picture, but could never work for long, and unfortunately suffered some lasting effects from his injuries.The stars are in fine form, as they banter back and forth. Burt definitely has the funnier role and makes the most of it; he's charming as usual. And they're wonderfully supported by Roundtree, songstress Irene Cara, Torn, Lo Bianco, and a typically amusing Madeline Kahn. Lots of familiar faces in small roles, too: William Sanderson, Nicholas Worth, Robert Davi, John Hancock, Jack Thibeau, Gerald S. O'Loughlin, Art La Fleur, Jack Nance, Harry Caesar, Hamilton Camp, Arthur Malet, Beau Starr, Richard Foronjy, and Joan Shawlee. But it's a lot of acting talent wasted on what is really just a so-so script. It has some pretty funny humour, but is often played fairly straight, with a lot of gunfire and a few explosions along the way.During the Christmas season of 1984, "Beverly Hills Cop" ended up kicking this movies' ass at the box office, and almost 34 years later, this movie still doesn't have a LOT to recommend it. But it's zippy enough, and reasonably well paced, with some decent period recreation and a nice jazzy score by Niehaus. Thanks to this cast, it certainly remains watchable.Six out of 10.

MartinHafer In 1984, Burt Reynolds and Clint Eastwood were two of the biggest box office draws in Hollywood. So, teaming them in "City Heat" seems like a no brainer...a sure fire hit. However, inexplicably, the film isn't particularly good and I would go so far as to say it is a pretty full picture overall...which is odd for a gangster movie.Mike Murphy (Reynolds) is a private eye who used to be a cop. His partner is foolish...and tries to blackmail some gangsters. Not surprisingly, he's soon killed and these same folks think Murphy knows about the blackmail...and decide to kill him. However, he is totally in the dark on all this and just wants to be left alone. At the same time, a tough but laconic cop, Lt. Speer (Eastwood) just happens to be hanging out and eventually gets involved as well.The biggest problem with the film is the lack of chemistry between Eastwood and Reynolds. Instead of teaming them up at the start, they don't start actually working together until late in the movie. Additionally, Reynolds' dialog is clichéd and Eastwood's is practically non-existent (zombie-like I might venture to say). It's crazy but halfway decent writing AND some sense of enthusiasm and fun by the two stars would have helped this one a lot! As it is, it's a film I'd only recommend to folks who love the two actors and simply watch anything and everything they made. Otherwise, it wouldn't be hard to do better.By the way, the idea of a black and white man working together as partners is nice...but it's also a 1980s idea...something you simply wouldn't have found in the 1930s when this story is set. Also, the shootout scene is incredibly dumb. They were only standing about 50 feet apart and fired hundreds of shots...yet NO ONE is shot?! Huh?! A whole lotta effort but no connection...it sounds like the plot and characters as well.

Spikeopath The weight of expectation for City Heat was massive, two iconic Hollywood actors together in a buddy buddy cop movie, one with nods and homages to film noir and old school gangster movies, it wasn't unreasonable to expect a movie to sit with the best on Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynold's then CV's circa 1984. Unfortunately it's no masterpiece or close to being in the upper echelon's of each actor's respective works. But that doesn't make it a bad film.A change of director saw Blake Edwards replaced by Richard Benjamin after Eastwood and Edwards, ahem, couldn't see eye to eye, so that immediately put the film on the back foot in many critic's eyes. Ironically Benjamin does OK - working from Edwards' script (there's a whole bunch of back stories and tittle-tattle assigned to this film if you care to search for it). Lots of fun here, though, as Clint and Burt, one a cop, the other an ex-cop turned PI, reluctantly team up to cut a swathe through the gangsters ruling the roost in prohibition era Kansas City.Eastwood does his straight backed machismo act, throwing awesome punches along the way, while Reynolds is wonderfully cheerful as a tough guy who all things considered, would rather not get hurt! The script is full of zingers, delivered with customary sardonic self parody by the stars, while the roll call of supporting actors is not to be sniffed at. Period detail is high end, with Nick McLean's photography carrying the requisite neo-noir impact, while the music tracking is pleasingly nostalgic.It's over the top of course and needlessly convoluted as per its yearning to be noirish, yet if you can cut back your expectation levels? And you can simply enjoy the sight of Eastwood and Reynolds having fun romping in this period? Then you just might enjoy this more than you dared to believe. 7/10

SunCanyonRoad Many reviewers have missed the mark when judging "City Heat" starring Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds. The film has been snubbed almost since its release in 1984 and that is truly a shame. For what it is worth, "City Heat" is really a very entertaining buddy film. Most (if not all) critics fail to realize "City Heat" not only makes fun of the established stereotypes of its two lead stars, but it does so very well. This is what spoof comedy is when you have 2 of Hollywood's biggest stars spoofing themselves. A wonderful, and truly memorable scene that emphasizes this point is the scene where there is a shootout in the street and Reynold's character is cowardly (or smartly) hiding behind a parked car, while Eastwood's character walks right down the middle of the street blasting everything with a shotgun with no fear of being hit by the baddies. Reynold's reply directly to Eastwood during this is, "So that's all you got to do huh? Walk right down the middle of the street?" Reynolds delivers the line flawlessly and that's just one funny example. Yeah, "City Heat" isn't Academy Award stuff, nor would you shoot it straight to the top of an Eastwood or Reynolds best list. However, it is still very entertaining, funny and often charming too. If I was a fan of either Eastwood or Reynolds and had not seen this because of bad reviews, I'd suggest you give it a legitimate shot with an open mind. You just might be pleasantly surprised like I was.