User reviews

In a way, maybe it does weaken "Armed and Dangerous" just a little to have so much high action, but how can you not like a John Candy/Eugene Levy movie? In this case, they play security guards who discover all sorts of corruption. But mostly, it's an excuse to be silly. Low humor, sure, but still likable (especially the clothing-switching scene; I bet that they liked filming that!).

Anyway, it's one of many movies that shows what we lost when John Candy died. In other words, it's armed and dangerously funny. Also starring Robert Loggia (happy birthday, Robert!), Kenneth McMillan and Meg Ryan.

A 50 caliber...

Frank (John Candy) is a good policeman but he is framed for theft when he catches other officers pilfering electronics. He is kicked off the force in short order. Meanwhile, Norman (Eugene Levy) is an inept lawyer who messes up big time when he assigned to defend a Charles Manson type offender. The judge in the case orders Norman to find alternative work. With few options, Frank and Norman both enroll in a security guard officers training school, where they become fast friends and partners. This is, in part, because so many of their classmates are complete idiots, like the man who wonders if he should put his own name on the application line that says "name"! Frank and Norman's first assignment is to stand watch inside a factory but they soon realize that their company, Guard Dog Security, may have some criminals on the staff, ones that are stealing from the companies they are supposed to be guarding. Can Frank and Norman, with the help of the firm-owner's daughter, Maggie (Meg Ryan), expose the bad elements in the company, without getting fired or killed? This is a very funny film with abundant laughs. Yes, it may be considered a more "low-brow" vehicle, but it is still very mirthful and will cause any viewer to laugh themselves silly. Just watching the less-than-intelligent guards on the staff of the security firm makes for a fun, fun evening. Candy, Levy, and Ryan are terrific but, then, so are the relative unknowns who round out the rest of the cast. Sets, costumes, and production values are great, too. If you want to see a classic Candy film, this is a great choice, for it displays his marvelous and abundant talent, no doubt. But, anyone truly wishing to transport themselves to a world of laughter will find this one a very good choice.

This comedy at times was just your average mediocre comedy that presented nothing really new. Still at other times it really got a person laughing good as Candy and Levy were a pretty good comedy tandem. This one has Candy as a former police officer framed and kicked off the force and Levy as a very bad defense attorney. In fact, the scene where his ineptness is displayed is one of the best scenes in the movie as he must defend what looks like a Charles Manson type of criminal, a guy so bad the police found things in the place he lived made of human hair. Both men end up trying to find work as security guards in a company with a very fair and good union, well not really but this too makes for one of the funnier scenes in the movie. Well they end up sort of messing up on their first night on the job and get some really bad assignments after that as they have to guard a trash dump and a toxic waste dump, two places not really known as being places people wish to break into. Well they figure something is up and they start to unravel a conspiracy, which still makes for an okay film, but I almost wish they just continued to have misadventures as security guards. As I have said though there are a couple of good scenes even during the unfolding of the diabolical plot as a scene in a sex store as Candy keeps needing quarters to think is good and the whole thing with him and the trucker is rather good too. So all in all this is a good comedy featuring a rather good duo, to bad the only other movie I know they were in together was the bizarre Cannonball run sequel "Speed Zone".

This movie bombed at the box office but seems to have picked up a small cult through video and frequent showings on cable. Admittedly it's not a classic and Candy HAS done better films, but this one has its share of funny moments. Candy and Levy work well together. The film is somewhat reminiscent of "Police Academy" (the first one) and is certainly funnier than any of the increasingly kiddie-oriented sequels that followed that movie. All in all, a good deal of undemanding fun if you check your brain at the door.

When I think of films that just seem like they never were edited and the stories were never re-written to work out all the kinks, I can't help but think of this one.

Having been a huge fan of SCTV, I was looking forward to seeing this film. In fact, my wife and I had just gotten married and could barely afford the price of admission but we found a way because we thought with Eugene Levy and John Candy is HAD to be great! Wow, were we disappointed. While we had a few laughs here and there, the film never really gained any momentum and could have been so much better. In particular, Eugene Levy was mostly wasted in his flat and uninteresting performance. Someone apparently forgot to tell him it was a comedy! As for the plot, it's about two security guards who make good. That's really all I care to say. I mean, considering the lack of effort of practically everyone involved, why should I bother saying anything else? If it's on TV, it's worth a look if you have nothing better to do.

This is stupid comedy at its best. John Candy and Eugene Levy are in top form in this movie. Directed by Mark L. Lester (Class of 1984 and 1999, Commando) shows a great fun of Comedy and Action. Candy and Levy are great together, the supporting cast are: Robert Loggia, Kenneth McMillian, Meg Ryan, Jonathan Banks, Brion James and Steve Ralisback (In a Cameo). John Candy and Eugene Levy have a great chemistry in this film. The addition of the sweet, innocent character played by Meg Ryan a great plus. Even though the story and filming is not the greatest, their characters in this film play off each other very well to provide for some hilarious, outlandish situations and a whole slew of laughs.

This movie is a classic 80's comedy if you ask me, with a nice bit of action in it too and a good story. This movie has loads of memorable scenes such as this with easily likable characters, well defined good and bad guys and an easy to follow plot. It's not easy to create good character gags over a short space of time, but this film manages to do it and avoids a lot of the traps that other 80's comedies did by relying on visual and verbal gags alone.

Overall rating: 7 out of 10.

Frank Dooley (John Candy) is a patrol cop who catches fellow cops Nedler and Rizzo stealing TVs. However they turn the tables on Frank and he's the one dismissed from the force. Norman Kane (Eugene Levy) is an incompetent defense lawyer who leaves after his client threatens him. Dooley and Kane end up as security guards. Captain O'Connell is the owner of the security company. Lazarus and Klepper are union reps. Maggie Cavanaugh (Meg Ryan) is an instructor for the security company and O'Connell's daughter. Frank and Norman catches a group stealing from the warehouse they're guarding but they're outgunned. They are fined $100 and try to complain to the union president Michael Carlino (Robert Loggia). Kane challenges the union leaders and the guys are forced to guard the toxic dump. They investigate and find corruption in the union.

I understand how Dooley ends up as a security guard but it makes no sense that Kane becomes one. There's no point in the first act. It's not funny and the two comics aren't together developing chemistry for their characters. Once they get together, it has some better moment that is worthy of a good Police Academy movie. However there are too many moments worthy of a bad Police Academy movie. It's pretty broad and badly directed. Lester is not good at directing comedies. Candy and Levy can't salvage much from this.

I used to watch this movie every time it came on TV when I was younger. This movie didn't get a lot of attention; and it's not as good as Planes Trains and Automobiles, but it still worth watching. The last 30 or 40 minutes is great. I like the part where John is riding in truck with the cowboy and John pulls out a huge handgun. The cowboy says" I've never seen a gun like that before". John says" It's a 50 caliber, only legal in 2 states and this isn't one of them". Another part to mention is John on the motorcycle. John is in this old style biker outfit and riding an old police motorcycle. The outfit is reminiscent of something out of Rebel Without a Cause. The old motorcycle was probably a old Harley police bike. For you gun fans out there, the gun John is using is probably the 50 caliber revolver made by Ruger. This pretty entertaining film. Enjoy.

While most reviews describe this movie as 'just an average comedy', even at this, Armed and Dangerous is a laugh and a half. It's charming, fast-paced, and furthermore, I adored Candy and Levy's interactions on-screen. One minute, they're ragging on each other, the next, they're the best of friends.

The movie also has, though almost impossible to find a copy of, an excellent soundtrack, including "Armed and Dangerous" by Atlantic Starr, and, of course, half a dozen or so other popular 80s hits. With that, the movie is also on DVD, and while it doesn't have much in the way of extras, it does include anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Stereo 2.0 Surround Sound.

Possibly the only complaint one could make we might all agree on was that it was just too short. At just under an hour and a half, as endearing as each minute is, the film does leave much to be desired.

All in all, Armed and Dangerous is a mid-80s classic well-worth watching. It's the perfect blend of action and comedy, and SCTV fans will find that it's no flop for either Candy or Levy; even as the script is considered by some to be lacking, both hide it well.

I saw this movie for the first time last month, and im still laughing about it!! This movie has some of the funniest parts ever in it. This movie isnt as funny as Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, but it's pretty darn close!! If you liked Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, you should definately check this one out.

ARMED AND DANGEROUS is not one of the greats of John Candy. This film about a fired cop who ends up working for a small security system run by the mob is very weak and not very much a comedy. There are some moments that I did enjoy, like looking at Candy in a pilot suit, but it doesn't seem to matter much. ARMED AND DANGEROUS is still a dangerously disappointing dud brought to us by the director of the equally dumb actioner COMMANDO. What a sad excuse for a comedy!

1 out of 5

John Candy plays a security guard who is truly "armed and dangerous." I don't remember much about the first four-fifths of the movie. Something about John Candy dressing in drag in a porn shop. I think he caught a big fish, too. Anyway, bumbling John Candy is stuck in a traffic jam, and he needs to be at a certain place at a certain time, and people's lives are at stake, and he asks a trucker to take him there. What should the driver do: finish his run, or cause thousands of dollars of damage to possibly save lives? It's a classic moral dilemma. Well, wheels are turnin'. He even manages to upshift. They couldn't have cast a better truck for the part than the Ford CL9000, the cab bobbing up and down. This movie leaves you with the question: "If a tankerload of rocket propellant exploded, would the force go straight up?"

John Candy and Eugene Levy star in this classic comedy about an ex-cop [Candy] and a lawyer [Levy] who become security guards. Soon they're convinced that their boss [Robert Loggia] is behind numerous crimes!

John Candy and Eugene Levy both give excellent comedic performances and Meg Ryan's well-casted as their boss' daughter.

John Candy and Eugene Levy star as inept security guards who chase down a big time mobster. Inept is truly the right word for this alleged comedy...a few laughs but mostly groans and thoughts to yourself like "why am I watching this c**p?" Yes that is Meg Ryan in this too..which i am sure she doesnt want to be reminded of..a waste of a talented cast..on a scale of one to ten ..0

What a delightful treat. I wanted to check out some vintage John Candy flicks and came across this hidden gem. It was funny, smart, and had some action too.

John Candy plays Officer Frank Dooley. He loses his job as a cop after he is unfairly convicted of boosting televisions. He takes a job as a security guard but his nose for sniffing out crimes hasn't diminished.

Norman Kane (Eugene Levy) is a defunct lawyer and also works for the same security agency. The two of them partner up to investigate their security company and the security guard union. It's all kinds of hilarity as they close in on the truth of what's going on between the union, the security company, and a couple of corrupt cops.

I'm a fan of the old SCTV show from the late 70's and early 80's and John Candy was a major reason why. He was given very funny off the wall characters and was simply hilarious. Unfortunately he could not get these roles to play in the movies. Time after time I was disappointed by the mediocre movies in which he was almost playing the "straight" role instead of the funny guy. "Armed and Dangerous" rarely tries to use John's comedic abilities, or that of Harold Ramis, for that matter. It is simply a very predictable cops and robbers type of movie. If you are a John Candy or Harold Ramis fan the movie is watchable, just don't expect to laugh much.

The stage curtains open ...

Judge: "Mr. Kane, you are without a doubt one of the worst lawyers I have ever seen." Norman Kane: "Oh! Well, then I move for a mistrial."

"Armed and Dangerous" (1986) starring John Candy, Eugene Levy, Robert Loggia, and Meg Ryan was a surprisingly fun movie. This is a straight up, buddy cop action/comedy in the vein of "Stakeout", "48 Hours", or "Tango & Cash" - except they are buddy security guards instead of cops. This is, by far, the most "actiony" movie I've ever seen John Candy in, and despite the poor reviews, I felt he carried it off fairly well.

When police officer, Frank Dooley (Candy), is framed for something he didn't do, he is released from the LAPD and forced to find whatever work he can. He lands a thankless job with Guard Dog Security where he meets and teams up with former lawyer, Norman Kane (Eugene Levy). On their very first assignment on their very first night together, they stumble across a burglary in progress which leads to a company conspiracy that nobody will believe them about. Finally, they get a hearing ear from the Captain's daughter (Ryan), who is one of the trainers. Together, they do their best to uncover the plot before any more damage can be done.

I don't how I've missed watching this one over the years. I remember seeing the VHS tape sitting on the shelves, back in the day, in video rental stores, but I never gave it a chance. I finally found a copy, and decided to watch it and I was pleasantly surprised. It was fun seeing John Candy take on more of a tough guy role, and I thought he did a decent job with it, still delivering some laughs along the way. And this is the most subdued I think I've ever seen Eugene Levy in a movie. He was actually more of the smart guy, the intellectual one, and between the two of them, it works here.

I would recommend this movie at a solid 7 stars out of 10. The critics panned it, but I don't care. I never listen to them much anyway. In fact, if a critic says a movie sucks, I'm probably going to watch it anyway - LOL. "Armed and Dangerous" is action packed with a soundtrack to match, and plenty of carnage, wreckage and explosions to keep even the most critical of action fans happy. It is worth a watch, so if you haven't yet seen it, give it a chance.

This was a nice surprise. I figured it would be stupid and not all that funny. Wrong. It WAS funny. Yes, it's a harmless "no-brainer" type of movie but it was fun and had likable lead characters, people you could easily root for to make good. In this, it was a pair of security guards: "Frank Dooley" (John Candy) and "Norman Kane" (Eugene Levy).

Every comedy has its stupid moments, this included, but the good outweighs the stupid. What also makes this above-average is that it is not just a comedy. There is action and suspense in here and the combination works. Believe me, this film is not all laughs.

I watch this and makes me sad that Candy is no longer with us. He was a great entertainer.

'Armed and Dangerous' is Funny in Parts. The humor does work, but only in bits. Overall, an above-average fare!

'Armed and Dangerous' Synopsis: A fired cop and a useless lawyer sign up as security guards and find they've joined a corrupt union.

'Armed and Dangerous' runs for a brief 84-minutes, and to give its due, some of the jokes are crackling. But, some fall flat. Also, the lack of some dumb dialogue disheartens. The Screenplay isn't without merit, but it isn't as funny as it ought to have been. Mark L. Lester's Direction is passable.

Performance-Wise: The Late/Great John Candy is in good form. He contributes enormously in the goings-on. Eugene Levy is strictly okay. Meg Ryan is very charming. Kenneth McMillan & Robert Loggia are adequate.

On the whole, 'Armed and Dangerous' is harmless, but not hilarious.

It's really too bad that John Candy wasted his skills on so many horrible films (Delirious, Wagons East, Who's Harry Crumb?, etc.. This one has maybe a few chuckles, but it's mostly just really bad one-liners and dumb physical stuff. Let's honor this comedian's memory by remembering things like Planes, Trains & Automobiles and Uncle Buck.