The Big Easy is a sexy thriller from 1987 that captures the essence of New Orleans. There are no drunken revelers throwing beads here, but the city’s flavor is captured by director Jim McBride, who guides a strong cast through a decent mystery.

Leading that cast is a 33 year old Dennis Quaid who was still a vibrant and sexy leading man rather than someone with a pinched face who looks more like an aging Warren Beatty every day. Another Beatty, Ned, (no relation to Warren) gives a strong performance in his role as a dirty police captain who is about to become Quaid’s stepfather. Beatty, often thought of as simply a good character actor, can occasionally be great. His Academy Award-nominated performance in Nashville is one such example.

Ellen Barkin rounds out the lead actors, and her performance is solid, but the character weakly fluctuates between kittenish young woman lawyer and frigid ice queen. There are many times when the audience may expect one reaction and receive an entirely different reaction from Barkin’s character. You can blame McBride and writer Dan Petrie for the fluctuations. One especially annoying moment comes when Barkin’s character gives in too easily to Quaid’s romantic overtures. Even after seeing Quaid accept a bribe on videotape, this paragon of legal virtue soon finds herself back in Quaid’s arms and entirely unbelievable.

Viewers will also want to watch John Goodman in a role before his Roseanne breakout. Those expecting the nice, safe father figure are in for a fun surprise.

Speaking of Surprises

Writer Daniel Petrie, Jr., in his first movie following Beverly Hills Cop, lightens the gritty action just enough to make this film less intense than it could have been. Where Eddie Murphy’s Cop was a comedy with a mystery subplot, The Big Easy is a mystery softened by comedic moments. There is no denying that Beverly Hills Cop was a terrific comedy, but I prefer Petrie’s writing here, although with Tom Hanks’ Turner and Hooch also under his belt, Petrie clearly likes writing comedy first.

He does an excellent job framing the villains by laying a trail of red herrings. Viewers will immediately guess who one villain is, but the others will surprise even mystery fans. The splendid misdirection is well worth your viewing time.

The other surprise is Dennis Quaid’s accent. His Remy character is a young, handsome police officer from a family of police officers. Quaid uses Louisiana slang and twists his voice into a passable N’awlins accent. Listening to him do so was gratifying since he has done some awful accents, especially his twang in The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia.

Other Easy Stuff

According to IMdb.com, Robert Redford says this was the first film ever sold at his Sundance Film Festival. What no doubt appealed to the distribution team was the strong story and Remy’s struggle with degrees of being wrong. Is accepting a free meal at a restaurant okay? If so, what about a payment from a bar so that police are always close by and willing to look the other way? Determining whether that path leads to murder and drug dealing is the choice Remy faces.

McBride directed Quaid two years later in Great Balls of Fire, and you can see the unbridled passion Quaid showed in that role in The Big Easy. Through all of the action, heat and romance, however, is a good boy who stays in touch with his mother and extended family and secretly uses his ill-gotten proceeds to put his younger brother through college.

The Bottom Line, Popcorn Kernels and All

Filmed in New Orleans, The Big Easy does a wonderful job in bringing that unique city’s ambience to film. Quaid’s attempt to solve a gang war that isn’t a gang while clearing his name and falling in love with a district attorney who wants his badge delivers plenty of action for those fans while dishing out more than its share of romance and comedy.

Five Things To Remember From This Review

1. The Big Easy is set in New Orleans and was filmed on location.
2. Think mystery with comedy, not comedy with mystery.
3. Ned Beatty does a terrific job in his role as police officer and surrogate father to Quaid.
4. The Big Easy marks the first collaboration between Quaid and director Jim McBride. They would work together two years later on Great Balls of Fire.
5. There is not only a surprise ending, but a surprise villain. Viewers will have a tough time guessing that person’s identity.

Joubert’s FunLink

You may not be in Louisiana, but you can eat with a Cajun by following the more than 50 free recipes at this Mardis Gras site:

http://www.mardigrasday.com/mardigras/food.php


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good Date Movie
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age