Shakedown 1988

Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune: A rollicking, thrilling and funny police picture that makes "Beverly Hills Cop" and its sequel look as if they were photographed in slow motion. Read more

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: Mindlessly enjoyable escapist fare in which a courtroom drama is enlivened by intercutting it with a couple of wholly improbable but spectacular chases in--and above--New York. Read more

Janet Maslin, New York Times: In ''Shakedown,'' something fancy happens every 15 minutes or so, which is part of what makes the whole film so unremarkable. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: The problem with routine crime and law enforcement fantasies of this kind is that their vague stabs at authenticity are completely subverted by action sequences that belong in Road Runner cartoons. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: It's an assembly of sensational moments, strung together by a plot that provides the excuses for amazing stunts, and not much else. But then not much else is needed. Read more

James Christopher, Time Out: This heady mix of sleaze and comic book heroes smacks of big box office bucks and a long life on the video shelf. There ain't many better accolades than that. Read more