The Tom Hanks Comedy Remake Getting Abandoned For Future Generations
The radio and hit television series Dragnet has been a source of nostalgia for generations, making Joe Friday one of the most recognizable characters in the history of the small screen. In 1987, Dan Aykroyd and co-screenwriter Alan Zweibel crafted a film that was a humorous homage to the character, putting his likeness in modern-day Los Angeles.
While Akyroyd played the nephew of the original character (whom he was named after), Universal Pictures cast a young Tom Hanks to play Joe Friday’s new partner in the film version of Dragnet.
Tom Hanks In Dragnet
The Tom Hanks Dragnet movie follows Joe Friday and his newly assigned partner, Pep Streebek (Hanks), struggling to adapt to each other’s severely contrasting personalities and world views. Friday is a near copy of his late uncle and Dragnet namesake, mirroring his antiquated and stiff conservative views and interests while Pep is a wise ass that is right out of 1980s Los Angeles.
The two begin to adapt to each other when the case they are working on, a string of robberies and burglaries, takes frustrating turns.
Tom Hanks And Dan Aykroyd
The Tom Hanks Dragnet movie takes the detectives through a weird assignment that involves the theft of an entire print run from a local pornographic publisher, a creepy cult run by a religious zealot, and the discovery of a sinister political plot.
Throughout the over-the-top story, Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd are able to carry Dragnet to an ending that is as funny as it is ludicrous.
The movie is wacky and has the contrived plot line of countless scores of buddy-cop entries, but is still an entertaining watch. The actors make the film, for sure, as does the brilliant way the script satirizes one of America’s favorite cop TV shows.
A Different Kind Of Role
Tom Hanks in Dragnet gave him an opportunity to play a cocky character, a bit removed from the goofball types that he had played previously on screen.
But Dragnet proved to be a great vehicle for the actor, as his comedic timing and delivery were well suited to be the wisecracking and arrogant partner of the straight-laced Joe Friday.
Imagine the original series, but instead of the equally rigid Bill Gannon you have a smart alec that makes every move and line from Friday seem even more ridiculous; that’s what Hanks brought to the movie.
Joe Friday
Tom Hanks wasn’t the only comedic element in Dragnet. Dan Aykroyd plays the part of Joe Friday so well it makes you feel as though the Saturday Night Live alumni was engaged in method acting. Aykroyd’s movement, facial expressions, tone, delivery, and rigidness was a carbon copy of Jack Webb’s Joe Friday, as much of a doppelganger as it was a caricature.
Packing In The Stars
The film starred many of the day’s stars, including Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd. Each of them hammed it up enough to show that the film was just as much a parody as it was an homage to the classic TV series.
The performances by Dabney Coleman and Christopher Plummer elevated the comedic aspects of Dragnet, while heavy Jack O’Halloran (Superman) lent his skills as the film’s quintessential henchman.
Streaming Tom Hanks In Dragnet
REVIEW SCORE
The box office returns made Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd’s Dragnet endeavor a financial success, and the critics of the era were largely writing favorable reviews.
The film holds up well in the respect that the viewer has seen and understands what it is parodying but will likely lose its hold on anyone unfamiliar with the unbendable Joe Friday from the Dragnet series.
From the perspective of a reviewer that grew up watching Jack Webb in the series reruns, the movie parody arrests a rating of 3.5/5.0-stars.
Though the Tom Hanks film isn’t streaming for free, you can catch Dragnet On Demand with Vudu, Google Play, AppleTV, and Prime.
