FREE ON YOUTUBE B.R. Rent-A-Cop

The death of B.R. Burt Reynolds was the epitome of a sonny boy. He captivated his audience effortlessly, seemed happy and a little conceited. But anyone who reads interviews with Reynolds experiences a serious, analytical man. Perhaps the turning point in Reynolds career was his collaboration with Peter-Bogdanovich? During the 70's Reynolds shot in series. Bad films were hardly noticed. I imagine it that way: At the moment when he was unhappy with one of his films, the next one already started. B.R. - a trademark. But Reynolds also filmed with stars like Catherine-Deneuve and she knew nothing about B.R. It must have been like a liberation for the star! Reynolds even went on tour with Deneuve and then said: " I'm not sure my heart could stand a tour with Catherine Deneuve. I'd take along a physician - except he couldn't stand it, either..." So he was! Charming and quite naïve! He was sexy in a clear and funny way. An original, a modern Cary-Grant! I never expected B.R. to play big dramatic roles. Others should do that! All the worse I found it when during the 80s his performances were ripped off. For example, does anyone remember Rent-A-Cop, his second collaboration with Liza Minnelli (after all, an Oscar winner alongside B.R.!)? Rent-A-Cop works somewhere between Hollywood formula and a relationship story. Of course, the Hollywood clichés take over at some point, but not until the relationship story has given us some nice moments. It's the unlikely friendship between an outcast cop from Chicago (who knows) and a prostitute (Minnelli). She hires the outcast cop because someone wants to kill her. What's the next step? The policeman snaps at the prostitute and tells her to get the hell out of here. Then he gives in. She gets into danger, he saves her and in the end they fall in love. Beautiful, isn't it? Of course there are still some subplots, because the outcast cop has to be rehabilitated in the end. The director obviously switched to autopilot. But if you take a closer look, you'll find something. Reynolds and Minnelli build up a charming relationship, both are witty and quick-witted. Sometimes this relationship even has something touching (and sometimes I just enjoyed Minnelli's cynicism). Rent-A-Cop is not an ambitious movie. Nothing should stand in the way of the plot. Even details remain within Hollywood formulas. And Reynolds? Does he even seem a bit tired? Does the script prevent us from experiencing a better Reynolds? Just imagine what B.R. and Liza Minnelli would have achieved together in a quality film!