Where to watch Blue Streak
3 1/2 Stars
Miles Logan is a jewel thief who just hit the big time by stealing a huge diamond. However, after two years in jail, he comes to find out that he hid the diamond in a police building that was being built at the time of the robbery. In an attempt to regain his diamond, he poses as an L.A.P.D. detective…
It’s not a stretch to state that Blue Streak is the best solo effort of Martin Lawrence’s big-screen career. Sure, he had other movies that grossed more at the box office, but Streak is Lawrence’s funniest on-screen work since Nothing to Lose. Blue Streak perfectly captures the comedians’ appeal and warmth while also delivering numerous chuckle-filled scenes. This is a funnier and better movie than both Beverly Hills Cop and Rush Hour, franchise starters that ignited the careers of Eddie Murphy and Chris Tucker, respectively.
Blue Streak’s script, authored by three writers and directed by Les Mayfield, has a fantastic concept for a comedy. But it’s Lawrence’s ad-libs and high energy that make the movie memorable. Blue Streak pairs the quick-tounged street-wise star with Luke Wilson, an actor known for his ‘aw-shucks’ persona and laid-back line-deliveries. The joining of the opposing personalities makes for a winning combination—one that doesn’t play off their racial differences, like other films in the odd-couple cop genre.
Blue Streak, released in late summer 1999, is the last Buddy-Cop movie of the 20th century. While it lacks the hard edge of 48 Hours and Lethal Weapon, it is purposefully more lighthearted in tone, and it is one of the best comedies of the year.
Directed by: Les Mayfield
Written by: Michael Berry, John Blumenthal, Stephen Carpenter
Starring: Martin Lawrence, Luke Wilson, Peter Greene