Running Scared

Podding Scared

**Running Scared** is episode 151 and a standalone episode and a Guest's Choice. Posted on 11 March 2018.

## Summary

> This week is with special guest Paul Scheer (How Did This Get Made? podcast) who picked a favorite film from his youth: 1986’s underrated buddy cop movie *Running Scared*. But should more films have an extended middle act where the main characters just go on vacation? Where does this Joey Pants fall in the pantheon of Pants? How weirdly hot is Billy Crystal in this film? Together they discuss Dan Hedaya’s back and chest hair, Director Peter Hyams’ relationship with his actors and Paul’s passion for this film!
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Paul Scheer! Actor, comedian, podcaster extraordinaire!

#TheTwoFriends are excited to welcome into the studio a renowned comic improviser and a fellow movie podcaster they admire. And he got to choose the movie to discuss: a buddy-cop movie, the Gregory Hines / Billy Crystal vehicle, 1986's *Running Scared*.

It's an interesting choice because this movie seems to have been largely forgotten, yet it's good! The stereotype of the buddy-cop genre has a certain playbook, as seen in *48 Hours* or *Lethal Weapon*, but this went a different way with it in some respects and Paul got to explain why he thinks this movie should get more love.

Not only that but right off the bat they note that this movie is one of the very first big-screen roles for a certain Latino actor, and this podcast is 👏 PRO 👏 SMITS 👏

This is an interesting couple of police characters too because they're kind of not interested in being in a big action movie - they're like beat cops who don't want to make waves, just want to be done and retire to Key West and open a bar. Like in *Die Hard*, they find themselves in a dramatic big criminal situation, but unlike Bruce Willis (especially eventually as the *Die Hard* sequels piled up) Crystal and Hines aren't great at anything. It's not glossy, they're not badass heroes. They get in a shootout and it's like the first time they've ever been in one, and it's kind of relatable that way.

However, what a car chase! On the El! One of the best of the 80's.

Finally, SCOOP, Paul reveals that he actively tried to get the rights to this movie a little while back, to remake it! There was apparently some specific obstacle to it because the rights weren't owned by the studio and it didn't go anywhere in the end. But man, wouldn't it be cool to see Paul Scheer and Jason Mantzoukas rippin' it up in a movie like this?

### Milestones and Ephemera

* Physics of the Colombian necktie: near-impossible, or at least messy
* Joey Pants!
* *Universal Soldier* direct-to-video sequels: really good?
* Billy Crystal in his 30's: kinda... hot?
* Griffin Newman & Gal Godot: Both Jews, both play superheroes, so basically they're the same
* shoutout to *The Hard Way*, another 80's buddy-cop movie that should be better-remembered

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