TURNER AND HOOCH
US, 1989, 97 minutes, Colour.
Tom Hanks, Mare Winningham, Craig T.Nelson.
Directed by Roger Spottiswoode.
Turner and Hooch is a pleasant comedy-crime drama. It also relies on audiences liking dogs. While Tom Hanks is very good as Scott Turner, a Californian policeman, Hooch is a very large, saliva-giving, heavy dog. Needless to say, the two become friends. The friendship is a variation on the odd couple - Turner is obsessively neat. Hooch is naturally untidy and slobbery.
The film highlights the relationship between policeman and dog, even to the investigation of the crime. The crime element and the police investigation take second place to the comedy. Mare Winningham is the romantic interest and a vet.
Direction is by Roger Spottiswoode, director of such good action films as Under Fire and Shoot to Kill.
1.Pleasing comedy, crime drama? Friendship between humans and dogs? The appeal of dogs?
2.California settings, the town? Special effects and stunts? Editing, slow motion - especially for the presentation of Hooch? The musical score?
3.The title, the buddy focus, working together, the odd couple?
4.Tom Hanks as Scott Turner - meticulous, getting up, dressed, cleaning his house (and later cleaning his car, cleaning his partner and his eating the cake)? At work? Showing David Sutton around? Meeting Amos, Hooch coming at him and holding him by the neck? The finding of the money, the discussion with the children finding it? His prospects and moving to Sacramento?
5.Amos, the old man, friendship with Hooch, noticing what was happening in the factory? Friendship with Turner, yarning with him? Overhearing the noise, his murder?
6.Hooch and his appearance, size, often being seen in slow motion, slobbering saliva, his serious look at his grin? Used to Amos's life? Running and getting Turner by the neck, eating the cake? Mourning the death of Amos? Causing the dog-catchers trouble? Going with Turner, to the vet? In trouble at the vet's, his eye on the collie? With Turner in the car, Turner's rules and allowing him in the home, the elaborate detail for each room? Turner going shopping, getting the best for Hooch, paying $97? In the meantime, Hooch going through the house and ransacking it completely? Turner's reaction, the bath, etc? Putting him in his own room, boarding up the door - and finding him in bed?
7.Turner and David, their investigation, the role of the sheriff? Following leads, Hooch at the office, barking at the wedding? The chase of the criminal, the pursuit, the information, searching the factory, the finding of the money in the ice? The villain at the motel, Hooch forcing him to confess? Going back to the factory, the sheriff and the showdown? The sheriff and his plan to cut Turner in? Hooch helping and the final confrontation?
8.The vet, her skill, meeting Hooch, her collie? Turner wanting to give Hooch to her but being caught? Impatient with the paint, helping her paint the house? Wariness about his relationship with her? On the beach, at home? Her theory of getting ideas - and his inability to break through the facts to intuition? Sexual encounter? Discovery of the truth? Her looking after Hooch, not able to save him? The marriage, the dogs, the happy ending?
9.Turner as chief, married, the dogs - and Hooch junior?
10.The comedy appeal, humans and dogs, the crime drama? A pleasing combination?
