Another 48 Hrs.
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Another 48 Hrs.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Another 48 Hrs. is an action-comedy sequel about an odd-couple of crime fighters with very strong language, violence, and nudity. It is the sequel to the hit movie 48 Hrs. and once again sees Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte reprise their roles as Reggie Hammond and Jack Cates. Both Hammond and Cates are selfish and self-righteous, but are capable of doing good and caring about others. However, most of the characters are motivated by money. There is ethnic diversity among the two leads and the supporting cast, but female characters barely feature or are sidelined in stereotypical roles, such as bar staff and dancers. Violence is frequent and strong, with gun use and shootouts resulting in death and bloody injury. The sexual politics of the movie is dated, and there is some topless male and female nudity, lighthearted references to sex, and a fully nude illustration of a woman. Language is strong and frequent, with many variants of "f--k" and "s--t," along with sexually and racially charged terms. Drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes both feature in moderation. One character smokes in a hospital.
What's the Story?
ANOTHER 48 HRS. reunites cop Jack Cates (Nick Nolte) with the formerly incarcerated Reggie Hammond (Eddie Murphy), this time in pursuit of a drugs kingpin.
Is It Any Good?
This sequel came about eight years after the original movie established Murphy as a major box-office draw. Another 48 Hrs. is another chance to spend time with an iconic double-act forged in the 1980s. While it can't suppress the talents of Murphy, or that of Nolte as his gravel-voiced, misanthropic police escort, the movie also can't hide the fact that it tells a jumbled and rushed story. Possibly because 30 minutes of material was cut shortly before its release to keep a runtime down to just over 90 minutes, much of the pair's pursuit of an elusive drug lord known as "The Iceman" happens without that much discussion of this feared villain.
Released in 1990, Another 48 Hrs. does tone down the racism of its predecessor, but also runs light on new ideas, with its retread of Murphy's show-stopping shut-down of a bar from the original recycled here with diminishing returns. It's worth noting that Murphy also had two instalments of the Beverly Hills Cop franchise under his belt before deciding to return to the harder-edged 48 Hrs. series, and even co-wrote the story here. But despite its commercial success upon release, Another 48 Hrs. plays like its makers ran out of time with this one.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Another 48 Hrs.. What impact did it have? What consequences were there? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Talk about the strong language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary, or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
How did the film portray sex and nudity? Was it sensitively handled? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex.
Talk about the relationship between Hammond and Cates. Why did they work together despite their differences? What did this tell us about them as people?
Discuss the lack of female representation. Was this surprising? How might the movie be different if it was made today?
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 8, 1990
- On DVD or streaming: February 16, 1999
- Cast: Eddie Murphy, Nick Nolte, Andrew Divoff
- Director: Walter Hill
- Studio: Paramount Pictures
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Run time: 95 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- Last updated: January 2, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
-
Beverly Hills Cop
Classic '80s Murphy vehicle; fun but foulmouthed.
-
Lethal Weapon
Mismatched cops spar in violent '80s action hit.
-
The Nice Guys
Freewheeling buddy comedy has lots of mature content.
For kids who love action
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