You know that Hollywood is really running low on ideas when producers start dipping into the world of cheesy, nostalogic TV series of the past to create memorable movies today.  Does this mean that in the future, shows like (the overrated) "Friends" would be getting the film treatment as a slapstick comedy making fun of itself?

Actually, that would be kind of funny.

On the bright side, however, it can be said that most of these films are actually quite good even if they are completely mindless and may even lower your I.Q. ("Charlie's Angels").  Luckily, "Starsky & Hutch" could actually be one of the best movies to be based off a TV series in quite some time.

David Starsky (Ben Stiller) is the straight-laced, super-cop that is always thinking of the safety of others and never himself.  After all, he never even stops for coffee while on the clock- that would be wasting the tax payers money.  Ken Hutchinson (Owen Wilson) is on the other side of the spectrum completely.  Hell, he even works "under cover" with the criminals to rob a bookie until they are caught... in which his master plan of nabbing the kingpin is revealed.

Of course, in proper buddy flick fasion, the two are paired together by the Captain (the always cool Fred Williamson).  At first, their problem clash.  Then, their problems clash... but with hillarious results.  Finally, their problems clash, but they still manage to work together.  Sure, a plot that can be written in three sentences... but it's how it is pulled off that really makes this one shine.

How this one would have ever managed without its cast is beyond me.  There's just no way it could.  Wilson and Stiller (teaming up for the zillionth time) show that they still make a very good comedy team with Stiller usually playing the straight man and Wilson being the clown.  Vince Vaughn does a great job playing the semi-serious crime lord, Reese Feldman while Jason Bateman, as the crime lord's know-it-all lacky, really shines.  But, the best casting in recent history would have to be that of Snoop Dogg as S & H's pimp/informant Huggy Bear.  He really does have the best laughs.

Speaking of spectacular casting, WB made a fine choice in selecting Todd Philips to bring the beloved cop series to the big screen.  Though Philips tones it down a bit from his previous films, "Road Trip" and "Old School," he still shows (along with frequent collaborator Scot Armstrong) that he can land a joke even without the naughty language.  Also, un-like other recent era films (I.e.: "Dumb and Dumberer"), "S & H" fully embraces its time period, taking full advantage of everything that can be torn to shreds in the 70's.

Overall, a good comedy that wraps it up in just over 90 minutes, "Starsky & Hutch" shows what a film based on a 70's TV series should be like.

Movie: *** out of ****

DVD Extras: *** out of ****

I love my extras, and though WB does a fine job with the quantity, it's the quality that hurts.  The outtakes are rarely funning and the making-of is more like an HBO sneak-peak (which it probably is).  As for the commentary, for such a funny man, Todd Philips really is quite quiet.  

Finally, kudos to WB for finally dropping those horrible snapper cases.  This is the first DVD of many from Warner Brothers to embrace the fabulous armaray cases.  

Have to agree.  The snapper cases are finally becoming a thing of the past.  Hopefully.