Eddie Murphy Movie:

Editorial Review:
Before the action-oriented "buddy movie" formula settled into place in the 1980s and 1990s with the Lethal Weapon films, Walter Hill's 48 HRS. presented a much more irreverent and politically incorrect version of the genre. Eddie Murphy made an auspicious film debut alongside veteran Nick Nolte's consummate performance as a worn cop. Murphy plays a convict on a two-day furlough from prison to help capture his former partner (James Remar). The intense animosity between his character and Nolte's impatient detective is rude and violent--albeit in a comic way--and the film's racist and sexist banter is so ubiquitous that some viewers might be turned off. (This early, raw Murphy is not the Murphy of The Nutty Professor.) Then again, sometimes deliberate overkill is funny in itself, which is certainly closer to Hill's intention. There are a couple of scenes for the ages in this film, especially Murphy's single-handed shutdown of the action in a redneck bar. --Tom Keogh

48 Hrs. [Region 2] Reviews:
never to be forgotton
2008-08-23 - This movie may look slightly dated now, but Eddie Murphy's film debut in this flick still remains one of his best. I still find parts of this movie simply brilliant, and Nick Nolte's performance is equally as good, as cop Jack Cates and convict Reggie Hammond constantly spar verbally and physically, but with the same goals in mind. The performances and strength of the characters really bring out both the drama and comedy in this film, which balance superbly.

I won't bother going into the story as many other reviewers have done this, but this movie is simply hilarious in places and is a must see for anyone who likes an adult-comedy movie. For the record, the sequel is equally as good.

disjointed
2008-06-08 -
Nick Nolte is Jack Cates, a worn-out cop who gets Reggie Hammond (Eddie Murphy) out of prison for 48 hours to try to catch Reggie's old partner.

It's the classic misfit partners action/adventure story with a good dose of humor thrown in (it is Eddie Murphy, after all).

And actually, both actors do really well, and are very convincing in the roles. I completely buy Nolte's character as a cop who's seen it all and isn't very happy about it. And Murphy is classic Eddie Murphy--the Eddie Murphy from SNL, not the sanitized Eddie Murphy who makes children's movies. You know, the one whose standup routine broke records for the most frequent use of the word "f***."

It's just that they seemed to be in two different movies--Nick Nolte in a serious action/adventure, and Eddie Murphy in a comedy. There wasn't any chemistry between them. And that might be just me, because I just read a bunch of reviews on the IMDB that said otherwise. I know I liked it enough back in 1982 to buy the video.

Bare Bones DVD but still a classic movie
2008-03-25 - 48 HRS. is a good combo of action and comedy. Edddie handles all the funny stuff very and Nick plays a good cop. The action sequences by the stylish Walter Hill were some of the best in 1982. The film is full of action and comedy and is a real crowd pleaser. I remember reading somewhere that the role of Reggie Hammond was oringally written for Gregory Hines or Richard Pryor and one wonders the tone the film would have taken if either played the role but thankfully the chose who Murphy who carried the film very will and became a star in the making.

It is different on TV
2007-07-20 - I had seen this on TV so many times that I had forgotten how much they use the "F" word. It's too bad...they have a great story line and Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy are very funny together...if you can get past the language.

48 HRS.
2007-07-06 - Putting a thrilling new spin on the buddy film with this gritty and gripping crime drama, director Walter Hill hit paydirt, combining Nolte's bearish, no-BS mien with fiery comedic talent Murphy (still a "Saturday Night Live" cast member at the time). The result is a witty, well-acted, suspenseful thriller featuring a warring, hilariously mismatched duo. Great chemistry, intelligent writing, and wonderful set-ups (especially one tense howler in a racist redneck bar) boost "48 Hrs." to the top rank of '80s urban actioners. Exciting and full of attitude.