I picked up the 4K release of 48 Hrs. and Another 48 Hours on sale recently. I loved these movies when I was a teenager in the 90s and it has probably been the better part of 25 years that I have seen either of these. As soon as I saw it in the sale section, I got a big smile on my face and knew that I had to get it. The first movie, 1982’s 48 Hrs. holds up really well and is still a super fun buddy cop action movie.
How to Download 48 Hrs
48 Hrs was released on December 8, 1982. You can download or stream the film from a digital platform. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice.
48 Hrs. Review: Eddie Murphy’s Explosive Film Debut
Speaking of which, I had no idea that this is regarded as the movie that started the buddy cop boom of the 80s! Also, 48 Hrs. is the first ever movie to star Eddie Murphy (check him out also in Changing Places or Beverly Hills Cop) and the movie that would launch him as a massive movie star for the next several decades! I am pretty excited to talk about this one as it is awesome when I watch a movie I loved as a kid and it still holds up.
Plot Breakdown: Action, Comedy, and a Race Against Time
A criminal called Albert Ganz manages to escape from prison, aided by his friend and partner in crime, Billy Bear. Ganz and Bear make their way to San Francisco, killing a former member of their gang in the process, as well as two San Francisco cops! This is a pretty action packed opening and it gets you pumped up for the movie right at the start.
Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy: Iconic Duo in 48 Hrs.
Well, there was a third San Francisco cop here, Nick Nolte’s Jack Cates. Cates is desperate to track down and bring Ganz and Bear to justice as he was there when his partners were gunned down. Cates is a great character, a very typical straight talking, no nonsense kind of 80s cop.
Turns out that Ganz had a former partner, a guy called Reggie Hammond. Reggie is played by Eddie Murphy and he is awesome, it is so easy to see why the world fell in love with Eddie Murphy and he became a massive star after this. Reggie is in prison, doing time for a crime that Ganz screwed him over with, however, Cates feels that Reggie may be able to help track down Ganz and Bear.
The Chemistry That Defined a Genre
It is agreed that Reggie can be released from prison for 48 hours to help Cates track down Ganz. What we get is a hilarious buddy cop movie where these two very different people have to work together. The thing is, they are so different that it works! It is very easy to see how pretty much every buddy cop movie that came after this, followed the formula that is here.
Final Thoughts: 48 Hrs. in 4K is a Must-Have
This is just really fun stuff, it has comedy, action, and characters that you actually care about. While Cates and Reggie argue and even fight, they do start to bond and respect each other, working together to bring down Ganz. 48 Hrs. is a movie that has a ton of heart and as I just said, you truly do like the characters, especially when they are together.
I had a great time watching this again and that 4K double pack is awesome I was very happy with the picture and sound quality. While I do prefer the Beverly Hills Cop movies, I could completely understand why someone else may prefer this. If you want some 80s action and fun, you really cannot go wrong with 48 Hrs.
