Released in 1987, Stakeout is a buddy cop comedy that is a fun watch if you are in the mood for something very 80s. I actually like this and its sequel, Another Stakeout, although that movie is not exactly as beloved as this original is. I watched them both back to back fairly recently and had a fun time, but I do think that the original Stakeout holds up better.
How to Download Stakeout
Stakeout was released on August 5, 1987. 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. If you like buddy cop comedies, we recommend also some more recent ones such as Bad Boys: Ride or Die or Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. Both of the were released in 2024.
The Movie Review
A huge part of what makes or breaks a buddy cop-style movie is the people playing the cops. In Stakeout we have Richard Dreyfuss playing Detective Leece and Emilio Estevez playing Detective Reimers. They have great chemistry together and I think that they are a huge reason as to why this is such a fun movie.
These are two very different detectives. Leece is an older “wiser” detective whose personal life is in the toilet as his wife has left him. He is a good man and a good cop and I think that Richard Dreyfuss does a great job of bringing him to life and making you want to see this guy be happy and catch a break in love.
Then we have his partner, Reimers. Reimers is the younger cop and while he is “younger” he is not insufferable and is more level-headed than you would think. There are even a few occasions where he is the voice of reason. I am a big fan of Emilio Estevez and have always felt that he deserves way more respect than he gets for the various entertaining roles he has done over the years.
Plot and Chemistry
The plot of Stakeout as the title suggests, revolves around a stakeout. A criminal called “Stick” has escaped from prison with one of his buddies and the FBI has called in Leece and Reimers to stake out the house of Maria, Stick’s ex-girlfriend. They are sure that Stick will try and contact her and they are right as he stashed a ton of cash in the house before he went to jail.
Leece and Reimers stake Maria’s house out, but they eventually have to interact with her. This is where things get complicated as Leece falls for her, making this already rather tricky case even more interesting. Of course, Stick finds out and it all goes to hell. I do think that Stakeout is a pretty predictable movie, but it is a fun ride and you do not mind that the ending is something you can see coming a mile away as you do really grow to like Leece and Maria.
Final Thoughts
For me and in my own personal opinion, Stakeout is not a movie I would say is an all-time classic, but it is still a fun 80s buddy cop movie that is worth checking out. It is rather shallow, but it is so much fun, you will not mind at all. If you are in the mood for an 80s movie and want something light, entertaining, and easy to watch, you cannot go wrong with Stakeout.
