My memories of this film tend to be negative but re-watching it I had more fun than I thought it would. The central concept is very strong - a Russian cop in Chicago - and Arnie is very well cast. Walter Hill handles everything with skill in his 48 Hours style rather than his Warriors style.
The movie has a flaw, two flaws rather. First it doesn't have enough fun with the fish out of water concept - a Russian in Chicago. You can think of the scenes and moments easy - Arnie dealing with decadent capitalism... modern music and fashion and money... and being disgusted and taciturn. They don't give him a romance or scenes having to spend money or wear flash clothes. They don't have fn with the premise.
The second problem is the Jim Belushi character. Belushi does a good job as a crumpled cop but he struggles with his character. There's no reason for his character to dislike Russians other than just because. One minute he speaks up for a victim's rights the other he doesn't care. He's a bit sloppy but no fun is had with that. There's a fun little bit where Belushi scolds the ex husband of Belushi's sister - why not meet her? Give her a romance with Arnie.
Actually Belushi's character could be cut out of the film. You might have been better off... and had Arnie's partner in the US be Gina Gershon. Being Ed O'Ross' ex would be great conflict.
oFor some reason the film has Laurence Fishburne and Peter Boyle as officious cops. Why?
The female characters are whores, women who scream naked in bed while someone is shot, and waitresses. The actors are all pretty good though - Arnie is great, Belushi good despite his character, people like Brion James pop up, Gershon has star chops (it's a drag her character dies there's no need for it). Ed O'Ross is a very good villain.
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