Armed and Dangerous (1986)

Ex-cop Frank Dooley (John Candy) and inept lawyer Norman Kane (Eugene Levy) cause chaos as guards at the Guard Dog Security Company. The duo don’t exactly strike fear into the hearts of LA’s bad guys, especially as they are frequently unable to tell the crooks from the cops.

Norm falls for the boss’ daughter and the two of them are set up to be patsies for a robbery and come up against cartoonish gangster Michael Carlino (Robert Loggia).

Dooley is a good person, a loyal friend, a brave, strong man, and a crack shot. He almost saves the day several times.

An impressive final chase scene involves two armoured cars, a stretch limo, a Corvette, a tanker truck hauling rocket fuel, an ice cream truck equipped with TOW missiles, a wonderful performance by Steve Railsback as a mad cowboy trucker, and some nice use of some old Steppenwolf music.

The spectre of Police Academy (1984) looms large, but this even lacks the grossness of that series, while director Mark L Lester, usually a proficient handler of action material, messes up the few chase sequences.

Meg Ryan would probably like to draw a discreet veil over this one as well.

Frank Dooley
John Candy
Norman Kane
Eugene Levy
Michael Carlino
Robert Loggia
Clarence O’Connell
Kenneth McMillan
Maggie Cavanaugh
Meg Ryan
Anthony Lazarus
Brion James
Clyde Klepper
Jonathan Banks
Sergeant Rizzo
Don Stroud
Kokolovitch
Larry Hankin
Cowboy
Steve Railsback
Mel Nedler
Robert Burgos
Cappy
Tony Burton

Director
Mark L Lester