It is one of Bruce Willis’ best films, but 34 years later almost no one remembers it. His big problem was that he was ahead of his time.

Today, we have Bruce Willis retired due to a serious illness after a period where he was abandoned by Hollywood with direct-to-video films, and the occasional bomb like ‘Glass’ (2019), it is hard to believe that once stood on the crest of the wave.

He had so much power that he was able to raise a project as personal and born of vanity as ‘The great hawk‘(‘Hudson Hawk’, 1991), by Michael Lehmanntoday practically forgotten except for a legion of fans among whom I include myself. A film that, if we look closely, was ahead of its time 34 years ago.

So grab your skateboard and climbing hook, whip up a good ’40s pop song, and join in this defense of what is, without a doubt, one of the best and most forgotten Bruce Willis films.

The white-collar thief, heart of gold and voice of Bruno

Eddie “Hudson” Hawk (Willis, in the process of accepting his baldness) is a criminal who has just been released from prison. He just wants to have a cappuccino in peace, but his talent and fame are so great that, instead of a cup, he gets an extortion to steal again. Luckily for him, his partner Tommy (Danny Aiello) is at his side to help him with the blows… and in the duets.

However, his latest robbery has something special. Not just because the couple of sick puppies that are the Mayflowers are behind it (Richard E. Grant y Sandra Bernhard), or because he is being pursued by a handful of mercenaries with the name of a chocolate bar, among whom is David Caruso (in one of his best roles: he doesn’t say a word here); the coup has to do with a machine that the legendary Leonardo Da Vinci He devised to turn lead into gold.

It is obvious that Hudson Hawk will comply with what they ask of him, he will get rid of everyone who gets in his way and he will even hook up with a nun with the complexion of Andie MacDowellbut… Will he finally be able to drink that cappuccino?

Action plus time equals comedy

We are more than used to the fact that today’s American comedies, When they are not endless improvised dialogues, they tend toward stylization and spectacle.. Don’t get me wrong, there have always been comedies of this type, but when before they were the exception in a morass of tight budgets and roles for television comedians, now they are a norm. And Dave Schilling in Birth.Movies.Death hits the nail on the head about what’s happened to the genre.

Action movie or action comedy?

Because, from ‘Horrible Bosses’ (‘Horrible Bosses’, 2011) to ‘Game Night’ (‘Game Night’, 2018), through ‘Office Christmas Party’ (‘Office Christmas Party’, 2016) or ‘Tag’ (‘Tag’, 2018), you can bet on a good cup of cappuccino for the season’s box-office-filling non-French comedy will have, at least, a car chase or, at least, on foot. And it is always not recommended for children under 13 years of age, due to language and violence.

But in the 90s, as I mentioned before, mixing genres was not so popular. If a movie was an action movie, it had to stick to the action except for the occasional jokes, which had nothing to do with the gags from Marvel; If it was a comedy, unless it was for the whole family or fantastic, you knew that the biggest emotion would be, what do I know, the race to the airport to recover lost love.

It may also be that comedy today, seeing itself so markedly infiltrated by other big-budget shows, has lost its own space and has had to mix with him thriller or the action to not disappear from the billboard. Either that, or go back to the endless dialogues in search of a joke that doesn’t land.

‘The great falcon’: your mix, as strange as it may seem

‘The great falcon’ was then seen as a very strange film in terms of tone and it is still seen as such. It has the usual flavor and talent in the actioners of Joel Silver; from ‘Lethal Weapon’ (‘Lethal Weapon’, 1987) to ‘Predator’ (‘Predator’, 1987), from ‘Die Hard’ (‘Die Hard’, 1988) to ‘Demolition Man’ (1993). With bits here and there of silly comedy.

Villains at the height of the absurd

For example, Andie MacDowell She is poisoned alongside Willis and, in what appears to be an improvised scene, imitates a dolphin. The Pope of Rome makes a small appearance adjusting his television with the papal ferula. The Mayflower marriage is so exaggerated that looks like something out of a comic.

There is also room for humor typical of Warner shortslike the scene with the stretcher and the ambulance or the last fight with James Coburn…even punctuated with cartoon sounds!

With the music somewhere else

Above all, what triumphs is that musical part that I wish had included more duets by Bruce Willis and Danny Aiello. In 1991, Willis still thought he would have a career as a singer (he already had two albums with Motown), which is why he promoted this project where his interpretation is also musical.

The two songs chosen to season the film are ‘Swingin on a star’, the ideal song for a robbery, and ‘Side by side’ for an assault. I wish there were more because the protagonist and the troupe have an enviable chemistry.: Aiello adds that charisma and restraint that complements an unleashed Willis, almost hysterical perhaps for having returned to comedy, which is the genre in which he became known, thanks to the series ‘Luz de luna’ (‘Moonlighting’, 1985-1989). A three-way song with Macdowell would have been a dream.

34 years later,’The great falcon’ not only maintains the type but is currentwith a style that does not clash with the current panorama of mid-budget comedy and one of the most genuinely funny performances by Bruce Willis.

Unfortunately, even though we live in the age of streamingthe film directed by Michael Lehmann is not available to subscribers of any platform. It can be seen by paying a rental through Prime Video or Apple TV.

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