48 Hrs. (1982), Director: Walter Hill, rated R for violence, harsh, racial language

The boys are back in town.

Starring: Nick Nolte, Eddie Murphy, Annette O'Toole, James Remar, Sonny Landham, David Patrick Kelly, Brion James, James Keane

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I'm gonna tell you something about this man! He's got more brains than you'll ever know! He's got more guts than any partner I ever had." - Jack Cates

Why watch this? It's a pleasure watching the two lead actors slug it out.

Plot Summary: A tough San Francisco detective hunts a dangerous escaped criminal responsible for killing his fellow officers. To find him, the detective enlists the reluctant help of the criminal's former associate, a charismatic convict, who is granted a temporary 48-hour release from prison. Now, this unlikely pair must work together against the clock to track down the killer before their time runs out.

Dad's Preview: Eddie Murphy joined SNL after the show declined. I watched his stand-up routine, Raw, and was not a fan. Then, boom! This film and Trading Places became huge Murphy hits. He impressed me going toe-to-toe with veteran tough-guy Nick Nolte. The creative premise deals with two men, forced to work together: one is a burnout detective, the other a wise-ass convict. They have to hunt down two really nasty bad guys. Nolte, a real racist grump, initially hates the quick-witted Murphy... but he eventually softens. The honky-tonk bar scene is priceless.

Lawrence Gordon Pictures; Paramount Pictures