Hollywood Homicide (2003)

(In theaters, June 2003) If you wanted a mixed bag of this and that, here’s the film for you. Let us run it down: The good stuff include more animated performances than usual by Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett (admittedly, that’s not saying much!), a fascinating premise mixing police work with side interests, a whirlwind tour of Hollywood’s entertainment businesses, plenty of sun and fun, some inspired comic sequences and a cool chase that uses just about every terrestrial transportation device. The bad points, alas, include an inconsistent tone, an overly complicated plot, unbelievable situations, many scenes that just don’t work and an overall feeling of production laziness. It all adds up to a curiously detached viewing experience, as if every time we wanted to like the movie, it did something stupid to avoid too much attachment. The gratuitous demise of the villain leaves a sour impression that remains.