My review was written in January 1990 after watching the movie at a Chelsea theater in Manhattan.
"Downtown" is a routine buddy cops film, with no chance to give 20th Century Fox a hit in the genre to parallel its loner cop annuity, "Die Hard".
Scripter Nat Mauldin's by-the-numbers premise has white bread young cop Anthony Edwards become the fish out of water transferred from the comfy suburbs to Philadelphia's inner-city Diamond Street district. He's had a run-in trying to arrest powerful businessman David Clennon for speeding. It's telegraphed tha Clennon will be back as the main plot cog.
Emphasizing his flair for slapstick (with oodles of blood and bruises that the Three Stooges never incurred), Edwards displays myriad forms of incompetence, instantly incurring the wrath of his new boss (Art Evans). He attaches himself, unwanted, to young but seasoned black detective Forest Whitakr and tries to solve the murder of his former partner from the 'burgs, perpetrated near the Diamond Street police station. A scam involving stolen Mercedes autos and corrupt police provides some interest along the way.
Chemistry between the two leads occasionally works, but helmer Richard Benjamin fails to maintain a consistent tone. Atop the slapstick and black humor there is some unnecessary ultra-violence and both mawkish and dramatic scenes that clash with the intended good-timey feel. Best attempt at injecting depth beyond the surface gags is Whitaker's lengthy monolog recalling the death of his first partner, delivered movingly by the "Bird" star.
Supporting turns by Penelope Ann Miller and Kimberly Scott as the leads' wives are well-played, and ic's most memorable role is Evans' showy effort as the foul-mouthed, explosive top cop downtown. Villains Clennon and Joe Pantoliano seem miscast and he thesps play it tongue-in-cheek and way too light.
Pic's biggest bone comes when Whitake is written out of the film before the last reel. It's designed as a plot twist, but comes off as pointless -one infe4rs while watching that the thesp had to run off and fulfill another film assignment. He pops back in for a coda scene but it's too late since he's missing at the de rigeur shootout with the heavies.
Tech credits are impressive, notably Terry Leonard's frequent and scary car chases and stunts. War zone atmosphere of the Philly setting is well conveyed, though the film was shot primarily in L. A.
