SummaryFramed by their ruthless arch-nemesis, a mismatched LAPD crime-fighting duo has to put its differences aside to even the score with the evil kingpin who put them behind bars once and for all.
Directed By:Andrey Konchalovskiy
Written By:Randy Feldman
Tango & Cash
Metascore
Mixed or Average
41
User score
Generally Favorable
6.6
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Metascore
Mixed or Average
7% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
60% Mixed
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
33% Negative
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
70
Konchalovsky handles the slam-bang action with robust efficiency, but what makes this shoot-'em-up nonsense surprisingly watchable is Randy Feldman's rapid-fire dialogue, which constantly undercuts the macho posturings while parodying Stallone's screen image...even though the spectacularly empty finale eschews character-based comedy in favour of Bond-style megabuck explosions and gadgetry.
60
The plot is a recycled mess, the dialog is awful, and the character motivation is nil, but thanks to Konchalovsky (and a strong performance by Russell), Tango and Cash is not only bearable, it's likable. Responsible for some of the finest films of the 80s, the Soviet-born director brings an insane, kinetic energy to the film that makes for effective action sequences and potent satire. A very smart "dumb" movie.
User score
Generally Favorable
51% Positive
20 Ratings
20 Ratings
41% Mixed
16 Ratings
16 Ratings
8% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
Oct 11, 2024
9
One of the best from the golden age of the action movies. Disclaimer!
Woke, soy people with green/pink hair should avoid or risk being poisoned from toxic masculinity and genuine 80's humour.
Mar 15, 2026
7
SO committed to the one-liner bit. There isn't a single serious exchange or piece of writing in this entire movie.
50
The movie's as dumb as dirt, but in the early going the action is staged well. The best thing about Tango & Cash is the series of gags to which Stallone has allowed himself to be the target. [22 Dec 1989, p.G10]
50
The ostensible humor here is of the macho one-liner variety, and much of it falls flat. There is just too much Ratso and Cowboy for us to believe in Butch and Sundance.
40
Tango & Cash is a mindless buddy cop pic, loaded with nonstop action that's played mostly for laughs and delivers too few of them. Inane and formulaic, the film relies heavily on whatever chemistry it can generate between Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell, who repeatedly trade wisecracks while facing life-or-death situations.
38
The jokes seem lame and the rivalry fraudulent, as the two boys play with their big guns.
30
However gaudy its credits, it is one more--and one of the worst written--in an endless line of clenched-up, crashed-out, buddy-buddy L.A. cop star vehicles. A waste of talent and energy on all levels.
Apr 2, 2020
6
I'm a big fan of the overly masculine, homoerotic 80s action extravaganza. So it's crazy to me that I've never seen this. It definitely hits all the Mark's two big action stars, Stallone and Russell. It has all the corny one liners, a barrage of action sequences. A whole lot of homoeroticism including Russell in some truly interesting drag and on top of it all Teri Hatcher with big hair and a dance number. **** movie actually sounds way more fun than it is. All the elements are there but they just feel so generic together. It's still trashy and entertaining but it's unfortunately never anything more than just forgettable entertainment. 3/5 Budget: $55m
Domestic Box Office: $63m
Worldwide Box Office: $63m
Mar 18, 2020
2
Tango & Cash, a 80's action film.. Way too violent, some of the humour is offensive, Kurt Russell dresses as a drag queen and the main villain is some old aged pensioner but all that's missing is his walking stick. Rubbish film that's very over the top and stupid. Avoid.
Production Company:
- Warner Bros.
- The Guber-Peters Company
Release Date:Dec 22, 1989
Duration:1 h 44 m
Rating:R
Tagline:Two of L.A.'s top rival cops are going to have to work together... Even if it kills them.
Awards
Razzie Awards
• 3 Nominations
