Murphy’s Law (1986) Cannon/Action RT: 100 minutes Rated R (language, strong violence, nudity, sexual content, alcohol abuse, drug material) Director: J. Lee Thompson Screenplay: Gail Morgan Hickman Music: Marc Donahue and Valentine McCallum Cinematography: Alex Phillips Jr. Release date: April 18, 1986 (US) Cast: Charles Bronson, Kathleen Wilhoite, Carrie Snodgress, Robert F. Lyons, Richard Romanus, Angel Tompkins, Bill Henderson, James Luisi, Clifford A. Pellow, Janet MacLachlan, Lawrence Tierney, James Thor, Mischa Hausserman, Cal Haynes, Hans Howes. Box Office: $9.9M (US)
Rating: ***
We all know what Murphy’s Law is. It states anything that can possibly go wrong, will go wrong. Then there’s Jack Murphy’s Law. It’s simple: “Don’t f*** with Jack Murphy.” It’s a good rule to live by seeing as Jack Murphy is played by Charles Bronson (Death Wish).
Jack is at a low point in his life. He’s a burnt-out, alcoholic cop whose wife (Tompkins, Prime Cut) left him for the manager of the strip club where she performs nightly. He frequently shows up to watch her perform even though it disgusts him. He’s in the crosshairs of a powerful mob boss, Frank Vincenzo (Romanus, Mean Streets), who swears revenge on Murphy for shooting his brother, a violent sociopath wanted for murdering a woman. It’s a lot, but it’s nothing compared to the s*** storm that’s about to rain down on him.
Somebody from Murphy’s past is about to turn his life upside down. Joan Freeman (Snodgress, Diary of a Mad Housewife), a psychotic killer recently released from prison, is back in town. She wants revenge on everybody who had a part in putting her there, especially the arresting officer, our friend Jack Murphy. She retaliates by murdering the ex-wife and framing Jack for it. He’s arrested and placed in lock-up where he’s handcuffed to Arabella McGee (Wilhoite, Private School), a young, potty-mouthed car thief he nabbed earlier for stealing and smashing his car.
Before you can say “JAIL BREAK!”, Murphy escapes from custody still handcuffed to McGee. He drags her along as he steals a police helicopter and crash lands on a barn belonging to pot farmers. They manage to get away, of course. Now Murphy has to figure out who’s doing this to him and why while Freeman continues her killing spree.
As far as Bronson actioners go, Murphy’s Law is pretty good. It’s not one of the most pleasant films ever made, but Bronson isn’t exactly known for that kind of thing. Directed by J. Lee Thompson (10 to Midnight), it’s brutal and dark and populated by sleazy, unlikable characters like the private eye (Tierney, Reservoir Dogs) hired by Freeman to gather info on her intended targets. His attempts to extort more money earn him a gunshot in the mouth. Although he’s only in it for a few minutes, it’s always cool seeing an old vet like Tierney show up no matter how briefly.
There’s nothing especially original about Murphy’s Law. It’s predictable right down the line with no surprises. The revelation of a dirty cop in Murphy’s unit is anything but revelatory. You know right away this guy is a rat. It’s also no surprise that Murphy and McGee will come to like each other after a period of trading barbs and insults. She has a real mouth on her, this girl. She calls Murphy names like “dildo nose” and “butt crust”. She tells him to “suck a door knob” and “go jump a flagpole”. Is it any wonder he threatens to wash her mouth out with soap in the final scene?
Bronson gives his usual stone-faced performance. It’s hard to tell the difference between hung over Murphy and functioning Murphy. Wilhoite can be annoying at times. A lot of what comes out of her mouth is childish. Snodgress overplays it to the hilt as a psycho serial killer. At times, you’re tempted to laugh at her performance. Then she goes and kills somebody in cold blood. It’s hard to believe she was once nominated for an Academy Award, but she’s not the only respectable actor to accept a role in a film they know is trash.
Murphy’s Law is an entertaining enough action flick, purely B-level. It’s no better or worse than most of Bronson’s later movies. It has some cool scenes like when Murphy shoots the mob boss’ brother in an airport as he attempts to flee to another country. The finale is pretty good with Murphy taking on all his enemies (mobsters, dirty cop and Freeman with a crossbow) in one fell swoop. Incidentally, it occurs inside the Bradbury Building, the same place where the rooftop climax of Blade Runner took place. Now that’s really cool!
I will close with a rather funny anecdote about something that happened at the theater. I saw it on a Saturday afternoon (April 19, 1986) with my dad. There was an older couple sitting a couple of rows ahead of us. They didn’t look like they belonged. Throughout the film, the woman appeared uncomfortable while the husband got more and more aggravated. Finally, he leans over to her and says “I thought James Garner and Sally Field were supposed to be in this.” The wife responded, “Dear, that’s Murphy’s Romance.” That’s when he said, “That’s it! We’re leaving!” I had to laugh at that one. The takeaway is always make sure you’re at the right movie. Murphy’s Law is strictly for the action fans. All others need not apply.
