The Rookie

One of the worst films directed by Clint Eastwood, The Rookie follows grizzled cop Nick Pulovski (Eastwood) as he’s forced to team up with straight-laced newbie David Ackerman (Charlie Sheen) to take down a notorious German criminal (Raul Julia’s Strom). It’s a sound (if well-worn) premise that’s employed to consistently underwhelming effect by Eastwood, as the movie, which runs a punishing 120 minutes, suffers from an episodic narrative that consists mostly of tedious, pointless sequences (ie the entirety of the midsection is essentially devoted to Nick and David’s investigation and their efforts at chasing down one clue after another). Neither Eastwood nor Sheen are able to transform their respective characters into interesting or even sympathetic figures, and it’s clear, too, that the lack of chemistry between the mismatched pair ultimately plays a significant role in the movie’s downfall. The sole saving grace of The Rookie is the ongoing inclusion of better-than-expected action sequences, with, especially, a climactic chase through a busy airport standing as an obvious highlight within the otherwise tedious proceedings. And while scripters Boaz Yakin and Scott Spiegel attempt to upend the viewer’s expectations from time to time – there is, for example, an interlude in which Eastwood’s character is raped (!!!) by Strom’s sultry henchwoman (Sonia Braga’s Liesl) – The Rookie mostly comes off as a generic, by-the-numbers buddy comedy that wastes the talents of everyone involved and sullies its director’s fairly reliable filmography.

*1/2 out of ****