Heart Condition (1990) User Reviews

Average action comedy with an exceptional pair : Washington and Hoskins

[ma-cortes · 5/10 · 8 June 2006]

The tale concerns about Mooney , a bigoted police officer (Bob Hoskins) from Los Angeles who has problems with his captain(Roger E. Mosley). Mooney pursues a debonair ,elegant though mobster black lawyer(Denzel Washington) named Stone whose slogan is live fully while you may reckon not the cost . When Stone is dating his ex-fiancée (Chloe Webb) is seen by Mooney . Soon afterwards Stone is shot and deceased , meanwhile Mooney suddenly suffers a stroke . When he wakes , the Stone's heart has been transplanted and his ghost is now his constant companion , hoping the cop will help to avenge his killing .

The picture is a fantastic action/comedy in which there are suspense , humor, an enjoyable romance, bemusing fantasy and results to be quite entertaining . However , the screenplay is sometimes ridiculous, drags in some places and full of unlikely situations . The protagonist duo is good , as nice acting by Bob Hoskins in a comic role such as in ¨ Roger Rabbit (Robert Zemeckis)¨ , nevertheless he usually plays dramatic characters (¨ Neal Jordan's Monalisa¨) , Denzel Washington is fine but his specialty turns out to be the strong and tough roles . The production film is in charge of ¨New Line Cinema (Robert Shaye)¨ ,nowadays an important producing company with enormous success . The motion picture is regularly directed by James D. Parriott. The flick will appeal to Denzel Washington fans and fantastic comedy lovers. Rating : Acceptable, passable and amusing.

A Strange Movie

[monkeysgalore · 7/10 · 8 February 2020]

This little known fantasy action comedy released in 1990 is most notable for being an early screen appearance of Denzel Washington. Savaged by critics upon release, it has the distinguished honor of being one of a handful of films with a stunning 0% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. Misunderstood by critics and audiences alike at the time it came out, I think this film deserves to be reappraised. It's a great film, entertaining, funny, interesting for the concept alone, and maybe even a little moving depending on the mood you're in.

This film is weird though, for sure. It tries to be a little bit of everything: A buddy cop movie, a comedy, a romantic drama, and an action movie. It actually succeeds, at least somewhat, even if it's not perfect. I totally get the hate for this movie, I understand why it was savaged, and maybe it's just my love of Denzel that makes me soft to this, but I didn't mind it.

This film occurred during Denzel's strange string of films during his rise to success in the 80s and 90s. Denzel was obviously being nudged in the action star direction by his agent, which makes sense looking at his early career. It seems like for every successful, important film he did, he did another less successful, more exploitative action/thriller film; Mo' Better Blues/Heart Condition (1990), Mississippi Masala/Ricochet (1991), Much Ado About Nothing/The Pelican Brief (1993), Devil in a Blue Dress/Crimson Tide/Virtuosity (1995), He Got Game/The Siege (1998), The Hurricane/The Bone Collector (1999). Notice the pattern? Basically Denzel made a lot of great underrated films on his rise to success.

Bob Hoskins and Denzel Washington are both great in their roles, and Denzel is definitely likable even if his character is supposed to be sleazy and despicable. Hoskins isn't exactly likable, at least until halfway through the movie, but he does grow on you, and both actors definitely elevate the material above a dumb made-for-TV piece of crap.

This is described as an action comedy, but it's definitely more of a comedy with action in it. There're two action scenes, the car and foot chase in the beginning, and the final shootout. In between it's basically comedic dialogue and romantic drama. The film's drawn-out climax definitely feels like it belongs in another movie, and Hoskins isn't the first actor I'd've picked to see in a shootout (then again, I wouldn't've picked Denzel to play an obnoxious but funny ghost).

The movie's main problem is its tonal shifts. Any genre-hybrid movies will often have this problem, and this film does too. A light fantasy comedy sometimes, a heavy drama at others, and the violent climax all don't fit incredibly well-together, but it's fun so who cares? It just gave itself too many things to juggle at once, and a film shouldn't have to work too hard to achieve its purpose.

You have to go into this movie with low expectations, like me, and you'll probably be surprised, or you just have to be in a good mood.

A film of not bad condition

[videorama-759-859391 · 7/10 · 7 October 2016]

You get the feeling, right from the opening images, this is a too serious film to be a comedy. I don't think I laughed at anything, except two things, and I'm not really sure if they were, that they were from this movie. Only a couple of things manage to carry this movie off, favorably. It's definitely the chemistry between two great actors + a great actress, sorely very underused. Bigoted cop, Hoskins playing the role to a nice tee, suffers a major heart attack, after years of eating those fast foods, we so much love. He has a transplant from a dead guy, Washington. Coincidentally, it's the slick lawyer of a former girlfriend/prostitute (the versatile Webb) he's been tailing. And guess what, after surviving the heart attack, he reappears, only for Hoskins's eyes, where he implores this cop, now re-assigned to desk duty, and a strict diet, to him find the killers, he fell afoul of. Denzel is perfectly suited for his role, where we are reminded of just how good an actor he is. Webb, an actress I like, is just as good, looking beautiful as Hoskins's girl, who has a secret of her own. The film doesn't work as a comedy, despite some cute dialogue of Washington, and some mad antics from Hoskins's parading as a nutso. Still as an entertaining crime adventure film, it works, mainly from it's contributing performances, where as an end treat, we have that great song by Bonnie Raitt It also again, raises that issue of health, where like me, a too little number are adverse to eating the healthy stuff.

Lost Between Comedy and Crime

[claudio_carvalho · 5/10 · 1 January 2016]

In Los Angeles, the call girls Crystal Gerrity (Chloe Webb) and Peisha (Eva LaRue) are partying with the prominent Senator Marquand (Frank R. Roach) that has an overdose. Crystal keeps the film with the photos she had taken and together with Peisha, she meets the lawyer Napoleon Stone (Denzel Washington) that is her boyfriend. Meanwhile the racist and bigoted cop Jack Moony (Bob Hoskins) sees Stone in his car with Crystal, who was his girlfriend, and chases him despite the protest of his partner Harry Zara (Ray Baker) that wants to be promoted to detective. However Jack has a heart attack but is saved by the heart of Stone, who had a car accident. Out of the blue, Jack sees the ghost of Stone that tells him that he was murdered. Jack is forced to team-up with Stone to investigate who killed him. But no one else can see Stone but him.

"Heart Condition" is a strange film that is lost between comedy with heavy hand and crime. The plot is funny is some moments and violent in others. There are holes in the story, like for example, how Jack would explain the large amount that he had spent. In addition, this character is non-likable. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Uma Estranha Condição" ("A Strange Condition")

Disappointing

[slightlymad22 · 6/10 · 13 August 2023]

Continuing my plan to watch every movie in Denzel Washington's filmography I come to 1990's Heart Condition.

What a disappointing way for Denzel to follow up an Oscar winning role. I remember liking this, but I actually fell asleep twice, watching this, this time around.

This had so much potential to be hilarious. But the laughs are few and far between and the action is dull.

Bob Hoskins is meant to be a sort of flawed, loveable rascal, but he just comes off as an absolute douche!! He doesn't have the charm of a Danny DeVito, so he is able to do and say awful things, but you still root for him. Denzel is the best thing in the movie, has a good comic timing, but has to deliver some awful lines.

Chloe Webb (who you may recognise from Twins) has a prominent role, as the cliche'd whore with a heart of gold, who was involved with both of the main characters.

Released the same year as Bill Cosby's Ghost Dad, Heart Condition was another flop, earning less than $5 million dollars against an $10 million budget to be the years 131st highest grossing movie.

Disheartening

[view_and_review · 5/10 · 20 August 2018]

This movie was a bit mercurial--it started of terrible, then it seemed as if it was going to be a decent movie, then it changed for the worse.

Racist officer Jack Moony (Bob Hoskins) suffers a heart attack and receives a heart transplant from African-American lawyer Napoleon Stone (Denzel Washington). In came the extremely racist and crude jokes from his coworkers. This heart transplant came with more than bad jokes it came with the ghost of Napoleon Stone.

Initially, Denzel was hamming it up as Napoleon and it was uncomfortable to watch Denzel behave in such a manner. Then, the movie seemed to take a turn for the best: the dialogue got better, the plot made sense and all was right. Then, just as suddenly the movie became a chore to watch. The plot had holes and characters were behaving badly. The movie fizzled out even if it was a happy ending.

A Disappointment

[D J Cane · 2/10 · 5 June 1999]

If you are a fan of either Bob Hoskins or Denzil Washington you may wish to see this for the sake of completeness - otherwise don't bother.

Good movie

[whotobe · 9/10 · 15 November 2000]

Obviously, this is not a Neil Simon movie, but the actors do a good job with the script given. It was funny and an interesting twist to the subject matter (after all, making death and a heart attack funny is a big order). No, this is not "Ghost" but then "Ghost" was a drama not comedy. Overall, a good movie and worth seeing!

Not funny and not exciting

[SnoopyStyle · 5/10 · 22 March 2014]

Jack Moony (Bob Hoskins) is a racist loudmouth white cop. He is still in love with his ex Crystal Gerrity (Chloe Webb) who is now a working girl. Napoleon Stone (Denzel Washington) is a lawyer with questionable clients who gets gunned down. Jack Moony suffers a heart attack, and finds that he's given Napoleon's heart. Now Napoleon's ghost haunts him and together they solve his murder which Crystal is the key to.

Writer/director James D. Parriott doesn't have the writing skills for a comedy. Denzel is good as a slick lawyer, but his urban shtick sounds silly. He and Hoskins have great acting skills, but they aren't funny together. I get the sense that Denzel is suppose to be Eddie Murphy. Obviously Denzel is no Eddie Murphy. As an action thriller, there isn't enough action and it's not very thrilling. I would recommend this only for die-hard fans of either Denzel Washington or Bob Hoskins.

Boop-Boop-Boo-Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep...

[Micheaux · 9 April 2001]

An easy way to tick off Hoskins or Washington when you meet them may be your mentioning of this movie to them. I saw it at it's Los Angeles premiere and it contained ONE funny scene, which consisted of Hoskins trying to wrest a cheeseburger from spirit Washington. The movie was unfunny, racially offensive(I didn't appreciate the "endowment" comment that Washington made) and dramatically untrue in spots(if a mother just lost her son, would she be discussing her child's sexual habits with ANYONE, especially a stranger?).

It would have been a completely forgettable experience had it not been for Hoskins and Washington. They do not elevate this movie, for no one really could, but it sticks in the mind as a film that makes you wonder why these talented actors decided to do it in the first place.

People are comparing this to "Ghost" and that is indeed not without merit, however, for more enjoyable movies with ghosts, I would suggest "The Ghost Goes West" with Robert Donat and Eugene Pallette or for a more romantic turn, "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.

It's like the Ghost - but Bob is not Demi

[star-30 · 4/10 · 16 September 1998]

"Ghost" was a huge success. In the same year James Parriot's "Heart Condititon" made us feel deja vu. His film is boring, brutal and too serious for a comedy actor like Bob Hoskins (who really made us nervous with his personal "Mona Lisa"-style by the end of the movie). Denzel Washington seems to be boring too. Parriot ain't got gift for filmmaking.

This was a great movie!

[kahnlyn · 9/10 · 4 April 2007]

Very cute... one of my all time favorites. Anyone who finds this racially offensive misses the point.(It is really an ironic take on bigotry.) Just a fun and entertaining, light comedy. Both actors serve it well. Not Shakespeare of course, but engaging. As I said, one of my favs! Since I must write more to satisfy the requirements of this comment, let me also say that Bob Hoskins and Denzel Washington both shine in this satire on narrow thinking and the fact that skin color has nothing to do with love nor competency. Two thumbs up! Though I've said every thing I feel is relevant without giving away the plot I must continue to type or I will not be able to post my comment, so type away I must. This is a ridiculous requirement, but rules are rules. Some of us are are very succinct in our thinking and comments and therefore can express in a little, a lot. Hope you get a chance to check out this flick. I don't think you will regret it.;)

"Heart Condition" is far better than "Ghost"

[PyroSax · 9 February 2004]

As "Heart Condition" was made at roughly the same time as "Ghost", it was not a "copy". It ("Heart Condition") isn't a "love story" (as "Ghost" is), which let it's comedic portrayal overshadow "Ghost", in my opinion.

GREAT movie!

An ok cop comedy

[James-202 · 15 April 2000]

Not many shootouts no car chases but a few funny bits ok doesn't sound like the best film ever but its not that bad. Bob Hoskins plays detective Jack Mooney one night he has a heart attack and has to have a heart transplant sadly for him the heart of his worst enemy is the only one available.