Willis’ first role after The Last Boy Scout is further proof that the man can still hack it if given a smart, flippant script to chew on, but fails dismally if his testosterone-ridden hard-men aren't propped up by a plethora of snappy one-liners and caustic asides.
Here Willis is on auto-pilot as Tom Hardy, an ex-cop who blows the whistle on his partner (and cousin) Jimmy Detillo (Robert Pastorelli) for using excessive force during a routine arrest and who is subsequently drummed out of the force when he goes on TV and insists the serial killer piling up blondes on Pittsburgh's streets is not the derelict they've arrested, but, in fact, a cop.
Two years pass and Willis is hitting the drink in at least two senses as a member of the River Rescue Squad, breaking in a new partner (Parker) in at least two senses, and once again espousing his cop/serial killer theory when a series of women — all of whom share the distinction of being among Hardy's ex-girlfriends — turn up dead in his stretch of river. And when Willis' Hardy, who appears to be related to the entire Pittsburgh Police Department, finally uncovers the identity of the killer, it's a surprise to nobody but him.
