It’s rare to see someone given a chance to direct scenes involving gunfire, but this is one such instance. Running Scared comes from director Peter Hyams, who also handled the cinematography, and features a script by Gary DeVore, Gary DeVore and Jimmy Huston. The cast includes Billy Crystal, Gregory Hines, Steven Bauer, Darlanne Fluegel, Joe Pantoliano, Dan Hedaya, Jon Gries, Tracy Reed and Jimmy Smits, with music composed by Rod Temperton. The pairing of cops in a comedic action movie has proven to be quite successful over time. This film is an enjoyable and often overlooked gem from the 1980s that exemplifies this formula. The story follows Hines and Crystal as Chicago police officers—tough guys who crack jokes—assigned to take down drug kingpin Julio Gonzales (Smits). Their plans are complicated when they decide after a vacation in Key West that they’re done with police work and want to retire there. Will they manage to bring down Gonzales? And can they survive the process? These questions are answered over a breezy ninety-five minutes. The rapport between Hines and Crystal is undeniable; they make an excellent team, and it's easy to become fond of them. As expected for this type of film, their methods aren’t always by the book. The jokes come quickly and land well—the supporting cast members are also well utilized (Pantoliano being particularly entertaining). Adding to the mix is the presence of two younger officers eager to take over from Hines and Crystal, creating some competitive tension. There's a subplot involving an ex-wife that feels important to the story, but Fluegel’s role is surprisingly small. Smits also doesn’t quite come across as a truly menacing villain, though he too seems underdeveloped. If you enjoy this kind of genre film, particularly those made in the 1980s and appreciate the filmmaking style of that era, then you'll likely find it entertaining. It earns a solid 7/10.

Source on TMDB