Murphy’s Law (J. Lee Thompson, 1986)
“I don’t like mayonnaise”
Divorced alcoholic maverick cop Jack Murphy is arrested on suspicion of killing his ex-wife. To prove his innocence, he escapes from jail, but wait! He’s still handcuffed to an irritating car thief with a foul mouth! Oh no! Chaos naturally ensues… It’s Cannon! It’s 1986! It’s Bronson! Look out!
So, Murphy’s EX-wife is now a stripper in a seedy men’s club near the Chinese district. Jack is now married to Jack. Jack Daniels, that is. Out of the blue, his EX-wife is murdered, and Murphy is the prime suspect! To prove his innocence, but not his sobriety, Jack must escape from jail with a sweary-irritant in tow, and the two cuffed misfits go on the run; Murphy in search of answers, and the young car thief in search of a decent script!
This. Is. Cannon. And the ridiculousness of Murphy’s Law borders on comic book. But that, I suppose is it’s charm. Quirky, cheesy, and sometimes violent, Murphy’s Law delivers top drawer Bronson entertainment!
The film is poorly edited (co-credited to the director’s son, no less), but the rest of the Murphy’s Law is a decent enough painting by numbers Cannon/Bronson job that entertains. The casting of a female villain (Carrie Snodgrass) was way ahead of it’s time though, and is a pleasing touch to a typically clichéd Bronson affair. I enjoyed it a lot. Bronson was still good value for money back then, and as long as you switch off the mind and have a couple of beers, you’ll find Murphy’s Law decent entertainment.
On this German Blu-ray there’s a fantastic trailer!
