Blue Streak (1999)

36% of critics liked it
(69 reviews)
65% of users liked it
(185,080 ratings)

Can a crook go straight without really trying? Jewel thief Miles Logan (Martin Lawrence) was being chased by the police after a robbery when he was forced to hide a cache of diamonds, worth $20 million, at a construction site. Despite his caution, Miles ended up behind bars anyway; after serving his… More Can a crook go straight without really trying? Jewel thief Miles Logan (Martin Lawrence) was being chased by the police after a robbery when he was forced to hide a cache of diamonds, worth $20 million, at a construction site. Despite his caution, Miles ended up behind bars anyway; after serving his time, he goes back to retrieve the stones only to discover what was being built: a police station. Miles needs to spend some time at the station to figure out what happened to his nest egg, so he sneaks in, posing as a police detective. Trouble is, he's so convincing that the cops assign him a rookie partner, Carlson (Luke Wilson), to put through training. To his surprise, Miles turns out to be a good cop, and the more he tries to find the missing diamonds, the higher he's promoted through the department, until he finds himself in line for a top spot in the detective's division. Supporting Lawrence and Wilson in Blue Streak are Dave Chappelle, William Forsythe, and Nicole Parker. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Les Mayfield
Written By: Michael Berry, John Blumenthal, Steve Carpenter
Genres: Action & Adventure, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 17, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Dec 26, 2000
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Tom Keogh, Film.com
You watch this movie for Lawrence's antics but soon realize he doesn't really involve the audience in his comedy, the way Murphy did in 48Hrs.
Barbara Shulgasser, Chicago Tribune
Unimaginative.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Lawrence seems trapped in his jug-eared, slightly clownish nervousness, like a sidekick suddenly shoved into the spotlight.
Jim Sullivan, Boston Globe
Provides a nifty 90-minute escape and more than a few yuks.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
The film may be routine, but Lawrence is anything but.
Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter
Blue Streak suffers from an identity crisis.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Pleasant diversion with lots of silly fun for teens.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...Blue Streak is simply unable to overcome the scenery-chewing excess of Lawrence's hopelessly incompetent turn.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
Whatever number you assign to Beverly Hills Cop, this film scores one notch lower.
Ross Anthony, Hollywood Report Card
Fun and entertaining -- a good time.
Harvey S. Karten, Compuserve
Blue Streak, loaded with fast-paced, car-chase scenes, is no model of subtle or especially witty dialogue but Lawrence brings in the howls whenever he pulls off one of his many impersonations.
Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews
It's an inconsequential movie that you'll enjoy while watching but forget completely by the time you get to the parking lot.

Read all 12 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Melvin W

Miles Logan: Carlson. I've got something to tell you. I'm not from West Covina. I'm from Internal Affairs. "He's a cop that's not." Blue Streak is a likable and entertaining action comedy. No I know what you're thinking. How, it has Martin… More
Miles Logan: Carlson. I've got something to tell you. I'm not from West Covina. I'm from Internal Affairs. "He's a cop that's not." Blue Streak is a likable and entertaining action comedy. No I know what you're thinking. How, it has Martin Lawrence in it? I'll be the first to say that the guy makes a lot of shit and that he isn't that funny. But every one in awhile he starred in decent movies, such as Life. Blue Streak is another one of those decent films he starred in. It's funny and Martin Lawrence isn't too ridiculous to where it completely overpowers everything else that is going on. At the start of Blue Streak, Miles and his fellow robbers are heisting a diamond. When Miles gets backed into a corner with the cops, he decides to hide the diamond and get it once he gets out of prison. So he hides it in a building that isn't done being built yet. Two years later, when he gets out of prison, he goes back to that building, and it is a police station. Now he has to pose as a detective in order to get the diamond back. A lot of what goes on is predictable and unoriginal, but it is all done in a way that makes it feel fresher than it really is. Blue Streak is one of those movies that I've seen many times, and can watch whenever. You don't have to think too much while watching, and it is an enjoyable time. Plus Dave Chapelle is always worth watching and he plays Miles' driver, Tulley, and just happens to be the funniest thing going on in the movie. Even if you don't like Lawrence, don't automatically assume you won't like this. I don't really care for him, but this is a movie I can say I like. I'm not going to lie and say that this movie is anything special, but it is definitely worth a watch.
Anthony L

I think only Martin Lawrence finds Martin Lawrence funny. Maybe if he tried telling an actual joke instead of pulling stupid faces all the time he would be more successful because as far as I can tell, all he does is open one eye wider than the other, tilt his head and shout… More
I think only Martin Lawrence finds Martin Lawrence funny. Maybe if he tried telling an actual joke instead of pulling stupid faces all the time he would be more successful because as far as I can tell, all he does is open one eye wider than the other, tilt his head and shout 'Damn' and that is supposed to be funny. I liked the premise of Blue Streak, I just didn't like anything else about it. It should have been made in the 80s starring Chevy Chase!
Candy R

Funny comedy about a robber who hides the stolen diamond then finds that they've built a police station where he hid it. He has to pretend to be a cop to get to the diamond.
Jason O

Before watching "Blue Streak," I had heard that it wasn't that good of a movie, but I knew that since it has Martin in it that it had to at least have a few funny parts, and I was right. Miles Logan (Martin Lawrence) is a jewel thief who just got out of prison. He… More
Before watching "Blue Streak," I had heard that it wasn't that good of a movie, but I knew that since it has Martin in it that it had to at least have a few funny parts, and I was right. Miles Logan (Martin Lawrence) is a jewel thief who just got out of prison. He pretends be a cop in order to try and find the jewel that could make him millions of dollars richer. But it won't be as easy as he first thought it would. Since I had heard so many not so rave reviews about "Blue Streak," I wasn't really expecting that much out of it. There are a few parts that are flat out hilarious and the movie itself is interesting enough even when it's not funny. If you like Martin in other movies such as "Nothing To Lose" or "Big Momma's House," give "Blue Streak" a chance. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2001. I've always liked Martin.
Lady D

Hilarious circumstances, with some really funny moments. Enjoyable with a good comedy plot.
Aaron N

Miles Logan: Hey, this is the police. Move your busted-ass vehicle. Move, move, move, move. This is the LAPD. We'll pop one in your ass. We got guns and shit. A ridiculous comedy involving a thief posing as a police officer in order to find a diamond he hid in the building a… More
Miles Logan: Hey, this is the police. Move your busted-ass vehicle. Move, move, move, move. This is the LAPD. We'll pop one in your ass. We got guns and shit. A ridiculous comedy involving a thief posing as a police officer in order to find a diamond he hid in the building a year prior. It works because the cast manages to play along with the plot enough to make it enjoyable. Martin Lawrence stars as miles, a thief who attempted to steal a diamond before being caught and sent to jail. However, Miles was able to stash the diamond in a building under construction. Surprise surprise, when Miles gets out of jail, he finds that the building is now a police station and needs to find a way in. After exhausting a few options, Miles disguises himself as a police officer, but then becomes involved in other police matters as well. Miles Logan: Don't you ever get all up on this thing? Carlson: I don't think I've ever gotten all up on anything, sir. Miles Logan: No, I'm over your head, because your head's up your ass. The film also stars Luke Wilson as a rookie detective, William Forsythe as a detective extremely impresses by all of Miles' skills, and Dave Chappelle as a crook and friend of Miles. As mentioned, the plot is ridiculous, but the way the movie goes about handling it makes one not really care. Its a fun movie and a lot of scenes are just setups for scenarios Lawrence can make funny. Miles Logan: No, I'm over your head, because your head's up your ass.
Josh L

I've seen this movie too many times on tv, but it always manages to get me watching despite its absolutely ridiculous plot.
Lenny M

I loved this movie when I first saw it, typical Martin Lawrence in absurd situations with pointless alibis. But probably my favorite movie with him as the star
Dean M

A fine action-comedy of a bungled Los Angeles jewel heist who impersonates a cop to gain access to a secured upper floor where he hid $17 million diamond in an air duct after his two years behind bars.
Film C

i really really enjoyed it its crime and good samartitian at the same time its really funny and stupid and has action
Bobby H

Probably tied for my favorite Martin Lawerence movie. This movie had me laughing and quoting it , for a long time.
Michael S

One of Martin Lawrence's best films. Very funny.
danny d

entertaining. predictable but good
Jason S

I thought it was pretty funny.
Leigh R

Funny.
Khris N

Good cop comedy - kinda unusual at times but Martin Lawrence pulls it off - so does Dave Chappelle - the best scenes are the interrogations and police 'brutality!'
Luke B

I hate Martin Lawrence, from the moment he wakes up in the morning to the moment he cries himself to sleep. It gets 2 stars simply for William Forsythe and the line "You don't get that kind of training at the academy."
Steven V

Blue Streak is a totally awsome show! Martin Lawrance goes to such an extent and he manages to get he diamond. The last scene is the best.
Deb S

This movie is about Miles Logan (Martin Lawrence), a jewel thief and his search for the jewel that he stole. After he is released from jail he goes all out in order to get the diamond, which is stashed away in a construction site only to find it's turned into a police station.… More
This movie is about Miles Logan (Martin Lawrence), a jewel thief and his search for the jewel that he stole. After he is released from jail he goes all out in order to get the diamond, which is stashed away in a construction site only to find it's turned into a police station. Lawrence then poses as a police detective but he's so good at the impersonation that police duty gets in the way and he ends up being partnered with Carlson (Luke Wilson). Things begin to heat up even more when Lawrence's comrade, who betrayed him, gets released from prison, and wants the diamond just as much as Lawrence does. Enjoyable cop caper and Martin Lawrence is a comic genius.
Aurelius D

The start to the end of Martin's career. It wasn't horrible but it just wasn't what it could have been. Over the top acting and situations that just really were out of place.