Bulletproof (1996)

8% of critics liked it
(39 reviews)
55% of users liked it
(73,027 ratings)

This post-modern comic variation on The Defiant Ones concerns Keats (Damon Wayans), an undercover police detective trying to get the goods on crime kingpin Frank Colton (James Caan). Keats poses as a crook to make friends with one of Colton's underlings, a drug dealer and car thief named Archie… More This post-modern comic variation on The Defiant Ones concerns Keats (Damon Wayans), an undercover police detective trying to get the goods on crime kingpin Frank Colton (James Caan). Keats poses as a crook to make friends with one of Colton's underlings, a drug dealer and car thief named Archie Moses (Adam Sandler). Keats is using Archie as part of a sting operation to put Colton away; however, Archie doesn't care for this, and when he finds out Keats's true plan and actual identity, it leads to an altercation that ends with Archie shooting Keats in the head. Several months later, Keats emerges from the hospital with a metal plate in his skull, and he has to bring Archie in. However, now Archie and Keats are both on Colton's enemies list, and the two find themselves on the run in Arizona, trying to outwit Colton's team of assassins, but having Archie on hand doesn't do much good in the outwitting department. Bulletproof was directed by Ernest Dickerson, who got his start as a cinematographer for Spike Lee. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 24 min.
Directed By: Ernest Dickerson, Ernest R. Dickerson
Genres: Action & Adventure, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 6, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Jun 30, 1998
Studio: MCA Universal Home Video

Critic Reviews

Leonard Klady, Variety
The criminal activity onscreen in Bulletproof is penny ante compared with the felonious slaughter of story, character and logic exacted by the pic's filmmakers.
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle
Bulletproof doesn't quite misfire, but it never hits its target either.
Keith Simanton, Film.com
The movie has a smirking homophobic bent and never makes you care or believe in the characters as much as in the first fifteen minutes.
Sean Means, Film.com
The audience is subjected to an onslaught of unfunny jokes, a string of useless profanity, and more explosive squibs than Caan wore in The Godfather.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
While some of the humor is very funny, there's nothing remotely interesting about the action stuff.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
The film's action elements are so preposterous that the sequence of events seems almost improvised.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...a forgettable actioner that consistently wastes the talents of its two stars.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Bring back Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy, please!
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
An entertaining little ditty that I enjoyed watching.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
A throwback to when Adam Sandler was funny.
Frank Ochieng, TheWorldJournal.com
A tiresome Sandler-Wayans buddy-buddy crime actioner that needs its staid material to be desperately riddled with bullets.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
It's not a great movie, but it is an adequate late summer diversion.
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Fairly weak "buddy" pic with both actors playing below par.
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer
Midnight Run did it best; 48 hours runs a fair second. Bulletproof finishes way back in the pack.

Read all 14 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

Manu G

Their friendship could survive anything... except each other! Good funny movie. The story was simple and easy to follow. Popcorn movie to enjoy at home alone or with your friends. Adam Sandler was very funny in this one as always. Rock Keats and Archie Moses are the best of friends… More
Their friendship could survive anything... except each other! Good funny movie. The story was simple and easy to follow. Popcorn movie to enjoy at home alone or with your friends. Adam Sandler was very funny in this one as always. Rock Keats and Archie Moses are the best of friends and have spent the past year together performing various small time criminal acts. This all changes when they become involved in a major drug smuggling operation. Rock Keats turns out to be Jack Carter, an undercover police officer and tries to arrest Moses during a failed attempt to catch criminal mastermind Frank Colton. However, Moses ends up shooting Carter and makes an escape. Moses is later caught and agrees to turn state's evidence on Colton with one condition, Carter escorts him in. When they meet, both are bitter towards each other. Unknown to them, Colton's men have orders to take out Moses and arrive to shoot down the transport plane. Carter and Moses end up by themselves in the countryside with Colton's men closing in. Will they survive?...will their friendship?
Anthony L

You know a film is bad when it becomes apparent that canned laughter would actually be beneficial. It's not funny, it's not clever, the editing is bizarre and quite frankly James Caan should be ashamed. It's odd, this film could only be enjoyed by people who are at… More
You know a film is bad when it becomes apparent that canned laughter would actually be beneficial. It's not funny, it's not clever, the editing is bizarre and quite frankly James Caan should be ashamed. It's odd, this film could only be enjoyed by people who are at least 10 years too young to see it legally. Avoid at all costs.
Daniel P

What a brutally bad film. I blame marketing to pre-teens (like me, at the time) for anyone ever making the mistake of watching this movie. Or for it still being on TV once in a while (which is where I finally saw it). Man am I glad I didn't pay for this! There is one - count it,… More
What a brutally bad film. I blame marketing to pre-teens (like me, at the time) for anyone ever making the mistake of watching this movie. Or for it still being on TV once in a while (which is where I finally saw it). Man am I glad I didn't pay for this! There is one - count it, one, ah ah ah! - laugh in the whole thing. The rest is just a spiralling, formulaic story that culminates in a shootout that looks like it cost about ten bucks to shoot. DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE. IT WILL ONLY LEAD TO ADAM SANDLER MAKING MORE MOVIES, OR WORSE, THE RETURN OF DAMON WAYANS!
Lenny M

Adam Sandler was actually a better actor in the 90's when his voice was higher, even if his movies were more lower grade. Now it seems like he can barely pronounce his words, mumblin' and bumblin'.
Leigh R

It was okay.
Dean M

This action-comedy buddy picture is a less-than-satisfying mix of raunchy humour and pedestrian shoot-outs. The two squabble and survive with only a few bright comic moments in this generally mean-spirited mess.
danny d

pretty funny, always like some sandler
Byron B

Two comedians in an odd couple buddy action pic. I hadn't been allowed to watch Adam Sandler comedies, but in high school this was the first Sandler movie I think I watched with some friends. The main things I remember were the violence, language, and sex scenes that gave it… More
Two comedians in an odd couple buddy action pic. I hadn't been allowed to watch Adam Sandler comedies, but in high school this was the first Sandler movie I think I watched with some friends. The main things I remember were the violence, language, and sex scenes that gave it the R rating and made it feel forbidden to my very shielded life.
Stephen E

Bulletproof is the poor man's Midnight Run, if, in fact, that poor man has no sense of humor.
Christopher H

Damon Wayans and Adam Sandler prove to be a good match, in this action comedy that delivers more drama than comedy. The cop posing as a criminal plot line works well, especially in the relationship and strain that is caused between the two leads. Despite the horrible reviews for this… More
Damon Wayans and Adam Sandler prove to be a good match, in this action comedy that delivers more drama than comedy. The cop posing as a criminal plot line works well, especially in the relationship and strain that is caused between the two leads. Despite the horrible reviews for this film, I really enjoyed it.
Deb S

The movie stars Damon Wayans as Keats, an undercover cop posing as a criminal to gain access into drug kingpin Frank Colton underworld operation with the help of unsuspecting partner Archie Moses (Adam Sandler). During the bust on Colton's factory, Moses accidentally shoots Keats… More
The movie stars Damon Wayans as Keats, an undercover cop posing as a criminal to gain access into drug kingpin Frank Colton underworld operation with the help of unsuspecting partner Archie Moses (Adam Sandler). During the bust on Colton's factory, Moses accidentally shoots Keats in the head. He survives the wound & later arrests Moses who is rather angry about this betrayal. Dodging Colton's hired assassins, the duo must overcome their mutual hatred to survive. James Caan plays a funny stereotypical bad guy. Expected plot twists but a lot of fun to watch nevertheless.
Joseph E

Sandler may have some nude parts, that get considered gay by a person in the movie, but he isn't try to act gay in this film, well after The Wedding Singer, everything hit the roof. Still a mild reccomedation for those enjoy funny adult comedies.
William G

Guilty pleasure!
Stephen E

"Bulletproof" is the poor man's "Midnight Run", if, in fact, that poor man has no sense of humor.
Lea L

funny film.. Damon and Adam work great together..
Patrick D

This is corny/funny 90's action comedy. Damon Wayans when he was still funny.
Christopher B

Okay film that I barely remember.
Matthew A

This movie is not bad. Probably not Adam Sandler's best, but still has some funny moments. Some bits reminded me of 'Welcome to the Jungle' and in some parts of storyline it actually was very similar to it.