Fatal Beauty (1987)

25% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
39% of users liked it
(7,282 ratings)

Rita Rizzoli (Whoopi Goldberg) is a crusading narcotics cop assigned to track down the source of some killer crack cocaine in this pretentious and preachy anti-drug crime drama. Rita poses as a prostitute and is soon hot after two small-time hoods (Brad Dourif and Mike Jolly) who murder their way up… More Rita Rizzoli (Whoopi Goldberg) is a crusading narcotics cop assigned to track down the source of some killer crack cocaine in this pretentious and preachy anti-drug crime drama. Rita poses as a prostitute and is soon hot after two small-time hoods (Brad Dourif and Mike Jolly) who murder their way up the drug-dealing ladder in hopes of becoming kingpins. Cheech Marin and Catherine Blore provide interesting cameos in this feature that co-stars Ruben Blades and Sam Elliott. Contains stereotypical characters and gratuitous violence. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 44 min.
Directed By: Tom Holland
Genres: Action & Adventure, Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 30, 1987 Wide
On DVD: Feb 6, 2001
Studio: MGM Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Janet Maslin, New York Times
The wisecracks and the swaggering are as unrelieved as the film's almost comically ecstatic gunplay. Someone must have figured audiences like things this way.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Goldberg's best work since The Color Purple.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
Bloody, boring and pandering, is as poisonous as the drug trade it pretends to defame.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Tom Holland directed from a script and story credited to three individuals, anyone could have knocked this one out during coffee break.
Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile
Whoopi Goldberg is at her sassy, funny best in this upbeat 1987 cop caper, playing a Los Angeles detective who takes no nonsense and is ready for anything the badass guys can dish out
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily
A lackluster Beverly Hills Cop rip-off.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
So-so Whoopi comedy-thriller. There are worse things and she's made some of them.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
what night's rubbish night again?
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Whoopi's a cool lady, but she's done a lot of stunningly awful movies. This is (easily) one of the worst.

Read all 9 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Cast

            Whoopi Goldberg as Det. Rita Rizzoli

            Sam Elliott as Mike Marshak

            Ruben Blades as Carl Jimenez Rita's partner

            Harris Yulin as Conrad Kroll

            John P. Ryan as Lt. Kellerman

            Jennifer Warren as Cecile Jaeger

            Brad Dourif as Leo Nova

            Mike Jolly as Earl Skinner

            Charles Hallahan as Deputy Getz

            Neil Barry as Denny Miflin

            Cheech Marin as Bartender

            Ebbe Roe Smith as Marty

            Belinda Mayne as Traci

            Celeste Yarnall as Laura

            Steven Getson Akahoshi as Shigeta

            Fred Asparagus as Delgadillo

            Jim Bentley as Paramedic

            Sandra Bogan as Teri

            Carlos Cervantes as Basqual

            Michael Champion as Buzz

            Phil Chong as Chinese Father

            Michael De Lorenzo as Flaco

            David Dunard as Cowboy Hat

            M.C. Gainey as Darndollar

            Larry Hankin as Jerry Murphy

            Bernie Hern as Mike Weinstein

            Prince Hughes as Big Bubba

            Clayton Landey as Jimmy Silver

            James LeGros as Zack Jaeger

            Boyd 'Red' Morgan as Fletch

            Mark Pellegrino as Frankenstein

            Walter Robles as Clay

            Parker Whitman as Coroner's Attendant

            David Harris as Raphael

            Emilia Ayarza as Candy

            Catherine Blore as Charlene

            William Martin Brennan as 1st Assistant Chef

            Jane Chung as Chinese Lady

            Ellarye as Chinese Daughter

            Joycelyne Lew as Chinese Mother

            Lucia Nagy Lexington as Stripper

            Richard Milholland as Charlie

            Reed Morgan as Fletch

            Cliff Murdock as Len

            Dower Phillips as Teenager

            Josh Pickard as Teenager

            Tom Spiroff as Cop in Kitchen

            Rick Telles as Epifanio

            Jonathan Wong as Chinese Son

            James Smith as Ritchie

            Neill Barry
            
            Steve Akahoshi
            
See full cast

Trailers & Clips

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