Off Beat (1986)

26% of users liked it
(459 ratings)

In this charming comedy that lives up to its title, Judge Reinhold stars as Joe Gower, a librarian's assistant posing as a police officer and trying to win the heart of a beautiful police officer, Rachel Wareham (Meg Tilly). A complex chain of events is put in place when Joe agrees to help out a… More In this charming comedy that lives up to its title, Judge Reinhold stars as Joe Gower, a librarian's assistant posing as a police officer and trying to win the heart of a beautiful police officer, Rachel Wareham (Meg Tilly). A complex chain of events is put in place when Joe agrees to help out a good friend who's a policeman by taking his place at an audition for the cop's annual benefit show. Once at the auditions, Joe falls for Rachel, who will be dancing in the benefit. Joe starts hanging out with the choreographer in order to spend more time with Rachel. Unfortunately, this gets him into his borrowed police uniform more than he would like, and soon he's carrying out the duties of a beat cop while wearing his disguise. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Michael Dinner
Genres: Comedy, Romance

In Theaters: Apr 11, 1986 Wide

Critic Reviews

James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
Not at all -- it's pure, forgettable formulaic sitcom

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

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Featured Audience Ratings

Christopher B

Here's a forgettable one for ya. If anyone gets too nostalgic for the eighties, you can always have them watch this for an easy cure. Great cast though.

Cast

            Judge Reinhold as Joe Gower

            Meg Tilly as Rachel Wareham

            Harvey Keitel as Mickey

            Cleavant Derricks as Abe Washington

            Joe Mantegna as Pete Peterson

            Jacques d'Amboise as August

            Fred Gwynne as The Commissioner

            John Turturro as Neil Pepper

            Jeffrey Anderson-Gunter as Dancing cop

            Victor Argo as Leon

            Madeleine Berger as Bank customer

            Julie Bovasso as Mrs. Wareham

            Paul Butler as Jordan

            Ed Deacy as Dancing cop

            Mary Duncan as Saleslady

            Shawn Elliott as Hector

            Fyvush Finkel as Vendor

            Nancy Giles as Celestine

            Helen Hanft as Waitress

            John Kapelos as Lou Wareham

            Yvonne Kersey as Lucinda

            Ann McDonough as Bank teller

            Irving Metzman as Deluca

            Austin Pendleton as Gun shop salesman

            Bill Sadler as Dickson

            Mike Starr as James Bonnell

            James Tolkan as Harry

            Mel Winkler as Earl

            Amy Wright as Mary Ellen Gruenwald

            Anthony Zerbe as Mr. Wareham

            Penn Jillette as Norman

            Mark Medoff as Sgt. Tiegher

            Jhoe Breedlove as Dancing cop

            Gregory Uel Cole as Dancing cop

            Aisha Coley as Dancing cop

            Laura Crimmins as Teenage Dance Student

            Yvonne Erwin as Dancing cop

            Carmine Foresta as E.S. Lieutenant

            Gia Galeano as Dancing cop

            Christine Jacobson as Dancing Cop

            Mike Lisenco as Dancing Cop

            Marilynn Lyons as Dancing cop

            Faye Fujisaki Mar as Dancing cop

            Rome Neal as Dancing cop

            Frank Patton as Dancing cop

            Lisa Paulino as Dancing cop

            Linda Ravin as Dancing cop

            Stanley Simmonds as Pud

            Howard Feuer
            
            Chris Noth as Ely Wareham Jr.

            Jack Fletcher as Alvin

            Peter Wise as Car thief
See full cast