The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990)

26% of critics liked it
(23 reviews)
65% of users liked it
(8,176 ratings)

Controversial and often offensive stand-up comedian Andrew Dice Clay made his debut as a feature film star in this crude comedy. Fairlane is a "rock and roll detective" who works in the music business, has an office on Sunset Boulevard, and drives a 1957 Ford, with clothing to match. He floats… More Controversial and often offensive stand-up comedian Andrew Dice Clay made his debut as a feature film star in this crude comedy. Fairlane is a "rock and roll detective" who works in the music business, has an office on Sunset Boulevard, and drives a 1957 Ford, with clothing to match. He floats through the rock clubs of Hollywood, picking up women and clients, and soon stumbles into a case involving the death of a heavy metal singer, a corrupt music executive (Wayne Newton), the murder of a radio shock-jock (Gilbert Gottfried), and the kidnapping of the jock's daughter (Maddie Corman). Music stars like Sheila E. and Motley Crue singer Vince Neil also have cameos in the film, which attempts to transplant Clay's aggressively obnoxious stage persona into a movie environment. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Renny Harlin
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 11, 1990 Wide
On DVD: Dec 16, 2003
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox

Critic Reviews

Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
It's harmless fun with a breezy '80s ambiance -- a neon playground with a cross-eyed soundtrack, smoky widescreen cinematography, and a cool snapshot of Dice when he was king of the world.
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium
It's bad, it's been forgotten, and we can all move on with nary a second thought.
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily
As vulgar and obnoxious as its star. One of the very worst films of 1990.
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
Possibly genius.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Pretty bad, but Dice Clay's best effort.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Look at the star. Look at the director. See something else.
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com
Gets stale after a while, but Dice was still pretty funny.
Gerry Shamray, Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
Nice try but no dice.
Michael Drakulich, Star Newspapers (Chicago, IL)
Funny in a south side of Chicago neighborhood kind of way, but not much more than his stand-up act.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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

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Featured Audience Ratings

Steve K

Indefensible trash. I love it!
Dean M

Andrew Dice Clay's so hilarious in this title role.
RJ M

Say what you will about Andrew "Dice" Clay, but I LOVE this movie. Clay was a one-note comic, but he milked his 15 minutes for all it was worth, never more on display than in this movie. As a "rock and roll detective", the movie is filled with then-famous music… More
Say what you will about Andrew "Dice" Clay, but I LOVE this movie. Clay was a one-note comic, but he milked his 15 minutes for all it was worth, never more on display than in this movie. As a "rock and roll detective", the movie is filled with then-famous music industry people which give the movie an extra quality. What surprises is there is an actual story here. A genuine mystery that provides Clay with something to do besides lift material from his stand up act. It helps that they hired an actual filmmaker, Renny Harlin, to helm Clay's leading man debut. Harlin is a visually gifted director that knows how to orchestrate an action scene, fill the screen with eye candy, and keep things moving at a lively pace. Music group Yello adds an original musical score that adds to the overall good feel of the movie. Watch for a great cameo by Married With Children's Ed O'Neil as a police detective with a personal gripe against Clay. Let's just say that disco will never be the same. A guilty pleasure, and one damn funny movie.
cody f

Hey they blew me.
Chad R

Two words. "Disco Express." Ford Fairlane: Disco Express? They blew dog. And that lead singer, he kinda looked like... Lt. Amos: Like ME, right? Ford Fairlane: Yeah. I was gonna say he looked like shit, but... he looked like you.

Cast

            Andrew Dice Clay as Ford Fairlane

            Wayne Newton as Julian Grendel

            Priscilla Presley as Colleen Sutton

            Morris Day as Don Cleveland

            Lauren Holly as Jazz

            Robert Englund as Smiley

            Maddie Corman as Zuzu Petals

            Gilbert Gottfried as Johnny Crunch

            David Patrick Kelly as Sam

            Brandon Call as The Kid

            Ed O'Neill as Lt. Amos

            Diane Almeida as Backup singer

            Diana Barrows as Sorority Girl

            Rita Bland as Receptionist

            David Bowe as College Boy

            Bonnie Boyer as Club Band Member

            Randy Castillo as Black Plague Band Member

            Carlos Cavazo as Black Plague Band Member

            Paul Christopher as Club Band

            Randy Crenshaw as Bel Air Party Singer

            Edward di Lorenzo as Chef

            Sheila E. as Club Singer

            Juan Jose Escovedo as Club Band

            Peter Michael Escovedo as Club Band

            Willie Garson as Frat Boy

            Mark Goldstein as Club Guy

            John Hammond as Piano Player

            Charlie Hawke as Mortician

            Cody Jarrett as Kyle Troy

            Connie Johnson as Tour Guide

            Michael Alan Kahn as College Boy

            Jaz Kaner as Mixer

            LaLa as Sorority Girl

            Lee Lawrence as Bartender

            Cindy Lehre as Lydia

            Kurt Loder as MTV VJ

            Jordan Lund as Amiable Tourist

            Robert Mangiardi as Sleazy Guy

            Monique Mannen as Josie/Pussycat

            Rick Marotta as Studio Musician

            David McLaurin as Studio Musician

            John Menzano as Studio Musician

            Kathleen Monica as Receptionist

            Consuela Nance as Backup Singer

            Vince Neil as Bobby Black

            Gry Park as Twin Club Girl

            Hili Park as Twin Club Girl

            Kristin Pearcey as Sorority Girl

            Lori Pfeiffer as Sorority Girl

            J.D. Reilly as Club Band

            Pamela Segall as Pussycat

            Sandra Sheeler as Girl on Ladder

            Deila Sheppard as Pussycat

            William Shockley as Punk Gunslinger

            Kimber Sissons as Pussycat

            Lala Sloatman as Sorority Girl

            William Smitty Smith as Studio Musician

            Phil Soussan as Black Plague Band Member

            Kurt James Stefka as Bouncer

            Lee Thornberg as Studio Musician

            Tone-Loc as Slam the Rapper

            Ladd Vance as Frat Boy

            Ed. E. Villa as Piano Mover

            Allan Wasserman as Mortician

            Hot Tub Johnny West as Damion Flemm

            Kari Wuhrer as Melodi

            Jimmy Zavala as Studio Musician

            Mark Zuelke as Punk Gunslinger

            Aurorah Allain as Backup Singer

            David Arnott as Club Guy

            Steve White as Detective

            Jimmy Dale as Studio Musician
See full cast