The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990)

26% of critics liked it
(23 reviews)
64% of users liked it
(8,320 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… 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

Directed By: Renny Harlin
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 11, 1990 Wide
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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Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Clintus M

Andrew Dice Clay basically plays himself in this comedy, a perfect representation of the glory days of MTV and the sunset strip in 1990. I was a fan of MTV and the haircut bands of that era, so Ford Fairlane is a guilty pleasure, to be sure. Its cheesy and offensive yet hilarious… More
Andrew Dice Clay basically plays himself in this comedy, a perfect representation of the glory days of MTV and the sunset strip in 1990. I was a fan of MTV and the haircut bands of that era, so Ford Fairlane is a guilty pleasure, to be sure. Its cheesy and offensive yet hilarious also. Check out "Aint Got You" by Ford (Clay); it is an awesome contrast between what used to be rock and roll and what is passing for it both in 1990 and now. I love the all-star cast: Robert Englund, Priscilla Presley, Wayne Newton, Ed O'Neil, Gilbert Gottfried, and Lauren Holly. Holly excels in a small role as the vulnerable secretary with the knock-out figure. The Dice-man is exactly what you'd expect, for better or worse, and Maddie Corman is delightful as Zuzu, an MTV dance party-type. Has there ever been a greater groupie name than "Zuzu Petals?" The plot is disposable; who cares about the mysterious CDs? Accept The Adventures of Ford Fairlane for what it is, and just laugh along. As Dice would exclaim, "Unfu*#ingbelieveable!"
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.

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

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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

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The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Clintus M

Steve K

Dean M

RJ M

cody f

Chad R

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