Watch Amos & Andrew

In the movie Amos & Andrew, two vastly different characters come together for an unlikely adventure that tests their beliefs and challenges their perceptions of the world. The film opens with Amos Odell (played by Samuel L. Jackson), an affluent black playwright who has just purchased a secluded island home on the East Coast. Before he can even step foot in his new property, he is mistaken for a burglar and taken captive by the police force led by Chief Tolliver (played by Michael Lerner), who are embarrassed by the mishap and eager to salvage their reputation.

Enter Andrew Sterling (played by Nicolas Cage), a wealthy and celebrated author who happens to be driving through the area and makes the mistake of stopping at a convenience store along the same road where Amos is being held hostage. Chief Tolliver, in an attempt to redeem himself, immediately assumes that Andrew is in cahoots with Amos and convinces him to join the hostage-taking, at gunpoint.

Thus begins a bizarre and comedic journey, as Andrew and Amos are cornered in the island home by the police force outside, who are determined to capture the "criminals" at any cost. As they navigate through misunderstandings and confrontations, Andrew and Amos begin to learn about each other's backgrounds and beliefs, and find that they have more in common than they thought.

One of the defining themes of the movie is race and racial identity. Amos, a successful black man, is immediately deemed suspicious by the white police force and assumed to be a criminal without any evidence. Andrew, a white man of privilege, is initially hesitant to identify with Amos but gradually comes to recognize his own biases and the ways in which he has benefited from a racist system. The movie uses humor and satire to explore these heavy themes in a way that is accessible and entertaining.

Another notable aspect of Amos & Andrew is its portrayal of law enforcement. Chief Tolliver is portrayed as a bumbling, insecure man who is more concerned with his own reputation than the wellbeing of those he is supposed to protect. The police force under his command is similarly incompetent, using excessive force and displaying a lack of critical thinking skills. The movie offers a critique of the way in which some police departments operate, and highlights the need for systemic change.

Overall, Amos & Andrew is a unique and surprisingly poignant movie that offers laughs alongside a thought-provoking narrative. The chemistry between Samuel L. Jackson and Nicolas Cage is delightful, and the characters they portray are complex and engaging. The movie has a lot to say about race, privilege, and law enforcement, and does so in a way that is entertaining and accessible.

Amos & Andrew is a 1993 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.7 and a MetaScore of 38.