Watch Heart Condition
- R
- 1990
- 1 hr 40 min
-
5.5 (4,083)
Heart Condition is a 1990 comedy-drama movie that is directed by James D. Parriott. The movie stars Bob Hoskins, Denzel Washington, and Chloe Webb in the lead roles, and it tells the story of two very different people and how their lives end up becoming intertwined in an unlikely way. At the heart of the movie is the relationship between Jack Moony (Bob Hoskins), a hard-drinking, chain-smoking, racist LAPD cop, and Napoleon Stone (Denzel Washington), a smooth-talking, womanizing lawyer. The two men get off to a very rocky start when Jack arrests Napoleon for the murder of a prostitute, but things take a bizarre turn when Jack suddenly dies of a heart attack, only to be brought back to life with a new, transplanted heart - the heart of none other than Napoleon Stone.
From there, the movie takes a very different turn, as Jack starts experiencing strange visions and hallucinations that he soon realizes are coming from Napoleon's memories. As he delves deeper into these memories, he discovers that Napoleon was not the womanizer and con artist that he had always thought he was, but a man who had been trying to change his ways and make a difference in the world. As Jack starts to see Napoleon in a new light, he begins to realize that he himself needs to change if he wants to truly honor the gift that Napoleon has given him.
While the movie sets up a premise that could easily have turned into a heavy-handed melodrama, it manages to stay light and entertaining throughout, thanks in large part to the chemistry between Hoskins and Washington. Hoskins, in particular, is a standout, delivering a surprisingly layered performance as a character who could easily have been portrayed as a one-note stereotype. His scenes with Washington are some of the movie's best, as the two actors play off each other in a way that is both funny and moving.
The movie also benefits from some strong supporting performances, most notably from Chloe Webb as Crystal, a prostitute who was a friend of Napoleon's and who becomes involved in Jack's investigation into his death. While her character could easily have been relegated to a caricature, Webb manages to bring a real warmth and humanity to the role.
However, despite its many strengths, the movie does have a few flaws. The pacing can feel a bit uneven at times, with some scenes feeling rushed and others dragging on a bit too long. Additionally, the movie's attempts at tackling issues of race and class occasionally feel a bit heavy-handed, and some viewers may find the dialogue and characterization to be a bit simplistic and clichéd.
Overall, though, Heart Condition is a fun and engaging movie that manages to tackle some weighty themes with a surprisingly light touch. With strong performances from its leads and a solid supporting cast, it's a movie that manages to be both entertaining and thought-provoking - a rare feat indeed.
Heart Condition is a 1990 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.5.