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Freebie & the Bean
James Caan and Alan Arkin are Freebie and Bean, mismatched San Francisco cops who bird-dog a notorious mobster as if auditioning for a demolition derby, cutting loose with wisecracks.
Important: This title has been manufactured from the best-quality video master currently available and has not been remastered or restored for this DVD/Digital Download release.

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Made To Order DVD
Genre:   Action/Adventure, Comedy, Crime
Rating:
Director:   Richard Rush
Cast:   Alan Arkin, James Caan, Loretta Swit, Jack Kruschen, Mike Kellin, Paul Koslo, Linda Marsh
Theatrical Release Date:   04/01/1974
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1000179714
Freebie & the Bean
Price: $19.95

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Freebie & the Bean (DVD)
 
3.7

(based on 18 reviews)

Ratings Distribution

  • 5 Stars

     

    (5)

  • 4 Stars

     

    (8)

  • 3 Stars

     

    (1)

  • 2 Stars

     

    (3)

  • 1 Stars

     

    (1)

82%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Engaging characters (15)
  • Entertaining (5)
  • Great story (5)
  • Broad appeal (4)
  • Emotionally engaging (3)

Cons

    Best Uses

    • At home (9)
    • Adult viewers (7)
      • Reviewer Profile:
      • Movie buff (12), Avid moviegoer (5)

    Most Liked Positive Review

     

    A Movie for Guys

    I have been laughing myself silly at this movie since I first saw it on Christmas Day, 1974.

    Funny, violent, loud and much like a traffic accident in that you can't...Read complete review

    I have been laughing myself silly at this movie since I first saw it on Christmas Day, 1974.

    Funny, violent, loud and much like a traffic accident in that you can't look away. Freebie and the Bean is like a truly tasteless joke; you know it is wrong and yet you laugh so hard.

    Two lovably inept cops manage to keep from being suspended while they attempt to protect a local mobster from out of town hit men. Richard Rush's comedy chase film contains the wildest car crashes this side of The Blues Brothers.

    With a healthy dose of sexist, racist and scatological humor, you just need to chill out and enjoy the jokes and one liners. James Caan and Alan Arkin assume the usual buddy cop roles and run wild. Relax, it's just a movie made at a time when we weren't so paranoid about poking fun at our differences.

    Best scenes? The car chase that ends up on the third floor, the bowling alley shootout in the men's room and the mano a mano (sort of) confrontation in the ladies' room at the Super Bowl.

    The banter between Freebie and Bean is priceless, including a terrific exchange where we don't know if they're discussing a wife's infidelity or the dog stools in the yard. Great script by Robert Kaufman (Love at First Bite) and story by the incredible Floyd Mutrux (American Hot Wax, The Hollywood Knights)

    Warner Home Video, a company that does listen to movie fans, promised us this DVD release for years, and now they have delivered. If you haven't see this comedy classic in widescreen, you will be impressed!

    VS

    Most Liked Negative Review

     

    Stupidest movie EVER! Not funny,just bad

    The picture quality was good, DVD-quality.

    Beyond that, this is the stupidest movie I've ever seen. Start with casting N.Y. Jewish Alan Arkin and Valerie Harper as Latins!...Read complete review

    The picture quality was good, DVD-quality.

    Beyond that, this is the stupidest movie I've ever seen. Start with casting N.Y. Jewish Alan Arkin and Valerie Harper as Latins!! ... and it gets worse. NO ONE in this movie is funny, clever, or even cute. There IS NO plot! All the talent is wasted.

    The normally good James Caan and Alan Arkin are horrible in this, having a poor script with no humor. The stupid title is your warning: "Freebie and the Bean." If this doesn't sound moronic enough to warn you off, you're on your own. There is NO character development-- why one character is called "Freebie" is barely revealed, and so indirectly, that anyone would miss it because it's so poorly done.

    Only people who enjoy the unfunny, non-humor of the Sklar brothers (a current so-called "comedy" act) could find anything remotely good in this movie. I have taken 4 nights to try to get through this piece of garbage and it was VERY difficult.

    Normally, I like or love almost any movie from the mid-1970s, especially anything with Caan or Arkin. But not this garbage. I wish I could get a refund. PLEASE!!

    Reviewed by 18 customers

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    Displaying reviews 1-10

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    5.0

    A favorite of mine for years

    By Aggies70

    from Cary, NC

    About Me Avid Moviegoer

    Verified Reviewer

    Pros

    • Broad Appeal
    • Engaging Characters

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • At Home

      Comments about Freebie & the Bean (DVD):

      The original buddy-cop movie. Subtle and not-so-subtle humor is great. Caan and Arkin are the perfect pair for this off-beat cop movie. I like this movie for its blast-from-the-past 70s hair and clothes styles. Great background scenes from my favorite city - San Francisco.

       
      1.0

      Stupidest movie EVER! Not funny,just bad

      By "Normally Loves 70's Movies"

      from Seattle, Washington

      About Me Movie Buff

      Verified Reviewer

      Pros

        Cons

        • Not Interesting
        • Not What I Expected

        Best Uses

          Comments about Freebie & the Bean (DVD):

          The picture quality was good, DVD-quality.

          Beyond that, this is the stupidest movie I've ever seen. Start with casting N.Y. Jewish Alan Arkin and Valerie Harper as Latins!! ... and it gets worse. NO ONE in this movie is funny, clever, or even cute. There IS NO plot! All the talent is wasted.

          The normally good James Caan and Alan Arkin are horrible in this, having a poor script with no humor. The stupid title is your warning: "Freebie and the Bean." If this doesn't sound moronic enough to warn you off, you're on your own. There is NO character development-- why one character is called "Freebie" is barely revealed, and so indirectly, that anyone would miss it because it's so poorly done.

          Only people who enjoy the unfunny, non-humor of the Sklar brothers (a current so-called "comedy" act) could find anything remotely good in this movie. I have taken 4 nights to try to get through this piece of garbage and it was VERY difficult.

          Normally, I like or love almost any movie from the mid-1970s, especially anything with Caan or Arkin. But not this garbage. I wish I could get a refund. PLEASE!!

           
          5.0

          Great, funny movie!

          By lilpinksock

          from Atlanta, GA

          About Me Avid Moviegoer

          Pros

          • Emotionally Engaging
          • Engaging Characters
          • Great Story

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • At Home
            • In The Car
            • Perfect Gift
            • Travel

            Comments about Freebie & the Bean (DVD):

            Very enjoyable, funny movie! I love Alan Arkin!!

             
            4.0

            classic film

            By sac

            from chicago

            About Me Casual Viewer

            Verified Reviewer

            Pros

            • Classic film
            • Epic Cast

            Cons

              Best Uses

              • At Home

              Comments about Freebie & the Bean (DVD):

              classic film

               
              2.0

              Great movie, poor DVD

              By Dan Ryan

              from Brisbane, California

              About Me Movie Buff

              Verified Reviewer

              Pros

              • Engaging Characters
              • Good transfer
              • Great Story
              • Hilarious trailer
              • Letterboxed

              Cons

              • No menu graphics
              • No proper menus
              • Not What I Expected
              • Trailer only extra

              Best Uses

              • Adult Viewers
              • At Home

              Comments about Freebie & the Bean (DVD):

              This is a GREAT b-movie that deserves better treatment. This film invented the modern "buddy cop" movie genre. This disc is so bare-bones, it may as well have been burned from a torrent on someone's home computer. The transfer is good, in letterbox format, and the sound is excellent. But overall, this is a very poor DVD for the price. Freebei and The Bean deserved better.

               
              2.0

              A Great Not so Popular Movie

              By Gregg the quality buff

              from Central New York

              About Me Movie Buff

              Verified Reviewer

              Pros

              • Engaging Characters
              • Epic Cast

              Cons

              • Difficult To Understand
              • Poor Remake

              Best Uses

              • At Home

              Comments about Freebie & the Bean (DVD):

              My Father had mentioned wanting to see this 70's movie again, but could not find a copy of it. I took over the search for him, looking on [...], close out sites, etc., until I had the thought -who made it? Warner Bros. and bingo, they could even make me a copy, how cool is that? My Dad was very impressed and extremely pleased to get this DVD for Father's Day.We watched it together and found the quality wasn't up to par. It appears to have been digitized straight from the original, unrestored and the sound track is quite poor. There picture had moments of mosaic blocks throughout the movie, like you see on digital TV when the signal strength gets weak.[...]Bottom line, if WB would have increased the volume level (saturation) by 50% and slowed down the recording speed, this would have been perfect.The original analog picture was good, but with all the enhancement software available, it could have been a lot better with some TLC.

              (0 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

               
              2.0

              Great locations can't save this film!

              By the Whetstone Kid

              from Lexington, KY

              About Me Movie Buff

              Verified Reviewer

              Pros

              • Good buddy film
              • Great cast of villains
              • Great filming locations

              Cons

              • A little too goofy

              Best Uses

                Comments about Freebie & the Bean (DVD):

                Could have been better... you gotta really love James Caan to sit through this picture... what else can one say! Being filmed in San Francisco and great cast of villains is only thing going for it.

                (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                 
                5.0

                Still awesome

                By James

                from Sacramento, CA

                About Me Avid Moviegoer

                Verified Reviewer

                Pros

                • Broad Appeal
                • Emotionally Engaging
                • Engaging Characters
                • Great Story

                Cons

                  Best Uses

                    Comments about Freebie & the Bean (DVD):

                    The movie is still wonderful after all these years. I haven't seen it in nearly two decades and I still love it. Alan Arkin and James Caan are hilarious and the plot stands up -- it isn't dated (other than the clothes and cars!)

                    (0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                     
                    4.0

                    Goofy comedy with some good car chases

                    By The Maverick Man

                    from Tulsa,OK

                    About Me Avid Moviegoer

                    Pros

                    • Engaging Characters

                    Cons

                    • Limited Appeal

                    Best Uses

                    • Adult Viewers

                    Comments about Freebie & the Bean (DVD):

                    This movie was an oddball that was hard to find. An "OK" comedy with some good car chases.

                    (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                     
                    4.0

                    Better with age...

                    By Comedy Writer

                    from California

                    About Me Movie Buff

                    Pros

                    • Broad Appeal
                    • Engaging Characters
                    • Great Story
                    • Still funny

                    Cons

                      Best Uses

                      • Adult Viewers
                      • Anytime you need a laugh
                      • At Home

                      Comments about Freebie & the Bean (DVD):

                      I loved this film when it came out and I still love it. I had been looking for it for years and was thrilled to find it on the WB site. Alan Arkin is one of my favorites and when you watch the film you'll know why.

                      Displaying reviews 1-10

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