The Rewatchables

‘Another 48 Hrs’ With Bill Simmons Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan

January 22, 2026

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  • The discussion heavily focuses on the perceived flaws and 'karaoke sequel' nature of *Another 48 Hrs.*, despite the hosts' continued rewatchability of the film. 
  • The episode delves into the career crossroads for Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte around 1990, noting Nolte's prestige ascent and Murphy's peak stardom coinciding with the sequel's release. 
  • A significant portion of the segment explores Eddie Murphy's intense personal struggles with fame, responsibility, and critical reception during the late 1980s/early 1990s, as revealed in contemporary interviews. 
  • The hosts enthusiastically discuss the over-the-top, often illogical, and stunt-heavy action sequences in ‘Another 48 Hrs,’ highlighting the film's entertainment value despite its narrative flaws. 
  • The conversation frequently praises Eddie Murphy's performance and specific lines, while also noting that the film feels like a product of its time due to elements like beer choices (Miller Genuine Draft) and the prevalence of convertibles in movies. 
  • The participants identify Cherry Gans as an awesome, purely psychopathic villain, and they critique the sequel's plot logic, particularly regarding Nick Nolte's character, Jack Cates, remaining oblivious to the Iceman's identity for too long. 
  • One host preferred ‘Another 48 Hrs’ over the original ‘48 Hrs’ because it cut out the racism present in the first film while still being funny and enjoyable. 
  • The hosts debated potential casting for a hypothetical third ‘48 Hrs.’ film, suggesting pairings like Michael B. Jordan with Shane Gillis or Timothée Chalamet. 
  • The enduring appeal of buddy cop movies lies in the dynamic where two charismatic but initially conflicting leads learn to work together by the end. 

Segments

Sponsor Reads and Network Plugs
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode opens with advertisements for ‘Dead Man’s Wire’ and Slack, followed by plugs for other Ringer podcasts like ‘Higher Learning’ and ‘Midnight Boys’.
  • Summary: The initial segment is dedicated to sponsor reads for Dead Man’s Wire and Slack, followed by promotions for other Ringer content. Listeners are informed about related shows including ‘Higher Learning with Van Lathan’ and ‘Midnight Boys’. The hosts also announce that the next episode of The Rewatchables will cover Zodiac and will be available on Netflix.
Eddie Murphy Career Trajectory
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(00:03:19)
  • Key Takeaway: The sequel Another 48 Hrs. marks a career crossroads where Eddie Murphy was the biggest movie star, contrasting with Nolte’s simultaneous rise in prestige dramas.
  • Summary: The hosts analyze Another 48 Hrs. as the end of Eddie Murphy’s initial dominant run, noting he was the first listed star following seven consecutive number one opening weekend hits. Nick Nolte, conversely, began a prestige run post-film with movies like Cape Fear and The Prince of Tides, having cleaned up his personal issues. The film’s box office performance and critical reception are suggested as a potential turning point for Murphy’s subsequent career choices.
Eddie Murphy’s Mid-Career Misery
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(00:10:27)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite being one of the biggest celebrities globally in the early 1990s, Eddie Murphy felt miserable, burdened by expectation, and expressed regret over making ‘all right’ movies instead of ‘great’ ones.
  • Summary: Eddie Murphy’s seventh appearance on The Rewatchables is noted, tying him with several other major stars in appearances. Research revealed interviews where Murphy expressed feeling hollow despite his massive success, comparing his situation to Mike Tyson’s post-Douglas loss. He specifically regretted that Another 48 Hrs. was merely ‘all right’ critically after the success of Harlem Nights.
Murphy’s Comedy Style and Retreat
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(00:20:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Murphy’s high-energy, channeling style of comedy, which required a ’no safety net’ approach, may have been unsustainable once he became insulated by fame, leading to his retreat from stand-up and major roles.
  • Summary: The hosts contrast Murphy’s intense, high-energy comedy with observational comics like Seinfeld, suggesting Murphy’s style was difficult to sustain as he aged and became insulated. He was simultaneously saving SNL, replacing Richard Pryor as the top Black stand-up, and dominating comedy films, a triple burden. Unlike Robin Williams, Murphy never successfully translated his comic skills into a critically acclaimed dramatic role until Dreamgirls.
Film Editing and Plot Holes
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(00:33:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Another 48 Hrs. was severely compromised by last-minute editing, being cut from a planned 2.5 hours down to 95 minutes due to Total Recall’s success, resulting in nonsensical plot points.
  • Summary: The film’s plot incoherence stems from Paramount panicking and demanding the runtime be slashed to 95 minutes just before release. Crucial elements, including the titular ‘48 Hours’ deadline and the entire arc for Brian James’ character, Keo (the Iceman), were removed. The hosts note that the original, longer version likely made the plot twists and character motivations logical.
Walter Hill’s Direction and Action
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(00:36:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite narrative flaws, Another 48 Hrs. is praised as a visually and tonally excellent Walter Hill film, featuring a banger James Horner score and effective tension.
  • Summary: The movie is lauded for its direction by Walter Hill and cinematography by Matthew Leonetti, maintaining a high sense of tension and danger. The villains are noted as genuinely scary representations of threat, and the film moves quickly, which may be a byproduct of the severe editing. Walter Hill’s subsequent directorial efforts after this film did not achieve the same level of success.
Audience Reception and Re-watchability
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(00:44:33)
  • Key Takeaway: The film is deemed a perfect ‘Five O’Clocker’ due to its fast pace and action, despite Roger Ebert giving it only two stars and calling it a ‘dream’ of disconnected scenes.
  • Summary: The movie’s runtime of 95 minutes makes it an ideal, quick viewing experience for a casual watch. Ebert’s review noted the film felt like disconnected, familiar scenes floating in and out of focus. The hosts conclude that the film’s action and pacing make it highly re-watchable, even if the plot is flawed.
Hypothetical Vampire Crossover
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(00:50:02)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts brainstorm a hypothetical Ringer Films movie where a prison transport bus is attacked by vampires.
  • Summary: The proposed plot involves vampires attacking a prison bus, leading to a discussion about whether the inmates could handle the threat. A variation was suggested where the Sixers team bus is attacked, requiring Tyrese Maxey to save the day against the vampires.
Nick Nolte’s Performance Analysis
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(01:05:09)
  • Key Takeaway: Nick Nolte’s character, Jack Cates, is noted for his poor decision-making, exemplified by his failure to suspect other cops as the Iceman.
  • Summary: The hosts critique Jack Cates’s intelligence, noting that Reggie figures out the Iceman is a cop much faster than Jack does. Jack’s continued failure to identify the corrupt cop is cited as a major plot weakness.
Memorable Action Scenes and Stunts
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(01:07:18)
  • Key Takeaway: The film features several impressive, large-scale stunts, including a Chinatown Hotel shootout and motorcycles landing perfectly between theater aisles.
  • Summary: The intensity of the hotel shootout is praised, though some scenes are noted as being reminiscent of the first film. The hosts marvel at the practical stunt work, such as a stuntman being set on fire during a motocross scene.
1990s Tropes and Aesthetics
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(01:01:35)
  • Key Takeaway: The most 1990s elements identified are the unironic ordering of Miller Genuine Draft (MGD) and the frequent use of convertibles in action sequences.
  • Summary: The casual consumption of MGD and the prevalence of convertibles, which are now less common due to sun-safety awareness, define the era. Eddie Murphy’s appearance, specifically his suit size suggesting weight gain, is also cited as a 90s marker.
Best and Worst Character Hangs
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(01:31:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Angel, the dancer from the North Beach club, is deemed the best potential hang, while the villain Cherry Gans is the worst due to his intensity.
  • Summary: Brent Jennings’s character is considered the most normal hang, but Angel’s presence at the club makes her the most appealing companion. Cherry Gans is too volatile, as evidenced by his immediate threat of violence over a minor issue.
Villain Ranking and Character Depth
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(01:11:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Cherry Gans is highly ranked as a villain because he is a purely psychopathic antagonist without needing complex backstory justification.
  • Summary: The hosts appreciate that Cherry Gans’s motivation is simple revenge for his brother’s death, contrasting with modern villains who often require extensive emotional context. His intense anger and desire to kill Jack Cates elevate his performance.
Critique of Action Movie Logic
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(01:32:09)
  • Key Takeaway: The film exhibits classic 80s/90s action movie tropes, such as characters inexplicably surviving multiple gunshots and the hotel clerk interrupting a gunfight to complain about noise.
  • Summary: The hosts point out that characters frequently fly backward through windows after being shot, defying physics, and that revolvers often hold far more than six rounds. The hotel clerk’s insistence on quiet during a shootout is highlighted as a moment that makes zero sense.
Best Action Comedy Duos Ranking
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(01:16:31)
  • Key Takeaway: The definitive Black Guy/White Guy action-comedy duo is Lethal Weapon’s Riggs and Murtaugh, placing the original 48 Hours second.
  • Summary: The ranking places Lethal Weapon at number one, with 48 Hours at number four, suggesting the former established the prototype for the genre. White Men Can’t Jump (Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson) secured the number two spot.
Third ‘48 Hrs’ Hypothetical
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(01:36:07)
  • Key Takeaway: A third ‘48 Hrs.’ installment should have featured Jack in prison, sprung out by Reggie Hammond.
  • Summary: The speakers suggest a third ‘48 Hrs.’ movie where Jack gets framed by Gans’s biker gang and Reggie mortgages his bar, Romans, to secure his release for 72 hours. This flips the dynamic, making Reggie the one with resources helping the incarcerated Jack. This concept was deemed a better premise than a potential third installment of ‘Beverly Hills Cop’.
Stripper Talent Comparison
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(01:36:59)
  • Key Takeaway: The term ‘Angel’ in the context of the film refers to a highly skilled stage dancer, prompting a discussion on different stripper disciplines.
  • Summary: The conversation pivots to analyzing the skill level of the dancer named Angel, comparing her stage performance to other disciplines like lap dances or cage dancing. The hosts muse on how a stripper earns a reputation as the ‘Michael Jordan of Strippers,’ referencing a real-life example from the Gold Club trial.
Favorite Movie Memorabilia
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(01:40:54)
  • Key Takeaway: The motorcycle used by Gans and Reggie’s lighter are cited as desirable pieces of memorability from ‘Another 48 Hrs.’
  • Summary: Specific memorable props from the film were identified, including Gans’s motorcycle and Reggie’s lighter, which features a pen that reveals a naked woman when the ink runs down. The James Brown CD is also mentioned as a desirable item to keep from the movie.
Rewatchability Verdict and Comparison
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(01:41:39)
  • Key Takeaway: One host enjoyed ‘Another 48 Hrs.’ more than the original because it avoided the slow pacing and overt racism of the first film.
  • Summary: The host who watched the original film recently found it slow and not particularly funny despite its controversial elements. In contrast, ‘Another 48 Hrs.’ was deemed funny and enjoyable because it successfully executed the charismatic buddy-cop formula in a tight 100-minute runtime.
Modern Buddy Cop Casting Ideas
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(01:42:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Michael B. Jordan and Shane Gillis are suggested as a potential modern pairing for a buddy cop film, leveraging their comedic chemistry.
  • Summary: The discussion explored modern pairings for the black guy/white guy dynamic, highlighting Cam Patterson (SNL) and Shane Gillis. Michael B. Jordan’s comedic potential, hinted at in his ‘Actors on Actors’ videos, makes him a strong candidate for one of the lead roles.
Miami Vice Reboot Casting Concerns
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(01:44:18)
  • Key Takeaway: Austin Butler might not be the right fit for Sonny Crockett in a potential ‘Miami Vice’ reboot because he needs to demonstrate an ability to play a less serious role.
  • Summary: The hosts questioned whether Austin Butler, known for his committed performance in ‘Elvis,’ could play the dour character of Crockett without taking himself too seriously. Michael B. Jordan was suggested as a potential co-star for the reboot, which remains unconfirmed.
Buddy Cop Formula Endurance
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(01:45:22)
  • Key Takeaway: The core narrative structure of opposites learning to like each other over 40% of the runtime is a formula that consistently works in buddy cop movies.
  • Summary: The fundamental appeal of films like ‘White Man Can’t Jump’ and ‘Heat’ is the guaranteed payoff where initially incompatible partners bond by the end. This structure is considered reliable regardless of the specific actors involved.