Frank Dooley (John Candy) is a patrol cop who catches fellow cops Nedler and Rizzo stealing TVs. However they turn the tables on Frank and he's the one dismissed from the force. Norman Kane (Eugene Levy) is an incompetent defense lawyer who leaves after his client threatens him. Dooley and Kane end up as security guards. Captain O'Connell is the owner of the security company. Lazarus and Klepper are union reps. Maggie Cavanaugh (Meg Ryan) is an instructor for the security company and O'Connell's daughter. Frank and Norman catches a group stealing from the warehouse they're guarding but they're outgunned. They are fined $100 and try to complain to the union president Michael Carlino (Robert Loggia). Kane challenges the union leaders and the guys are forced to guard the toxic dump. They investigate and find corruption in the union.I understand how Dooley ends up as a security guard but it makes no sense that Kane becomes one. There's no point in the first act. It's not funny and the two comics aren't together developing chemistry for their characters. Once they get together, it has some better moment that is worthy of a good Police Academy movie. However there are too many moments worthy of a bad Police Academy movie. It's pretty broad and badly directed. Lester is not good at directing comedies. Candy and Levy can't salvage much from this.

This comedy at times was just your average mediocre comedy that presented nothing really new. Still at other times it really got a person laughing good as Candy and Levy were a pretty good comedy tandem. This one has Candy as a former police officer framed and kicked off the force and Levy as a very bad defense attorney. In fact, the scene where his ineptness is displayed is one of the best scenes in the movie as he must defend what looks like a Charles Manson type of criminal, a guy so bad the police found things in the place he lived made of human hair. Both men end up trying to find work as security guards in a company with a very fair and good union, well not really but this too makes for one of the funnier scenes in the movie. Well they end up sort of messing up on their first night on the job and get some really bad assignments after that as they have to guard a trash dump and a toxic waste dump, two places not really known as being places people wish to break into. Well they figure something is up and they start to unravel a conspiracy, which still makes for an okay film, but I almost wish they just continued to have misadventures as security guards. As I have said though there are a couple of good scenes even during the unfolding of the diabolical plot as a scene in a sex store as Candy keeps needing quarters to think is good and the whole thing with him and the trucker is rather good too. So all in all this is a good comedy featuring a rather good duo, to bad the only other movie I know they were in together was the bizarre Cannonball run sequel "Speed Zone".

In a way, maybe it does weaken "Armed and Dangerous" just a little to have so much high action, but how can you not like a John Candy/Eugene Levy movie? In this case, they play security guards who discover all sorts of corruption. But mostly, it's an excuse to be silly. Low humor, sure, but still likable (especially the clothing-switching scene; I bet that they liked filming that!).Anyway, it's one of many movies that shows what we lost when John Candy died. In other words, it's armed and dangerously funny. Also starring Robert Loggia (happy birthday, Robert!), Kenneth McMillan and Meg Ryan.A 50 caliber...

Armed and Dangerous is one of John Candy's best films! Eugene Levy, Meg Ryan, Brion James, Robert Loggia, James Tolkan, Kenneth McMillan, and Tom Lister Jr. were all good. I loved the performance Lister and Candy did together! I don 't like to make fun of anybody but it was so funny every time Candy would make fun of him and I loved Lister doing his Zeus Trademark in the film! If are a fan of John Candy and the above cast mention and love hilarious action packed comedies with good music then I strongly recommend that you watch this classic movie soon!