Miami Vice (TV Series) Buddies (1985) User Reviews

"No guarantees in the western world!"

[edwardjamessmith · 9/10 · 11 February 2008]

This episode from season two has everything that you could ask for in an episode of Miami Vice: a good story,style and a great soundtrack. This is the episode which has one of the best chases with a great song, "No Guarantees" by The Nobodys. The ending is great as well. Don Johnson knows how to act and he plays Sonny Crockett so well (Colin Farrell is nothing like the Sonny Crockett that was played by Don Johnson at all) and he's great at that. I couldn't imagine anyone else playing Sonny Crockett like Don Johnson did. My rating for this episode 9/10. Miami Vice has always had something special about it and it's still a great show as of today and will live on.

An excellent episode

[DVD_Connoisseur · 9/10 · 27 June 2007]

From the lengthy opening scene with Crockett meeting an old army friend (James Remar) in a bar, this is a well structured and entertaining episode.

Karla Tamburrelli returns as Ample Annie, previously seen in season's one's comic "Made for Each Other" episode where she married Neville 'Noogie' Lamont. Unlike the previous tale, "Buddies" is a far more serious outing and there is a real sense of drama to the proceedings when a young mother goes on the run from criminals after stabbing one of the organisation's goons in self defence.

The episode is well acted and directed, with a great script. "Buddies" is one of the more stylised episodes with some scenes looking a little artificial due to over-the-top set dressing. However, this is top drawer entertainment and well worth viewing.

Chaka Khan's "Own The Night" is a memorable track from "Buddies".

9 out of 10.

Miami Vice: Buddies

[Scarecrow-88 · 7/10 · 18 September 2011]

A terrible comic, Morty Price, (Nathan Lane, perhaps as you've never seen him), in bed with the Miami mob, tries to rape a girl from New Jersey, Dorothy Baine (Eszter Balint), and is stabbed in the gut for his trouble (Tubbs: "He got a nice slice with a steak knife."). Dorothy, baby in tow, covers her child in a bag with tally sheets, these sheets important to two mobsters, Johnny Cannata (Tom Signorelli) and partner Frank Doss (Frankie Valli; yes, *that* Frankie Valli) who want to open a legitimate casino. Somehow, a Nam buddy of Crockett's, Robbie Cann (James Remar; The Warriors) is involved with Cannata and Doss during their investigation of Morty Price's murder. The dominoes fall as Cannata's goons pursue Dorothy, with Crockett having to confront his pal, Robbie, certainly a conflict he never imagined would develop. Good guest part for Remar as the tortured club businessman, Robbie, who doesn't like the fact that he is tied to mobster Cannata, a secret regarding the mobster he's been hiding from Crockett the episode's dramatic arc. Robbie asks Crockett to be his newborn son's godfather, at the opening of the episode, and when the baby is being christened we see how tormented Sonny is. I think the story is strong thanks to the moral implications that develop in regards to Robbie's part in the rescue of Dorothy thanks to a determined Sonny who demands he steps up to the plate and keep a young girl, with a baby, from being gunned down in cold blood. And boy does this episode stack the deck against Dorothy who ran away from domestic abuse to Miami, loses her job as a cocktail waitress thanks to disgusting customers, cannot find a decent place to keep her child, and having to protect herself (and the child) from mobsters' hit men—if anybody could use a break it's Dorothy. Seeing Lane as a lecherous lounge act, with jokes flatter than age-old tires, inviting, seemingly out of kindness, Dorothy back to his pad just so he could be "serviced", is rather odd, to say the least. As usual, we see colorful clubs and condos, decorated in typical 80s styles, full of purples and pinks, as Crockett and Tubbs try to save a girl from being another mob victim. Remar's emotional struggles with his heritage and finally getting a taste of the good life, in contrast to the need to save an innocent from jackals are dramatic high water marks in this particular episode. Only the abrupt conclusion seems to shortchange us. Karla Tamburrelli adds a nice comedic touch to a relatively downer storyline, full of quirks just right for Miami Vice, as the only friend Dorothy seems to have, trying to break out of dancing as a singer, with no takers it seems, winding up working in a hotdog stand—she will have to help Crockett find Dorothy if the poor girl is to be saved. Exciting car chase, typical of the show, along with a nicely violent shootout at the end to the close this episode, but it just seems like the ending could've told us the fate of Robbie and the mobsters...it was like the episode ran out of real estate or something.

More top quality "Vice"

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 12 November 2009]

Series two of "Miami Vice" maintains its high standards with this episode which finds Crockett become godfather to the son of his old Vietnam war buddy Robbie Cann. Unfortunately his friend seems to be involved with a couple of gangsters who are after a woman because she has evidence of their illegal gambling activities.

Dorothy, the woman in question is on the run with her baby after killing a comic who was attempting to rape her, he was involved with the gangsters' activities It is only after Crockett and Tubbs interrupt an attempt on her life while investigating the comic's death that they realise that the case goes deeper than that one death. When Crockett learns that his friend may be involved he is torn between loyalty to a friend who he believes to be innocent and the job that demands he be treated as a suspect.

"Buddies" contains plenty of action as one would expect from this series and despite featuring Noogie's wife Ample Annie does not descend into excessive comedy.

Did not like this one!

[mm-39 · 4/10 · 22 October 2023]

Buddies I remember watching this episode at my buddie Tony's place. Well, Tony described Buddies perfectly calling the installment lame. What did not make it lame was: first was watching Ajax from the movie the Warrior. The acting and directing was okay. Other than that, what makes Buddies lame was: All the 80's cliché. Nam buddies, mafia family ties, and a troubled single mom which are so over used. The gun fight ending, the baptism scene, and Tubes talk to talk with Crocket got a crossed as formulated run of the mill. As Tony described after watching Buddies ugh lame but entertaining. After re-watching, my Buddie was right lame, but even lamer after a second viewing many years latter.. Four stars out of ten.