Oh my god it's Richard Grieco! No really, it’s Richard freakin’ Grieco and he's Against the Law! I know, your saying to yourself, “Self, this sounds like the title of a Steven Seagal movie, Fletch must have made some sort of mistake.” No mistake, my friends, it is indeed Richard Grieco, the only actor in the cast of 21 Jump Street to go on to do any work after the show was cancelled. Well, there was Peter DeLuise, but Richard didn't have help from papa.

The minute the first frames of Against The Law catch your eye, you'll be hypnotized. Mr. Grieco (Rex) pulls up to a roadside diner in his red Cadillac convertible with cow skin interior. He then enters the diner, or should I say his hair enters the diner and drags the rest of his body along, for this extraordinary quaff is truly the starring role of the film. It's a foot high flat top styled to the music of Flock of Seagulls, truly a sight to behold! Grieco wears a heavy duster, sheepskin jacket, a button down shirt and a tank top. Remember kids, it's always important to layer in southern California. The waitress at the diner (Jaime Pressly) is obviously wet for the eye-liner wearing Grieco, and offers him a piece of her pie. After an extremely flirtatious exchange involving her pie, she supplies him with an ample amount of whipped cream. This hot, steamy moment is cut short by the entrance of a police officer craving donuts. Grieco gets up and leaves the diner much to the chagrin of the aching waitress.

Just outside the door he lights a cigar and decides to reenter the diner to figuratively slap his glove in the cops face by uttering the words "Are you fast enough" (que the drinking game because this isn't the last time you'll hear these words.) After this declaration, Grieco pulls aside his duster to reveal the hip holster where his trusty six shooter lives. You will notice the leather wrist brace on his shooting hand, apparently this helps his aim? Next your ears will burn as the showdown music begins. This cacophony is clearly a rip-off of the score from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Then it all clicks! The hip holster, cigar, duster and even a bandana choker! Grieco is the man with no name . . . and a Cadillac! And this is just the opening five minutes! We are also treated to a delightful performance by Nick Mancuso (Under Siege, Under Siege 2: Dark Territory) as Detective John Shepard. Shepard is a heavy smoking boozehound who would rather get lit than get laid (a scene that will have you rolling.) Bad, bad ,bad! It's one of those rare projects where all of the brilliant bad aspects come together to not only entertain, but to mystify, as I hope my description of the opening illustrates. It's Richard Grieco, for god's sake, and he's killing cops for no apparent reason!! If that's not bad movie Shangri-La I don't know what is.

Hamlin Grade: 6.5

Fletch is a killing word!