Three Fugitives (released in theaters on January 27, 1989) is a rare remake that successfully translates the manic energy of French farce into a distinctly American context.
It thrives on a brilliant bit of “collision” casting, pairing the gravelly, hyper-masculine presence of the late eighties’ toughest leading man with the frantic, elastic energy of a comedy legend. While it features the car chases and shootouts expected of a buddy-action movie, the film’s true strength lies in its surprising warmth and its focus on an unconventional, makeshift family.
Lucas (Nick Nolte) is a legendary armed robber who has just been released from prison, determined to go straight.
However, his first day of freedom takes a disastrous turn when he walks into a bank just as it is being robbed by Ned Perry (Martin Short).
Unlike Lucas, Ned is an amateur—a desperate, clumsy father who has turned to crime only because he is unemployed and on the verge of losing his young, mute daughter, Meg (Sarah Doroff).
When the police surround the building, the panicked Ned takes Lucas hostage, creating a scenario that the police find impossible to believe.
Detective Dugan (James Earl Jones), who spent years chasing Lucas, is convinced that the veteran criminal is the one in charge and that the kidnapping is a ruse.
Forced to go on the run together, Lucas, Ned, and Meg become the most mismatched trio of fugitives in Washington state.
The narrative follows their chaotic journey as Lucas reluctantly helps the incompetent Ned evade a massive manhunt led by Dugan and his officers, including Inspector Tener (Alan Ruck).
Along the way, they encounter a series of eccentric characters, including a veterinarian (Kenneth McMillan) who treats a wounded Lucas as if he were a dog.
As they move toward the Canadian border, the bond between the three deepens; the silent Meg begins to respond to Lucas’s gruff kindness, and Lucas finds himself becoming a protector to the man who supposedly kidnapped him.
The plot builds to a frantic and touching finale where Lucas must decide if he will save himself or risk his freedom to ensure a future for Ned and Meg.
Bruce McGill, Brian Thompson, Jeff Perry and Larry Miller round out the supporting cast.
Martin Short and Nick Nolte in Three Fugitives (Photo/Touchstone Pictures)
Reception for Three Fugitives
Three Fugitives grossed $6.4 million on its opening weekend, finishing second at the box office, trailing Rain Man, which earned $6.8 million on its seventh weekend.
The film would take over the top box office spot the following weekend and remain in the top 10 for six weeks en route to grossing $40.6 million in its theatrical run.
Legacy
Three Fugitives is remembered for the undeniable comedic chemistry between Nolte and Short, a pairing that remains one of the most inspired duos of the 1980s, and Sarah Doroff’s moving, silent performance, which provided the film with its emotional anchor and elevated it above standard slapstick fare.
While it faced stiff competition during its initial release, it became a massive success on home video and a recurring favorite on broadcast television, earning a reputation as a quintessential “feel-good” action movie.
