Dragnet first started as a radio program in 1949, and over the next 21 years, it ran for 314 radio episodes and 374 TV episodes, following the adventures of no-nonsense LAPD Detective Sgt. Joe Friday (Jack Webb). The 1987 Dragnet film is a homage/follow-up to the 1960s version of the series. Friday’s nephew (Dan Akyroyd), also named Joe Friday, has followed in his uncle’s footsteps, and currently works in the Robbery/Homicide division of the LAPD. His captain, Gannon (Harry Morgan), is his uncle’s former partner. Friday is just as straight-laced and by-the-books as his uncle, so when he’s assigned new partner Pep Streebek (Tom Hanks), a former Narcotics division cop who is much looser with the rules, there’s a bit of a personality clash.

Los Angeles has been suffering from a string of robberies—the thieves are stealing everything from police, fire and other emergency vehicles, to a selection of zoo animals, to a white wedding dress. The only connection between the robberies are the business cards left at scenes, from a group calling itself P.A.G.A.N. (People Against Goodness And Normalcy). Every time Friday and Streebek get close to a break in their investigation, there is some craziness, or an attempt on their lives, that brings things to a halt. There’s also added pressure from the Commissioner (Elizabeth Ashley), who wants them off the case. While undercover following a lead, the guys cross paths with Connie Swail (Alexandra Paul), a woman who had been kidnapped by the P.A.G.A.N.s to serve as a ritualistic virgin sacrifice. During her escape, she managed to get a glimpse of the P.A.G.A.N. leader, and so she becomes their only eyewitness.

I probably hadn’t seen Dragnet in over 20 years, so I didn’t remember much about the specific plot of the film. While the identity of the P.A.G.A.N. leader is pretty much obvious from the start—and confirmed a third of the way into the film—there are many other twists and turns that keep the viewer guessing as to how things are going to play out. And along the way there is a lot of room for Akyroyd and Hanks to do what they do best—make the audience laugh! Whether it’s crazy undercover costumes, the hilarious goat dance, Friday’s matter-of-fact narration, or just witty dialogue, there’s always something fun happening as Friday and Streebek proceed with their investigation.

The film is a great homage to the original series, using the same Friday narration, though this time with some added dry humor. The movie holds up really well after 31 years. Except for a few dated references, such as the Yugo patrol vehicle the guys end up with, the film could have taken place in the present. Part of the timelessness of the film could also be due to Friday’s good manners, which are straight out of the 60s (good manners never go out of style!), while the rest of the world feels more modern. There’s even one scene where Streebek is watching TV on his watch!

Dan Akyroyd and Tom Hanks have great on-screen chemistry, playing off one another perfectly. Akyroyd does an excellent impression of the original Jack Webb version of Joe Friday. He really embodies this no-nonsense detective, but he does so in a way that doesn’t feel robotic or insincere. You get this sense that Friday just has a code that he lives by and that he doesn’t budge on this, but that there is a loving, caring person under this slightly rough exterior. (And the virgin Connie Swail may just be the one to help it break through.) Meanwhile, Hanks feels like the same character he plays in most of his ’80s films, the wild and crazy guy who’s up for anything and just rolls with the punches. I don’t mean that in a bad way—it’s the type of character that he does really well, and that he has made audiences fall in love with over the years. Streebek also helps to soften Friday’s harder edges, making him more human. The supporting cast is also great—Dabney Coleman plays the Hugh Hefner-like skin mag mogul Jerry Caesar, Christopher Plummer plays televangelist Reverend Whirley, and Jack O’Halloran plays Emil Muzz, a P.A.G.A.N. member trying to eliminate the meddling police duo.

Shout! Factory has created a new 4K scan to master this Blu-ray, and it looks excellent, not just for a film that’s over 30 years old, but in general. The picture looks bright, clean and crisp, with only a minimal amount of film grain. Even the film’s darker, nighttime scenes remain clean and detailed with no signs of black crush. The stereo audio track is also solid. While I didn’t notice any extensive use of the stereo channels, it does provide clear dialogue, and a solid presentation of the film’s score/soundtrack.

Shout! Factory usually does a wonderful job with the supplemental material in its line of Shout Select Blu-rays. The disc contains a brand new 25-minute retrospective interview with actress Alexandra Paul, a new audio commentary by pop culture historian Russell Dyball, a 45-minute vintage retrospective/behind-the-scenes special on the TV series/movie, as well as the original trailer and TV promos. The disc comes packed in a standard Blu-ray keepcase with a slipcover. Like many other Shout Select releases, the insert inside the cover is reversible, giving the viewer a choice in how to display this title in his or her collection. The alternate view for this title can be seen below:

What’s Included:

Film: (1:45:53)

• 1080p / Widescreen 1.85:1
• Audio: English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo
• Subtitles: English SDH

Extras:

• Audio Commentary with Pop Culture Historian Russell Dyball (1:45:53)
  Pop culture historian Russell Dyball provides a brand new audio commentary recorded specifically for this Blu-ray release. He talks about how the film fits in with, and pays homage to, the TV series. He mentions some of the things that were removed/changed from the film/script during its many revisions prior to its final cut. He points out Easter eggs, and shares a lot of behind-the-scenes stories and other factoids about the shooting locations, characters, actors, and more. Overall, I found the commentary to be interesting and informative, though at times it can become a little obscure trivia overload.
• “A Quiet Evening in the Company of Connie Swail”: An Interview With Co-Star Alexandra Paul (25:02)
  Brand new retrospective interview with actress Alexandra Paul, who played “the virgin Connie Swail”. In this fun interview, the actress talks about auditioning for the part, why she thinks she got the role, working with Tom Hanks, Dan Aykroyd and the other recognizable stars of the film, her clothing and hair, the shooting locations, learning that her character had been deflowered, attending the premiere, watching herself 30+ years later, and more. She also shares some interesting behind-the-scenes stories of what it was like on set.
• “Just the Facts!”: A Promotional Look at Dragnet with Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks (45:59)
  Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks host this 1987 TV special. The feature first takes a look back at the origins and popularity of the Dragnet radio program, TV series and 1954 film, and the man behind it all, Jack Webb. Then it gives viewers a fun behind-the-scenes look at the 1987 film. Some of those interviewed in regards to the TV series include editor William Stark, technical advisor Lt. Daniel N. Cooke of the LAPD, writer Steve Downing, and actor Harry Morgan (who also appears in the film). For the film, those interviewed include producer Robert K. Weiss, director Tom Mankiewicz, and stars Dan Aykroyd, Tom Hanks and Alexandra Paul.
• Trailers & TV Spots (4:33)
  The original trailer and TV spots used to promote the film. Play All, or select from:
  • Trailer (1:41)
  • TV Spot 1 (:33)
  • TV Spot 2 (:34)
  • TV Spot 3 “Suspects” (:34)
  • TV Spot 4 “That’s the Problem” (:34)
  • TV Spot 5 “Those are the Facts” (::34)

Final Thoughts:

Dragnet is a fun buddy cop film that does an excellent job of paying homage to the original series it is based on. The film holds up really well, and that is due in large part to the talanted cast—Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks make a wonderful comedic duo. Shout! Factory’s new 4K scan of the film source looks fantastic—I can’t imagine the movie looking any better. The selection of bonus material is a little light, but the new interview with star Alexandra Paul is a lot of fun, the new commentary provides a lot of trivia, and the vintage TV special is really interesting. This is a must own for fans of the film, and highly recommended for fans of Hanks and/or Aykroyd.