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“Ricochet” seems to be one of those forgotten movies. I remember it clearly from the time it was released, especially the trailers that spotlighted an early scene where Denzel Washington strips down to his tighty whities as part of a clever ruse to gain the upper hand in a hostage situation. I watched it once or twice back in the ’90s and have a generally positive memory of the film, yet it appears to have vanished from the public consciousness—unlike many other ’90s films—despite its star-studded cast.
“Ricochet” is a crime thriller that follows Nick Styles (Denzel Washinton), an ambitious Los Angeles cop who becomes a rising star after capturing the notorious criminal Earl Talbott Blake (John Lithgow) during a dramatic public shootout. Years later, Styles is a respected assistant district attorney, but his life begins to unravel when Blake escapes from prison and orchestrates a sadistic plan to destroy Styles’ reputation and sanity. As Blake manipulates events from the shadows, Styles must confront his past and fight to reclaim his life, culminating in a deadly final showdown.
What this rewatch of “Ricochet” made painfully clear is just how utterly ridiculous the film really is. John Lithgow’s master plan is so wildly convoluted and dependent on an absurd number of variables that the chances of it actually succeeding should be close to zero—yet, somehow, every step goes off without a hitch until the final act. The fact that all of this unfolds within the span of a single week, immediately after Lithgow escapes from prison, only amplifies the absurdity. What are the odds that, on his very first night of freedom, Denzel Washington’s character just happens to be away at a fundraiser, leaving the perfect opening for Lithgow to drug the babysitter and record a home video threatening the kids—footage he then conveniently uses later in his scheme? Apparently, the odds are always in his favor.
While it’s initially fun to watch the cocky and confident Denzel Washington spiral out of control, with his behavior growing increasingly unhinged to those around him, the gimmick wears thin pretty quickly. What starts as a compelling unraveling soon turns into a frustrating spectacle. By the time he’s sprinting to his children’s play in a bathrobe, waving a gun like a madman, I found myself more annoyed than engaged. It’s hard to reconcile this reckless mess with the sharp, capable man we were introduced to at the beginning—and worse, the plot becomes painfully predictable from that point on.
And yet, despite all its flaws, “Ricochet” has a certain undeniable charm. John Lithgow, testing the waters in one of his first villain roles, clearly has a blast chewing the scenery, and Denzel Washington proves himself a convincing action hero. The supporting cast adds a lot of flavor, though the weakest link is Ice-T—playing a character straight out of his gangster rap persona, his line delivery is painfully wooden and often takes you out of the moment.
Still, I’d recommend “Ricochet” to fans of Denzel Washington, John Lithgow, or anyone in the mood for a classic ’90s high-concept thriller. It’s a silly, over-the-top flick that makes very little sense—but if you’re willing to shut your brain off and go along for the ride, it’s a pretty entertaining watch.
