The Mighty Quinn (1989)

mighty quinn review

I absolutely love this movie. When I feel like I need a vacation I watch this movie. The music is incredible and the story keeps you hooked. April 5, 2007

the mighty quinn

Anything with Denzel Washington is a Plus for me but this is one of my favorites that he was in; HUGE FAN. March 8, 2007

Highly recommended

"Mighty Quinn" features a young sexy Denzel Washington (Xavier Quinn) as a smart detective who did a stint with the FBI and returns home as police chief on a Carribbean island. There's a shadowy plot involving $10,000 bills, a guerilla movement and guns, but the movie focuses more on Quinn's conflicts because his childhood friend is suspected of a grisly murder, and Quinn's own discomfort from having "made good" but ending up caught between two worlds, white and black. He's also caught between the islanders' desire to protect their own and white political pressure to drop the investigation. This film is full of sexy island women, colorful reggae music, and real world dilemmas of race and identity. No matter that we couldn't quite figure out if the plot hung together. A winner! August 30, 2006

If we would be taking life as seriously as you....

... then this would be a really serious detective. As it's executed now, it's a superbly relaxed copper-gets-the-villain with serious undertones. Cool! August 27, 2006

A Colorful Mystery

This colorful mystery harkens back to those old 1930's films of old friends like Gable and Powell who suddenly find themselves on opposite sides of the law. There is a fun flavor and lots of great music in Carl Schenkel's take on this genre from Hollywood's past. Denzel Washington charms his way through this film set on a Caribbean island where nothing is done in a big hurry.

Denzel is Xavier Quinn, an easygoing ex-marine who has returned to the island where he grew up and become the Chief of Police. On the outs with his wife Lola (Sheryl Lee Ralph), he spends most of the film trying to charm his way back into her good graces so he can be with her and his son, who idolizes him.

When someone important ends up dead, and Thomas Elgin (James Foxx) wants Quinn to accept on blind faith how it happened, Quinn can smell something funny through the clear blue waters and goes fishing. Complicating things is Elgin's desire to pin the murder on Quinn's old childhood friend, Maubee (Robert Townsend).

Maubee is an island legend, loved and protected like Robin Hood. He is a likable guy who has never grown up. When someone compares him to Peter Pan, Quinn laughs and explains he's more like Bugs Bunny. Quinn has doubts Maubee would kill anyone. When a currency which doesn't even exist starts showing up, he knows more is going on here than meets the eye.

A couple of people end up murdered while Quinn tries to patch up things with Lola, look for Maubee, and avoid sleeping with both a lovely island girl, and the very sexy wife of Thomas Elgin, Hadley (Mimi Rogers). Rogers is especially terrific here and burns up the screen in every scene she's in.

Screen legend Keye Luke has a good role as Quinn's old friend, Dr. Raj, who Quinn sneaks in to do an autopsy he's been forbidden to do. Tyra Ferrell is lovely and sexy as Isola, and Ester Rolle has some fine moments as the very Caribbean Ubu Pearl, who Quinn believes knows exactly what's going on.

The story sounds dark, but it is filled with bright colors and the smooth flavor of Jamaican rum. This is a very fun to watch film that feels like a vacation in and of itself. Denzel is fantastic as Quinn, who avoids taking the easy route with the almost irresistable Mimi Rogers, and tries to avoid being Elmer Fudd to his old pal's Bugs Bunny.

This is an excellent mystery with a big splash of color and some great music that will be a favorite after you see it for the first time. A real winner! September 19, 2005

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