AllMovie

Shamus is supposedly based upon The Big Sleep, but whether it's supposed to be a remake, a parody, or an homage is anybody's guess -- which is indicative of Shamus' problems. The writer and director don't really seem to know what they want here, so some of Shamus is straight and some of it is satirical and some of it is simply stolen, and the result is a film with no distinct personality or point. Making a good private eye flick is trickier than it looks; in order for a "traditional" one to work, the "shamus" is the moral center of an immoral world. McCoy is a little too quick to choke people with chains (and seems to enjoy it too much) to fulfill this function, and the immorality surrounding him is a tad superficial -- it's played a bit too much for laughs or easy cynicism, making it seem less sinister or dangerous than it needs to be. In the title role, Burt Reynolds tries hard and, while he can't compare to Humphrey Bogart, he uses his easy charm and rough edges to very good effect. Dyan Cannon also does fairly well, although she crosses the line into shrill a tad too often, and Giorgio Tozzi is surprisingly good. Buzz Kulik's direction is fast-paced and on occasion -- such as the chase between buildings -- extremely effective. On the whole, Shamus doesn't work, but fans of Reynolds will certainly enjoy it.