Short Time

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Short Time

PG-13

1990

1h 37m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

29%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

54%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

As a result of a misdiagnosis, Detective Burt Simpson (Dabney Coleman) is told he has just weeks to live. He gains a new respect for his life and loved ones but learns that in order for his wife, Carolyn (Teri Garr), and son, Dougie (Kaj-Erik Eriksen), to collect any insurance money, he must be killed in the line of duty. He then becomes the most reckless man on the police force, volunteering for dangerous assignments over the objections of his by-the-book partner, Ernie Dills (Matt Frewer).

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

We are safely in sitcom country, and this is another one of those movies that is careful not to give the audience too much to worry or think about.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Short Time is often gracious, almost forced, but without pushing too hard. [Full review in Spanish]

Nov 18, 2022

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Philip French

Observer (UK)

Coleman is endearing, but an initially ruthless comedy-thriller is given a near-fatal injection of ruth at the halfway mark.

Nov 2, 2022

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Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Rated: 2/5

Sep 1, 2005

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Aug 17, 2005

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Philip Martin

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Rated: 2/5

Oct 25, 2002

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Sten T

Awesome movie, great car chases and a very interesting plot idea.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/26/22

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Audience Member

A good dramedy. Never trust doctors and watch this movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Interesting but not overly funny. A misdiagnosed officer is told he will die in a couple weeks and tries to get killed in the line of duty so his family will be taken care of after he's gone.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/21/18

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Audience Member

Good movie. Not much a comedy, good script.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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Audience Member

THIS ONE'S FOR YOU DOUGIE! YOURE GOING TO COLLEGE!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Audience Member

Lee Dae-Ro Can't Die is a funny remake of this flick and doesn't have it's own entry. Awesome cartoonish direction with a bar-setting freeze-cam. Slapstick police humor with a lazy single father. A bit sappy at times, but overall it's a light-hearted look at death.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Gregg Champion

Director

Dabney Coleman

Burt Simpson

Matt Frewer

Ernie Dills

Teri Garr

Carolyn Simpson

Barry Corbin

Captain

Joe Pantoliano

Scalese

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Synopsis

As a result of a misdiagnosis, Detective Burt Simpson (Dabney Coleman) is told he has just weeks to live. He gains a new respect for his life and loved ones but learns that in order for his wife, Carolyn (Teri Garr), and son, Dougie (Kaj-Erik Eriksen), to collect any insurance money, he must be killed in the line of duty. He then becomes the most reckless man on the police force, volunteering for dangerous assignments over the objections of his by-the-book partner, Ernie Dills (Matt Frewer).

Director: Gregg Champion
Producer: Todd Black, Courtney Silberberg
Screenwriter: John Blumenthal, Michael Berry
Production Co: Gladden Entertainment
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.5M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Stereo