Search/Recent Changes
DBTropes
...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!

K-9 (1989)

 K-9 (1989)
type
 TVTItem
 K-9 (1989)
label
 K-9 (1989)
 K-9 (1989)
page
 K91989
 K-9 (1989)
comment
 K-9 is a 1989 thriller-comedy film starring James Belushi and Mel Harris, and directed by Rod Daniel.San Diego Police Detective Michael Dooley (Belushi) has a problem: He's been tagged for execution by a major international drug dealer named Lyman (Kevin Tighe). In order to help him put Lyman away for good and thereby save his bacon, Dooley's friend Sergeant Brannigan of the K-9 unit (Ed O'Neill) gives him a drug-sniffing police dog named Jerry Lee (played by a real-life police dog named Koton), with whose aid Dooley attempts to put Lyman in prison for good. Now Dooley has another problem: Jerry Lee is a Deadpan Snarker with a mind of his own.K-9 received mixed reviews and was followed by two direct-to-video sequels, K-911 and K-9: P.I.Not to be confused with the occasional robotic companion of Doctor Who, nor with said tin dog's eponymous spinoff series. The film was released the same year as Turner and Hooch, an unrelated film with a similar premise.
 K-9 (1989)
fetched
 2024-02-27T17:45:40Z
 K-9 (1989)
parsed
 2024-02-27T17:45:40Z
 K-9 (1989)
isPartOf
 DBTropes
 K-9 (1989) / int_1b65dfad
type
 The Cameo
 K-9 (1989) / int_1b65dfad
comment
 The Cameo: The bystanders at the SWAT standoff heckling and insulting the cops were played by the real SDPD K-9 officers who advised the production.
 K-9 (1989) / int_1b65dfad
featureApplicability
 1.0
 K-9 (1989) / int_1b65dfad
featureConfidence
 1.0
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 K-9 (1989) / int_1b65dfad
 K-9 (1989) / int_2493b31d
type
 Fire-Forged Friends
 K-9 (1989) / int_2493b31d
comment
 Fire-Forged Friends: Dooley and Jerry Lee's relationship doesn't start in the best way as the dog is stubborn and lazy and Dooley is not known for his patience. However they slowly learn to get along to the point that when Jerry Lee is shot Dooley immediatly brings him to an hospital and even arrives to subtly threatening the doctor to shoot him if he doesn't operate his "partner."
 K-9 (1989) / int_2493b31d
featureApplicability
 1.0
 K-9 (1989) / int_2493b31d
featureConfidence
 1.0
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 K-9 (1989) / int_2493b31d
 K-9 (1989) / int_3107a493
type
 Open Heart Dentistry
 K-9 (1989) / int_3107a493
comment
 Open Heart Dentistry: Towards the end of the movie, Jerry Lee is shot, and Dooley takes him into a human emergency room for treatment. The surgeon initially refuses to operate, until Dooley threatens to shoot him if he doesn't.
 K-9 (1989) / int_3107a493
featureApplicability
 1.0
 K-9 (1989) / int_3107a493
featureConfidence
 1.0
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 K-9 (1989) / int_3107a493
 K-9 (1989) / int_392372f9
type
 Actor Allusion
 K-9 (1989) / int_392372f9
comment
 Actor Allusion: When Kevin Tighe's Big Bad is holding a female character at gunpoint. He has a line that goes "After I shoot her I'm going to call Rampart and ask to start a IV of Ringers". Obvious Emergency! reference.
 K-9 (1989) / int_392372f9
featureApplicability
 1.0
 K-9 (1989) / int_392372f9
featureConfidence
 1.0
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 K-9 (1989) / int_392372f9
 K-9 (1989) / int_3dd3951e
type
 Cowboy Cop
 K-9 (1989) / int_3dd3951e
comment
 Cowboy Cop: Dooley doesn't like to play by rules. Roughen up suspects? Yep. Hijack the police car after being arrested? Typical for him. Threaten to shoot a surgeon (for humans, not animals) if he doesn't save his K-9 partner's life? That's a whole new precedent.
 K-9 (1989) / int_3dd3951e
featureApplicability
 1.0
 K-9 (1989) / int_3dd3951e
featureConfidence
 1.0
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 K-9 (1989) / int_3dd3951e
 K-9 (1989) / int_4160410d
type
 Damsel in Distress
 K-9 (1989) / int_4160410d
comment
 Damsel in Distress: The only role for Tracey in the movie, it seems, is to be kidnapped.
 K-9 (1989) / int_4160410d
featureApplicability
 1.0
 K-9 (1989) / int_4160410d
featureConfidence
 1.0
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 K-9 (1989) / int_4160410d
 K-9 (1989) / int_474e3977
type
 You Have Failed Me
 K-9 (1989) / int_474e3977
comment
 You Have Failed Me: Double subverted by Lyman. He intimidates Freddie and it seems he's going to kill him, until he pulls the trigger and it's revealed that the gun is actually a water squirter. Then he pulls out a real gun and shoots Freddie.
 K-9 (1989) / int_474e3977
featureApplicability
 -0.3
 K-9 (1989) / int_474e3977
featureConfidence
 1.0
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 K-9 (1989) / int_474e3977
 K-9 (1989) / int_573b8452
type
 Hollywood California
 K-9 (1989) / int_573b8452
comment
 Hollywood California: Zig-zagged. The movie takes place in San Diego and was filmed there. The city does get a fairly glamorous presentation, but it's notable since Hollywood usually likes to pretend that San Diego (a major city much larger than San Francisco with a much longer and deeper history than Los Angeles) doesn't exist.
 K-9 (1989) / int_573b8452
featureApplicability
 1.0
 K-9 (1989) / int_573b8452
featureConfidence
 1.0
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 K-9 (1989) / int_573b8452
 K-9 (1989) / int_6b05b601
type
 Jerkass Has a Point
 K-9 (1989) / int_6b05b601
comment
 Jerkass Has a Point: When Dooley's girlfriend Tracey is kidnapped, the captain points out that it was Dooley's "seat of the pants bullshit" that got Tracey involved in the first place. At the very least, the stunts Dooley pulled to antagonize Lyman at every turn, such as holding him and his guests at gunpoint during a dinner party, didn't help.
 K-9 (1989) / int_6b05b601
featureApplicability
 1.0
 K-9 (1989) / int_6b05b601
featureConfidence
 1.0
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 K-9 (1989) / int_6b05b601
 K-9 (1989) / int_ad1db87c
type
 Oh, Crap!
 K-9 (1989) / int_ad1db87c
comment
 Oh, Crap!: The thugs in the bar throw a cue ball at Jerry Lee to scare him off. He catches it. And crushes it with his teeth.
 K-9 (1989) / int_ad1db87c
featureApplicability
 1.0
 K-9 (1989) / int_ad1db87c
featureConfidence
 1.0
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 K-9 (1989) / int_ad1db87c
 K-9 (1989) / int_b58b4e3c
type
 Too Dumb to Live
 K-9 (1989) / int_b58b4e3c
comment
 Too Dumb to Live: Dooley keeps harassing and antagonizing Lyman well after the latter has ordered a hit on him. Most cops in this situation would at the very least, work the case from the desk, if not recuse themselves entirely and request protection.
 K-9 (1989) / int_b58b4e3c
featureApplicability
 1.0
 K-9 (1989) / int_b58b4e3c
featureConfidence
 1.0
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 K-9 (1989) / int_b58b4e3c
 K-9 (1989) / int_c75df49a
type
 Shout-Out
 K-9 (1989) / int_c75df49a
comment
 Shout-Out: Dooley is in the middle of getting his ass kicked by some gang members in a bar when Jerry Lee walks in and starts growling. Dooley introduces him as "Officer Lewis".
 K-9 (1989) / int_c75df49a
featureApplicability
 1.0
 K-9 (1989) / int_c75df49a
featureConfidence
 1.0
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 K-9 (1989) / int_c75df49a
 K-9 (1989) / int_eab212a8
type
 Period Piece
 K-9 (1989) / int_eab212a8
comment
 Period Piece: Khaki uniforms and all-white police cruisers. SDPD switched to dark blue uniforms and black&whites in 1991. Also Dooley plays a handheld electronic game and is denied a request to patch a personal phone call through police dispatch rather than having a cellphone that would make both of these redundant.
 K-9 (1989) / int_eab212a8
featureApplicability
 1.0
 K-9 (1989) / int_eab212a8
featureConfidence
 1.0
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 K-9 (1989) / int_eab212a8
 K-9 (1989) / int_eaf5a1ac
type
 Groin Attack
 K-9 (1989) / int_eaf5a1ac
comment
 Groin Attack: Threatened. Tough guys tend to get real chatty when they have their junk in a police dog's jaws. Dooley gets one himself after he forcefully kisses a girl on the beach to keep drug dealers from noticing him.
 K-9 (1989) / int_eaf5a1ac
featureApplicability
 1.0
 K-9 (1989) / int_eaf5a1ac
featureConfidence
 1.0
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 K-9 (1989) / int_eaf5a1ac
 K-9 (1989) / int_f9876f7e
type
 Faking the Dead
 K-9 (1989) / int_f9876f7e
comment
 Faking the Dead: Dooley thinks that Jerry Lee died in surgery, and makes a heartfelt apology for having been such a Jerkass. Jerry Lee lifts his head each time Dooley turns his back, then plays dead when he turns around. It's heartwarming until the doctor walks in and tells Dooley that the dog is alive and awake. He turns around and mutters, "You asshole!"
 K-9 (1989) / int_f9876f7e
featureApplicability
 1.0
 K-9 (1989) / int_f9876f7e
featureConfidence
 1.0
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 K-9 (1989) / int_f9876f7e
 K-9 (1989) / int_f9ab4501
type
 R-Rated Opening
 K-9 (1989) / int_f9ab4501
comment
 R-Rated Opening: The film’s opening has two couples indulging in Auto Erotica in a car park on a rainy night where Dooley is on stakeout. Since they are both fairly explicit and serve no plot purpose the sequence is often cut for television broadcast.
 K-9 (1989) / int_f9ab4501
featureApplicability
 1.0
 K-9 (1989) / int_f9ab4501
featureConfidence
 1.0
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 K-9 (1989) / int_f9ab4501
 K-9 (1989) / int_name
type
 ItemName
 K-9 (1989) / int_name
comment
 K-9 (1989) / int_name
featureApplicability
 1.0
 K-9 (1989) / int_name
featureConfidence
 1.0
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 K-9 (1989) / int_name
 K-9 (1989) / int_name
itemName
 K-9 (1989)

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 Auto Erotica / int_88a1c151
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 Brandishment Bluff / int_88a1c151
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 Canine Fiction / int_88a1c151
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 Converse with the Unconscious / int_88a1c151
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 Death by Newbery Medal / int_88a1c151
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 Fake-Out Make-Out / int_88a1c151
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 First Installment Wins / int_88a1c151
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 Guns in Church / int_88a1c151
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 Has a Type / int_88a1c151
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 House Amnesia / int_88a1c151
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 Initialism Title / int_88a1c151
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 Life Imitates Art / int_88a1c151
 K-9 (1989)
hasFeature
 Road Apples / int_88a1c151