Quick Review: John Travolta, the Comeback Kid, plays a character perfectly suited to his style and image. He combines humor with cocky charm to bring Chili Palmer to life. The Leonard novel was darker, but the film benefits from the visual pleasure of seeing these bizarre Los Angeles creatures come to life. Gene Hackman, Danny DeVito, Dennis Farina, Delroy Lindo, and, especially, Rene Russo are both believable and bigger than life - exactly what good writing and direction can deliver.
An excerpt from Patrick Stoner's interview with John Travolta.