Off Beat

Off Beat is a 1986 American comedy about Joe Gower, a New York City librarian who spends his days working the stacks. When his best friend, police officer Abe Washington, is asked to represent his department in a charity dance showcase, Abe asks Joe to take his place. Joe agrees to impersonate a policeman, joins the dance group, and falls for Rachel Wareham, a fellow officer who takes the rules seriously. Keeping up the deception while pursuing her leads to complications with other officers, with criminals, and eventually to an unexpected run-in during a bank robbery.

The film was directed by Michael Dinner, arriving as his first feature, ahead of Hot to Trot and The Crew. Mark Medoff wrote the screenplay, Harry J. Ufland produced, and Touchstone Pictures released it. Judge Reinhold plays Joe, with Meg Tilly as Rachel and Cleavant Derricks as Abe; Joe Mantegna, John Turturro and Amy Wright appear in supporting roles, part of a credited cast of fifty-three.

Produced for about 10 million dollars, the film returned roughly 5 million worldwide, a shortfall against its cost. On IMDb it holds a 5.1 rating from about 1,100 votes, while on TMDB it sits at 4.7 from a much smaller group of 22. Both figures point to modest viewer approval for this mistaken-identity comedy.