Simon & Simon: In Trouble Again aka Precious Cargo originally aired on February 23, 1995. It was trounced in the ratings, as it was scheduled opposite sitcom juggernaut Seinfeld, so the Simon brothers reunion movie vanished without a trace. However, it is an excellent reunion adventure which may have benefited from having been executive produced by stars Jameson Parker and Gerald McRaney but it may also have been helped by it being made a mere six years after the Simon & Simon series ended in 1989, so nobody has accumulated any "rust" as far as how to be their characters after six years away.
From the start, Precious Cargo gets the Simon "tone" right, despite not having its classic theme played over the credits--or at all! There is, however, several instances of the show's trademark slide guitar music often heard when the Simon brothers are in trouble or on the chase. The rest of the score is muddled synth music; indicative of mid-90s TV movie music.
A.J. and Rick look a bit older, with A.J.'s graying mustache and Rick being a little fuller in the face, but the two are still in terrific shape, as witnessed in their fifty-yard dash down the docks of Seattle in pursuit of the OCD bad guy. The brothers haven't lost a bit of their on screen chemistry, as they bicker and disagree over the usual things, but the love and respect the characters have for each other is present as well, shown to superb effect when the boys think their mother, Cecelia, is dead. Parker in particular is excellent in the scene. The supporting cast are also in fine form with everyone but Lt. Abigail Marsh and Myron Fowler from the series appearing. Tim Reid works wonders with his limited but greatly appreciated screen time and it's easy to see that his chemistry with the McRaney and Parker remains strong.
The entire time I watched Precious Cargo I kept saying to myself "This is JUST like the show!" Often times reunion shows are awkward disasters but the Simon & Simon reunion is true to the series. The only thing I didn't like was that A.J. and Janet Fowler, married four years at movie's start are a week from finalizing their divorce with no explanation given, and they never reconcile as is common in these things. A.J. even tells Janet that he is NOT interested in getting back together! Gah!
The ending, with the Simons bickering while taking a speedboat back to San Diego, looked to leave the door open for a new series if the movie was popular enough, but alas, it was never to be.
I rate this movie a 9/10, missing out on a perfect 10 for the complete absence of the classic Simon & Simon theme.
