The underrated classic in which Carl
Weathers makes his bid to be an action superstar, with exploding
Camaros, outstanding stuntwork, Kung Fu, Ninja Fu, Bimbo Fu,
Flying Taxi Fu and, most terrifying of all, Vanity Fu. Vanity
sings not one but two torch songs, pops her top, shoots up with
Horse, and wears a dress that she's in danger of falling out of
at any moment. It's no wonder that Craig T. Nelson neglects his
trophy wife, played by Sharon Stone, in favor of inject-a-sex
with Vanity, then kills Sharon in mid-kiss and mid-aardvark.
Fortunately, this has absolutely no effect on Action Jackson
himself, a busted police sergeant who's trying to destroy
Nelson's auto empire. Nelson is not only an evil industrialist,
but a pusher, a murderer, a karate expert who likes to beat up
Chinese guys for the fun of it, the father of a psychotic mass
murdered, a serial wife-killer, and the kind of guy who would
promise a young impressionable girl a Motown contract and then
not deliver. He's such a meanie that he actually kind of likes Action Jackson, the man trying to stop him, because Action once
ripped his psycho son's arm out. Five breasts. Sixteen dead
bodies. Knife through the hand. Twenty-story falling fireball
stunt. Harpoon through the heart. Knife through the throat.
Barbecued ninja. Three motor vehicle chases. Three exploding
cars, with five crashes. Exploding yacht. Exploding character
actor. Gazebos-in-a-jar. Gratuitous "no arms and legs" jokes.
Gratuitous "Flintstones." Karate Fu. UPS Fu. Sharon Stone takes a
gratuitous shower and wears a dress with no back in it. With Bill
Duke as Captain Ambruster, Sonny Landham as a weird Indian drug
pusher dude with a knife the size of Montana, Chino "Fats"
Williams as the desk clerk at the sleaziest hotel in Detroit.
Best exchange has Vanity singing a song called "Undress" for
Nelson, and saying "I expected a standing ovation." Nelson's
reply: "You're getting one." Written by Robert Reneau. Directed
by ex-stuntman Craig R. Baxley.
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