Director: John Stewart
Notable Cast: Barri Murphy, Gregory Scott Cummins,
William Hubbard Knight, William Smith, Cameron Mitchell, Ross Hagen, Hoke Howell
Although I have yet to actually attend a Fantastic Fest in
person, I will admit that being able to see some of the films from this iconic film
festival from the comfort of my home has been kind of nice. Don’t misunderstand
that statement, I am a huge theatrical release supporter and once we get to a
point in the pandemic that I feel it is safe for myself and others to go back
to festivals I will be there in a heartbeat, but for the time being the ‘virtual
festival’ is kind of convenient in regards to seeing the movies. Being able to
partake in my first ‘Secret Screening’ at Fantastic Fest 2020 is still fun and
the fact that they chose to showcase a new 4K restoration of the relatively unheard
and lost action film, Action U.S.A., only deserves a round of applause.
While the film will certainly play gangbusters with a crowd, even with a movie
audience of 1 (and a couple of choice adult beverages) Action U.S.A. is
a damn riot.
Coming right at the end of the 80s boom of stunt-filled
action cinema, Action U.S.A. plays like a greatest hits collection of
sheer stunt audacity. I would be lying to say that I’ve heard of director and
co-writer John Stewart, but throughout the entire runtime of the film, I couldn’t
help but think to myself that I don’t understand why he never found his cult
following like fellow stunt director legend Brian Trenchard-Smith. Simply
because if you’re a fan of the latter – you will be a fan of the former. (Side
note: This screening included a very informative and fun Q & A where, you
guessed it, BTS interviewed Stewart, so put that in your back pocket for
later.) There is a sense of ‘can do’ attitude in every sequence of this film.
Whether it’s in the breakneck cat n’ mouse pacing of its plot and narrative or
the sheer amount of car wrecks, ‘splosions, and men flying through the air into
and through various objects, Action U.S.A. intends to deliver enough thrills
and spills to satiate any 80s action cinema fan.
When it comes to the overall quality of the film, one might
be overzealous to call it ‘a great film.’ Quite frankly, it doesn’t need to be.
As mentioned before, it often reflects the idea of being the greatest hits compilation
of the entirety of 80s action. Action U.S.A. kicks off with a bang, introducing
the audience to a young couple speeding around in a fast car before heading
home to make love. Don’t worry. The romance is thin and often relegated to being
a small subplot. Within minutes, two thugs kick in the door and the chase is
on. Fifteen minutes in and we have a massive helicopter sequence with a man
dangling outside of it. Stewart and company have no real interest in pumping
the brakes too much with the film, the character development comes mostly at
the moment and the pauses between action sequences are to make sure the film is
setting up the next set-piece and hitting all of the usual tropes of the genre.
In this manner, yes, the script feels a bit thin with much of the characters
and plot feel thinly threaded in-between the action, but the film is hitting
the tropes so hard and with so much attitude that it still entertains. Which
is, in the film’s defense, exactly the reason why someone would be watching a
movie called Action U.S.A.
Once the film has stepped on the gas, it never lets up. The
chase structure of its plot, which later introduces two FBI agents, possible
moles, missing diamonds, organized crime, and a hitman named Drago who drops lines
like “They don’t make bullets big enough,” in reference to why he isn’t dead,
makes for a breakneck pace. It’s all in the benefit of its audience. The
dialogue is silly, the secondary characters are haphazard caricatures, and
there is often a sense of tongue-in-cheek that can rub a viewer the wrong way
if they are in the wrong mindset. These are also the reason why this film
entertains to no end. This film is blissfully 80s and action-packed. You either
buy into the fact that the protagonists stop conveniently at a bar in Texas to
start a barfight to give the heroine, Carmen, a chase to sing a country song on
stage or you don’t. If you do, slam that cash on the table right now.
The new 4K restoration looks very impressive, although I do
not have the experience of seeing this film in the VHS era to compare it to as
a standard. For action fans all over, do yourself a favor and give Action
U.S.A. a shot. It’s a film that wears its influences on its sleeves,
delivers on all of the ridiculous action set pieces you could want, and never
takes itself seriously enough to stop having fun in every minute of its run
time. From my understanding, the film will be available to rent over at the
Alamo Drafthouse On Demand service for a short time following this screening. I
cannot recommend this film enough for those interested after reading this
review.
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