Review of Avenging Force (1986) by Explodingboy1989 — 24 Feb 2009

Michael Dudikoff and Steve James reunite for the second time in this semi-sequel to Chuck Norris' 'Invasion U.S.A.' This time, Dudikoff takes over the Matt Hunter role, as he must protect his friends and his family from a group of right wing fringe Survivaists/White supremacists. This is one of Dudikoff's best roles, it's also perhaps the darkest action movie he's starred in next to 'Midnight Ride.' There are several scenes that will drop your jaw for the pure brutality and everything is played to the grittiest effects, with little humor. The main bad guy is awesome in this, he spends the majority of his time waxing poetically about Hilter while dressed like Hue Hefner in his bathrobe, petting a kitty. I half-expected bubbles to come out of his pipe.

Avenging Force is helmed by Sam Firstenberg, and he brings the same mixture of humor and over-the-top action to the table here as he did to 'American Ninja.' It's nowhere near as over-the-top as 'invasion U.S.A.', but it's still filled with its moments of hilarity- people get shot and bodies go flying in weird contortions right out a Hong Kong flick, the baddies are dressed like they're going to the leather bar or celebrating Mardis Gras (it does take place in Louisiana).

Steve James I think was underused here. He's still cool as ever, and Dudikoff's bud, but he doesn't really get to show off as in the American Ninja movies. One great scene is where he's shot by machine guns and gets an arrow in the back and just walks away like nothing ever happened. I think Dudikoff has never been more convincing as a bonafide tough guy than here. He plays this mostly straight, and you can buy into it- whereas something like 'Moving Target' or 'Cyber Jack' would see him as an everyman goofball. He's still Dudikoff, and he still rules. And why there was no sequel to this, we'll never know. It practically sets one up to be made. I felt like I was watching a cliffhanger ending to a two part movie, but the second never came out. Highly recommended.