Universal Soldier: The Return
Enjoyably silly actioner is a cut-above most of what Van-Damme was pumping out in the 90s, and if I’d been in an even slightly more accommodating mood, I could have scooted this up to a recommendation. It takes a certain amount of chutzpah to shout-out 2001, THE CHINA SYNDROME and THE TERMINATOR in the set-up, and it’s a small shame that none of these influences are followed up on, degenerating into a Van-Damme fight flick where he also gets to blow shit up. If its not quite satisfying enough even for its lower ambitions, it’s due to some horrendously plodding and ropey dialogue, that feels like left-overs from its TVM predecessors.
Mini Review: Enjoyably silly actioner is a cut-above most of what Van-Damme was pumping out in the 90s, and if I’d been in an even slightly more accommodating mood, I could have scooted this up to a recommendation. It takes a certain amount of chutzpah to shout-out 2001, THE CHINA SYNDROME and THE TERMINATOR in the set-up, and it’s a small shame that none of these influences are followed up on, degenerating into a Van-Damme fight flick where he also gets to blow shit up. If its not quite satisfying enough even for its lower ambitions, it’s due to some horrendously plodding and ropey dialogue, that feels like left-overs from its TVM predecessors.