Double Force

I really liked this movie the first time I saw it, I found it to be funny, intelligent and highly ironic. However, for some reason I have never really enjoyed it since then and I don't know why.

Charles Martin Smith put together a list of cliches and in-jokes relating to action films and strung them together in a somewhat plausible plot. 50/50 is so subtle that it is often difficult to tell if it is an action/comedy or a parody of an action/comedy... I think that this is one of the movie's primary strengths, but also its weakness.

Again, the first time I watched this I thought it was a brilliant satire, but since then I have become less sure about its satirical side (it is clearly a parody, but I am just not sure if it is as brilliant as I first thought). I have met other people who have had a similar reaction to viewing 50/50, people who really liked it on an initial viewing but were not as impressed the second and third time around. I am really not sure what causes this phenomenon, but I advise anyone familiar with the action films of the 70s and 80s to see 50/50 at least once and enjoy it for the fun that it is.

Also, Peter Weller is fantastic anyway and he and Robert Hayes have surprisingly good chemistry on screen.

My review was written in February 1993 after a Times Square screening.

"Fifty/Fifty", a thoroughly mediocre actioner, fails to hit the required tongue-in-cheek tone. Obviously video-driven pic is an inauspicious return of Cannon Pictures to the theatrical marketplace after an eight-month hiatus.

Peter Weller and Robert Hays topline as soldiers of fortune in the Far East who are commandeered by the CIA for a mission to depose evil General Bosavi (Dom Magwili) of Tenggara. They cornily train the green troops of rebel leader Akhantar (Kay Tong Lim) while vying for the affections of his niece (Ramona Rahman). Of course the CIA double-crosses them and naturally the duo single handedly save the day.

Structured as an old-fashioned buddy romp, pic shamelessly imitates "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" to ill effect. Charles Martin Smith gives a very wishy-washy reading of the nominal CIA bureaucrat bad guy and directs the film in similarly "who cares?" fashion.

Weller is bland (he was far more expressive in the recent direct-to-video release "Sunset Grill"), while Hays, with perennial chin stubble, is comic relief. Stunts and other tech credits for this Malaysian-lensed opus are adequate.

Plot: Two bickering mercenaries are hired by the CIA to overthrow a South East Asian dictator.

This film was very surprising to me, I'm not the biggest fan of either actors, but they both have great chemistry with each other. The supporting cast also does a good job playing their roles well. I was very surprised by the action that was in the film considering it was low budget for that time.

This is what buddy films should be like, have a good sense of humor with your characters, make us like them, have a plot that's interesting in order to engage your audience. Give this a chance if you can find it, you won't regret it.

I agree that this movie IS a some kind of parody on action flicks. The heroes gunned down numerous troops without any difficulties, yet they always throw out jokes, as if they were not serious doing that. Unfortetunately, IF this was meant to be a parody, it's not funny enough. In the end, it has become a usual heroic-flick where you can blast a whole army, common in the 80s and early 90s.

I've never seen Robert Hays in any real 'tough-guys' movie. From the first I saw his name on credit, I was practically sure...that this is not "Commando" or somethin' like that.

By the way, I have to straighten some things up here. The movie takes place in a fictional SOUTH EAST ASIAN country, not South America or else. In fact, "Tenggara" (or Tengara, as the movie put it) means "South East" in Malay and Indonesian. The soldiers and the natives spoke Malay all through the movie, and the movie was shot in Malaysia. Yeah, I knew it's a relatively forgotten part in the (Hollywood) world (except now there's a movie called "Entrapment"). In real life, there are only three countries using Malay (and its variation, Indonesian) as official language: Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalaam.

Anyway, worth watching though...if you like some mild jokes. For the rest, don't think.

Or as a viewer put it: leave your brain.

You know what the problem of this movie is? The way people look at it, simply because they measure it by the "big and loud" American action movies of the 1990s, and that's really unfair.

Here, or as you can find in that kind of low budget movies, there is no huge production, top elements, bankable stars, or international wide releases. So they struggle to have the opportunity to make movies, good ones at the least, and to sell them inside USA, or around the world. And as for (Fifty/Fifty), I believe they did it good this time.. so good indeed.

When you have an action movie of that kind, then you'll have stars like (Christopher Lambert), (Brandon Lee), (Dolph Lundgren), (Don the dragon Wilson), (Cynthia Rothrock). And there are others who got more fame and appreciation in the Middle East like (Chuck Norris), (Steven Seagal), (Jean-Claude Van Damme). All of the above, with all due respect for them and for their lovers, had more bad movies than their own good, and they are all whether not good actors, or mostly the worst ever!

Therefore when you watch such a brilliant and entertaining small movie like (Fifty/Fifty), you have to evaluate it firstly as an independent film, and secondly as one with no acting problems.

As for the story, obviously it's an inspiration of the classic Japanese movie (Seven Samurai - 1954), however after updating it for the 1990s, and giving the lead roles of it to 2 merry versions of (Rambo).

By the way, the (Seven Samurai) story was remade, countless times, in countless cinemas, all over the world. For instance, (The Magnificent Seven - 1960) in America, (Shams elzanaty - 1991) in Egypt, or (Sholay - 1975) in India; and that last one looks like the basis for (Fifty/Fifty), regarding too many proofs such as: there are just 2 defenders of the weak village not 7, the love story between one of them and a local girl, and the toss up play by the coin between the 2 leads. Otherwise, they're just strange coincidences!

The most enjoyable thing is that it has wonderful action. Just remember the sequences at the jungle, or the climax which was perfect, knowing that there was no CGI at all. So with excellent thrill, lovely comic moments, and flawless acting, what would an action fan need more?!

It was quite a surprise when I knew that the movie's director was (Charles Martin Smith) the same short actor who played the character of (Martin Sprue) the American intelligence officer. That's a reason for the bright and nice acting I suppose. And as a director, he managed to realize a too dazzling movie despite its budget.

I had an amazing time with it, from start to finish, especially every shot that got (Peter Weller) and (Robert Hays) together. As for (Robert Hays), he is so gifted in comedy and in action as well. He looks like (Jean-Paul Belmondo) American cousin, but with his own distinguished character. It makes you ask eagerly where is such an actor? And why he isn't a star? While OTHERS are.. unfortunately!

I loved all the fun and the fine work of it more than a lot, and I mean a lot, of Hollywood big and loud action movies. In one word, this time independent cinema really wins.