The Package - Killers Game

This Direct to Video rides the trend of the teaming of two, count 'em, Action Stars for the price of one and it is better than one would expect. It looks pretty good and shows-off some stylish non Action camera work and a strong if padded plot that is not bad.

There is enough here for Fans and maybe even enough for Slummers who dropped in just to make fun but found it reluctantly enjoyable. The Story Thread keeps things strung together as it weaves familiar fisticuffs and gun battles together with some mildly interesting supporting Characters of note.

This is probably as good as this type of thing gets and while it is attractive in a wet, dull, and gray way, it may have included one meaningless sub-plot too many (the wife or the brother, take your pick). But in the end it succeeds in its business to kick, punch, and shoot its way onto your Big-Screen TV with just a little more added story and umph than expected.

I watched THE PACKAGE last night and was surprised by it; mostly because the earlier Austin vehicles I had seen (HUNT TO KILL, TACTICAL FORCE) were really bad. Austin is still really stiff (both acting and physically) but the director plays upon these traits better than the previous helmers. Also, director Jesse Johnson handled the action scenes a lot better than most, not resorting to the shaky cam crap that a lot of DTV action guys use. Of course, the highlight for me is Dolph Lundgren, who delivers another juicy co-starring role much like he did in the Cuba Gooding, Jr. action flick ONE IN THE CHAMBER last year. While I'd still like to see Dolph get back in the directing chair, these smaller roles are good enough to fill the time in between.

After a long string of action films and the highly successful Expendables series, action starts Dolph Lundgren and Steve Austin team up to deliver an all-new action film The Package. Both these guys have proved themselves numerous times over and it's always exciting to see these kinds of guys team up to deliver the action, but does The Package deliver or need to be returned to sender?

The Package follows a man with a simple job to deliver a package to a crime lord named The German, but when another gang tries to steal the cargo, he is forced to fight to deliver it safely. But when he realizes the package isn't what he thought it puts him in deeper trouble than he thought. When you take two big bad ass guys like Austin and Lundgren you have certain expectations in an action movie. This movie plays OK, but nowhere near as fun and over the top action as you may hope. Lundgren is given some interesting new territories to go with a character that isn't the norm for what he does. Austin seems to be the more focal point of the story and has some decent action moments, but overall the film just doesn't deliver the epic punch you may hope for pitting these two together. The story is fine and simple enough to serve its point and they both do a fine job, it just seems to be missing something overall. What action is here is pretty good and Austin is getting better and better at delivering more realistic fighting instead of his wrestler persona style. Lundgren has always been a pro at the action scenes and is no different here.

Overall this is a fine film, just falls a bit short when it comes to delivering to big action guys like this together. As far as action films it still holds up well enough and even manages to toss in its own bit twists here and there to make it a bit more interesting. Let's just hope these guys get another just together at some point to really deliver that great action film we hoped for.

This is pretty average as far as films are concerned, but considering how terrible a few of Austin's STD films are, this is high praise. I'm a huge Stone Cold Steve Austin fan. Despite that he has nothing to work with a lot of the time, with these STD movies I always check them out when they are released. This one actually has some decent character development. Steve Austin does what he does best, play an anti hero, only without the rattlesnake persona. He's not quite ready to take on such a mysterious role, but he doesn't embarrass himself either. He definitely has presence, and commands your attention at all times. With better scripts, and more experience, Steve Austin can unequivocally be a top action star in Hollywood. He's not the greatest WWE superstar of all time for nothing. It's actually Dolph Lundgren who steals the show. His dark sense of humor was a hoot, and he hammed it up big time. Lundgren has really improved over the years with his acting, and he clearly relishes the villain role. I enjoyed him a lot. I wouldn't say this was filled with action, but it has just enough to keep your attention. For a STD film, it's not too shabby. Never something I'll watch again, but Stone Cold is on the right track

5.2/10

For being a low budget film, this one delivers quite a punch. Fight scenes are gritty and choreographed well. No CGI here, just good old fashioned camera work. Don't expect to be blown away, the movie knows it's audience.