Huracán

There are two reasons why Treat Williams is a B-movie king. First is he is not that good of an actor, and second is he always gets roles like his in Gale Force. Campy B-movie actors are usually ok as long as they don't try to become `real' actors, which is something that Williams unfortunately has tried to become. Although he can portray his campiness well in such movies as Hollywood Ending, he's better suited in his direct-to-video type movies, such as Gale Force, in which he's the best part.

In Gale Force, Williams plays Sam Garrett, a cop who breaks all the rules, according to an unintentionally hilarious opening scene. Due to that, he's on suspension, and to get back on the force, he has to go on a new reality show called `Treasure Hunt.' The host has ulterior motives, and there's a giant storm (a gale force…get it?) that threatens everyone. Whatever is Treat Williams to do?

I understand that this is not a movie to be taken seriously, and the first half or so actually wasn't that bad; it was cheesily good. The acting was horrible, and so was everything else. However, it was entertaining, and, in some ways, an eye opener to reality shows. Once the storm came, that's when everything fell apart. A new subplot came in and anything enjoyable from the first half went away. It wasn't cheesy, it was just stupid.

Although this is a minimal budget movie, you would at least think they could get better special effects. In the opening scene, at one part Williams is being chased by the bad guys. He has to go around a truck, so he goes on two side wheels. How this happens is randomly he just tilts to one side with the most obvious backlighting I have ever seen. It was more obvious than those `special effect' rides at Universal Studios. The hurricane looked extremely fake; yet again, just something out of an amusement park ride. I would expect something more from Artisan and Phoenician Entertainment.

Adding to the fakeness was also in the opening scene. When Williams is being chased by the bad guys, they throw dynamite at him (of course). The dynamite explodes at various times, but never the same, especially when Williams would be killed. Another time, Williams shoots someone who flies out of his car (did I mention that he is also being chased by a minivan?) at a 90 degree angle and then flies into an ice cream truck which immediately explodes. It's so bad it's good, which is something I can't say about the abysmal second half.

Williams is actually quite good when he isn't required to act. Sometimes the script by Steve Latshaw throws him some one-liners, which are pretty funny. When someone asks him, `Who do we have to f**k to get us out of here?', he replies, `Probably the pilot.' This, of course, leaves the second half, which is so bad it makes me want to go up to Artisan (who has made quality projects like Terminator 2) and yell in their face. If you wind up watching Gale Force, only watch the first half. I guarantee you'll be in convulsions in the second half.

My rating: 3/10

Rated R for violence and language.

This film is pitiful. I was shocked to see such talents as Michael Dudikoff and Treat Williams be a part of this fiasco. Totally unbelievable story, poor script, and generally poor acting. The only believable characters were Dudikoff's and the two meteorologists and even they seemed to be struggling to keep a straight face. Do yourself a favor and watch a re-run of Gilligan's Island. It'll probably be more entertaining.

Give credit to writer Steve Latshaw for some memorable quotes in this masterpiece. For example, try this one on for size:

'It's our only chance!'

Who said Shakespeare was the bard?

This movie has been credited as being 'a good B movie'. Not even close. This movie is 'a bad Z movie'. It can't even make the end of the alphabet.

This is truly painful. It must have been at least mildly unpleasant for everyone except the writer, the director, and the money - who probably thought they had a winner on their hands.

Note the IMDb have no info on how much this blockbuster cost. Pocket change most likely.

But couldn't they have at least paid more money for a good screenplay? Or is that against the rules too?

Does a bad movie have to be bad through and through to really qualify as bad?

And don't forget to check out the filming locations for a really good laugh.

This movie does not deserve a review. I am writing this to warn anyone that is planning on renting it to STAY AWAY! Bad acting, bad writing, bad cast, bad direction, bad scenery. I must admit that the sound during the storm scenes was excellent. Bad, bad, bad and alright, one excellent.

Granted, GALE FORCE isn't going to win any Oscars or even be mentioned in movie guide books years from now. But it's a fun low-budget movie for those looking for a film with at least competent actors and a hair-thin story. Treat Williams headlines the cast as a maverick L.A. detective (what else?) who reluctantly agrees to be a contestant on a SURVIVOR-like show in order to make ends meet. "Treasure Hunters" places a group of people on an island, and branching into two teams, they must follow clues and find the buried treasure before the other. When a group of mercenaries infiltrate the island to take the loot for themselves, the game show quickly turns into a deadly cat and mouse game of survival. Williams carries the film pretty well considering he didn't even want to do it, but had to due to contractual obligations. B-movie action star Michael Dudikoff does a rare performance as the bad guy, leader of the mercs, and displays a fair amount of menace that might have been more intimidating had the direction been tighter. Rounding out the cast is B-movie veteran Tim Thomerson as a rugged ex-Navy SEAL; Susan Walters, the girl with a name that rhymes with a part of the female anatomy from a classic episode of SEINFELD; Cliff DeYoung, in his stock weasel character; and Cliff Armstrong from the REVENGE OF THE NERD movies. The film also borrows scenes from LAST ACTION HERO, PREDATOR, and BAT-21 to save on cost and time. On the DVD commentary, director Jim Wynorski and the cinematographer joke about their usage of pre-existing footage and acknowledge the fact the film is dumb but fun. I wouldn't necessarily call it a dumb movie (I bought the DVD after all because I'm a Dudikoff junkie), but it's certainly not a great movie. The concept is definitely a great starting point, and though this film handles it decently, I can just imagine what a big-budget studio film could do with it.