Avenging Force

For Cannon films - and Michael Dudikoff - this is definitely above average. There's Steve James (who leaves the movie much too early, sadly. He didn't like being in this film, by the way, and you'll see why), good action scenes (brutal fights!), and scummy and hateful bad guys who get what's coming to them. What more could you ask for?

Michael Dudikoff plays Matt Hunter, a retired Secret Service agent who supports the political campaign of his old friend Larry Richards (Steve James). Unfortunately, Larry is being threatened by a right wing terrorist organization named Pentangle. Their boss is the creepy Elliott Glastenbury (John P. Ryan), who regularly gives his goons training exercises in the Louisiana swamps. Hunters' old boss, Admiral Brown (James Booth, who also wrote the movie) tries to press him back into service but Hunter will have none of that. Fate, of course, will dictate otherwise.

The Cannon Group were always good at cranking out potboiler genre productions throughout the 1980s, but "Avenging Force" is even better than usual. This is largely because of first rate action, an above average performance by The Dude, the eternally charismatic James (who could have easily headlined his own vehicle during his short lifetime), a genuinely thrilling finale (taking place in the swamps *and* in the rain), and a formidable bad guy. Ryan excels in this role; the movie really belongs to him and James. A decent supporting cast includes William Wallace, Karl Johnson, and Marc Alaimo as assorted baddies. However, child actress Allison Gereighty doesn't fare too well playing Matts' kid sister.

One can hardly fail to notice that "Avenging Force" has a rather hard edge. There certainly are elements and plot developments with which some viewers could take issue. The overall entertainment value is substantial; this may be the most accomplished movie on the resume of action specialist Sam Firstenberg ("American Ninja", "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo"). Having been shot on location in Louisiana, it does have some solid production values. It dives into the action right away. The ultimate resolution isn't altogether satisfying, though.

Seven out of 10.

Remember the 80s, when movies had cool titles like this?

I (and many fans) consider to this to be Michael Dudikoff's best movie, and my personal favorite of all the ones he's made. AVENGING FORCE features the Dudemeister as former secret agent Matt Hunter, who's best friend (Steve James) is a running for Senate. A white supremacist group called Pentangle doesn't like this and sets out to keep James from winning, ambushing a Mardi Gras parade he's in and killing one of his little boys. Infuriating Dudikoff and James is something you don't want to do, as the bad guys will soon find out. What follows is a pretty standard plot of revenge, but it's handled nicely by director Sam Firstenberg and offers solid action and some unexpected moments along the way. The exciting final reel of the film features Dudikoff and his little sister being hunted in the Louisiana swamps by the Pentangle baddies, a la THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME. Headed by the always-fun to watch John P. Ryan, the group is comprised of some very nasty individuals who delight in hunting the innocent, a sport the group partakes in quite often just for the thrill.

Being that Dudikoff and James were close friends in real life, their screen rapport is very good, and you get the feeling these are two guys who really care about each other and have been through a lot together. Dudikoff is also very good here, playing a character who isn't seemingly indestructible like in AMERICAN NINJA and some of his other films. (Not that I have a problem with him playing those type of parts, but it is nice to seem him do something different occasionally). The beatings he takes from the bad guys in the swamp, particularly the big buffed guy, reminds us that things are serious. The actress who plays Dudikoff's little sister isn't that good of an actress, but she's not too distracting. The parade attack and truck chase/shipyard fight are exciting, as is the final confrontation between Dudikoff and Ryan in the latter's house, another element taken from THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME. I really wish this movie would get a DVD release in at least widescreen and surround sound, because it really deserves it. It's not just a good Dudikoff movie, but a good movie in general.

Matt Hunter (Michael Dudikoff) is off to New Orleans to see his pal Larry Richards (Steve James) Richards is running for US Senate and the race seems to be going too well for him. The Pentangle, a hunting fraternity (hunter of men) and business front threatens the life of Richards for having stopped opening of a factory in a predominantly black neighborhood

When the Pentangle strike at Mardi Gras, it is non stop action from there. Setting u the antagonists is done adeptly and while it's somewhat ham fisted (for the 80s) it is nothing black nor brown people haven't heard before.

The action, the music, the plot, everything is tied together well. I wish Dudikoff and James were able to make more pictures before James' death is 1993

While Michael Dudikoff is serviceable as the hero of "Avenging Force", it is John P. Ryan and his right-wing, lunatic-fringe henchmen that make the movie memorable. The film is part hunted in the wild, part car chases, and part martial arts. The assassination attempt at Mardi Gras is quite effective, and the attack on Dudikoff's farm quite brutal. Our hero takes some real punishment in this one, and that definitely adds realism to what could have been nothing more than cartoon violence. If you enjoy hunted in the woods films like "Hunter's Blood", or "Rituals", then "Avenging Force" is something you'll want to check out. - MERK