The Human Shield

The movie starts out with a flashback to when Michael Dudikoff scarred the face of a Saddam Hussein clone in Iraq. Dudikoff is knocked down and then, jarringly, the movie shifts to the present day where that same guy is taking Dudikoff's diabetic brother hostage in order to lure him back to Iraq. The way this is edited is very sloppy and just the first of many signs that this is a Z-grade production made by Cannon in the post-Golan Globus years where they rarely did anything good, even by accident. This is one of those movies where the premise sounds like a lot of fun to fans of cheesy action movies. Who wouldn't want to see Michael Dudikoff kick Saddam Hussein's ass? But unfortunately it just isn't fun. It's all deathly serious but at the same time cheap and predictable. The action is uninspired and there are no memorable lines or catchphrases. It's strictly dullsville.

The first film to be made that references the Gulf War, THE HUMAN SHIELD finds Dudikoff heading to the Middle East when his brother is taken prisoner just as he's about to leave Iraq with his wife and daughter. Like any good brother, Dudikoff gets mad and decides to kick butt in his quest to free his little brother. Sneaking his way into the country, Dudikoff sets out to track down the diabolical dictator who headed the abduction and provide a good example of family values. Though I haven't seen the film in a while, I remember it moving pretty well and containing some decent action scenes, and I recall the climactic fight between big brother and big bad guy (in the big bad guy's stronghold, of course) to be pretty exciting.

Michael Dudikoff stars as Doug Matthews a soldier who returns to Iraq to save his brother Ben (Tommy Hinkley) from a sadistic Saddam Hussein look alike who is using him as bait to get revenge on Doug in this mildly diverting Dudikoff actioner which starts off slow but provides a few good twists and is less racist then most. Steve Inwood is especially good here.

I have to admit that i was pleasantly surprised upon renting this movie. It seemed like just another crappy b-action that Dudikoff usually stars in. Exept from some small mistakes such as the title The Human Shield, which was totally wrong for the movie it was a good action movie. Dudikoff goes to Iraq to rescue his brother who has been taken hostage by a crazy general as payback against Dudikoff for an earlier altercation. See this if you are able to find it.

Michael Dudikoff did not leave behind any of his martial arts skills in not doing an American Ninja film with The Human Shield. He's an ex- marine who is on a mission of mercy to rescue his brother who served in the Gulf War and married a nice Iraqi girl. Unfortunately he got left behind the lines and is now a prisoner. The brother is also a diabetic.

Having watched the film I still have no idea what was going on other than brother Tommy Hinkley was used as bait to bring Dudikoff back. He actually had been there before when we liked Saddam Hussein and saw him as a bulwark against Iran. Iraqi General Steve Inwood has a personal score to settle with Dudikoff.

The Human Shield is a strangely actionless film for an action adventure martial arts item except for the last 20 minutes or so.

I like Michael Dudikoff, he does fit the action adventure mold quite well. But throughout his career he got inferior items like this one.

His fans should like it though.