High Risk

I am a long time fan,and i feel this movie has the best surprise ending of any I have seen.Really good character devlopment,it is certainly a REPEAT VIEWER,but stay with it until the very last or you will miss out.Some of the best action and dialogue are in the closing scenes.

Talk about an independently produced film! This one's a wonderful example of how hard the indies work, and what good movies they make.

How they ever convinced a cast like this to go sweat it out in a jungle, I can't imagine. James Brolin shines, but so do they all.

And I still can't believe they got somebody to handle a snake that BIG just for a 5-second shot, which you better believe they captured in one perfect take, 'cause that snake was headed for home the instant they released it!

This is a fine, light hearted action film, fast paced, well written and plotted and with a lot of depth. Each actor obviously got way into his role, especially Anthony Quinn. And those whacko airplane pilots! The old C-47 STILL RULES!!!

You have to admit that HIGH RISK has a once in a lifetime cast. What other movie gathers together Ernest Borgnine, James Brolin, James Coburn, Anthony Quinn, Lindsay Wagner, Bruce Davison, and Cleavon Little? (Though Borgnine only briefly appears, and Coburn more or less has an extended cameo.) It's fun to see all these actors together, and there is additional merit to be found. The movie shoots on some picturesque Mexican locations, and there is some excitement in the action sequences. The script, however, is kind of a muddle - it's never really explained how the protagonists got the information about the drug lord, his compound, and his safe. That wasn't a real problem for me, but there is still a problem with the movie, and that is with the protagonists. For some reason, I found it hard to sympathize with these fellows - they came across as greedy and not that desperate for money. Also, they make some really stupid decisions along the way, stupid acts that even an amateur in real life wouldn't make. Recommended only when you can't find a better movie.

Don't be surprised if you've never heard of "High Risk." I know few people who have. But if you like adventure and excitement with some humor thrown in then this is your ticket.

James Brolin stars as one of four friends sick and tired of working hard and being paid little. They decide to take a trip to Colombia to steal money from a reputed drug lord. According to plan they'll walk in, get the money, and head back to the states via two airplane pilots they've hired that more resemble Cheech and Chong then they do pilots. Naturally, things don't work out as planned and the chase is on.

The reason you may never have heard of this film is that it was released back in 1981 for a one week only stint. It happened to be the week before another action film opened I'm sure you've heard of - "Raiders of the Lost Ark." This film got lost in the hype.

So go out and find this movie at the local video store (the television version is usually butchered). You won't be disappointed.

Truth to tell, I doubt much will stay with me from this muddled tale of a group of four friends who parachute (with a Maltese-like pooch!) into fairly dense forest. From their chatting and actions prior to the drop, including the fact that they are purchasing arms of considerable firepower, it dawned on me that these fun-loving city slicks led by James Brolin were actually planning a heist.

The mark: the extremely wealthy James Coburn, who keeps $5 million in his personal vault, and likes to perform as toreador in his own bull ring. Thankfully, dialogue flows fast with attention-grabbing repartee, and some clumsy actions that reflect the level of gullibility and inexperience of these wannabe thieves.

Well, prepare yourself for a bumpy ride requiring heavy suspension of disbelief. You might ask what I found most memorable about HIGH RISK: perhaps the cameo by Quinn as a self-styled "general" guiding a crowd of gypsy-like thieves and assorted criminals and moaning about the rich, or the cameo by Jim Coburn as the tycoon who sees James Brolin and his genial sidekicks steal $5 million from his hacienda-like mansion.

Standard cinematography, repeated shootouts in the middle of lush vegetation and rocky ground, sleazy hispanic gangs, generous gore, sputtering aircraft, plenty of near-impossible stunts.

Doesn't sound like much, does it? Darned right! 6/10.