Iron Eagle IV

Chappy turns to Doug Masters for help dealing with flight school misfits... kind of funny, considering Doug Masters was blown up in midair within the first two minutes of "IRON EAGLE II", so how is he there to help Chappy out?

The first movie is a classic 1980's us-versus-the-terrorists flick, and done back when Louis Gossett Jr. actually had a career. It also showcased a young Jason Gedrick, who is sorely missed here. This is one of those franchises where 1. there should have been no sequels, 2. the entire cast save the wisened old codger has changed, 3. it gets worse and worse as it goes on, ala the Delta Force/American Ninja/Kickboxer franchises.

Fortunately, this is the last! Since the first part, the iron eagles have only degrade it either at the history and role of different characters! Being a huge fan of the first two films, it is really sloppy! And I do not mince words! By analyzing many parts of the film, we see that the filmmakers have taken parts one and two films in the series ... RIDICULOUS! When I started the film, I wondered if it was not a remake of two comic actors were playing so poorly.

I'm so done everything to get them to my belief that the sequences (3 and 4) would be tempting that I am even more disappointed! Regards, AKmiva

Highjacking an F-16 by threatening the pilot with a double barreled shotgun and the quip "nice set of wheels"? That one part alone earns a lot of points! This movie is just pure fun and always manages to point me in a good mood. Is it realistic they'd fund a flying school for juvenile delinquents? Probably not. Is it fun and enjoyable in a lighthearted 90's guilty pleasure sorta way? Absolutely! The aerial scenes are mostly very well done and graceful to watch. The dogfight between the old piston powered T-6 trainers and modern F-16 jet fighters was quite exciting and amusing as well. Is it kinda cheesy and loaded with cliche's? Yes but who cares just turn your brain off and enjoy the ride!

Louis Gossett Jr returns to the well one more time as Chappy Sinclair who goes to Doug Masters (Played by Jason Cadieux who is in for Jason Gedrick who wisely declined) to teach a new band of recruits however this time they discover corrupt air force pilots who deal in toxic waste. This is a series that just keeps getting worse with each subsequent entry, this one however doesn't have any of the zip or even the action to make this even worth seeing on cable. Iron Eagle IV is directed with such indifference that the dogfights come off as if we were watching a playstation 2 game played by two lobotomized teenagers. It is horrendous to watch and Gossett Jr who has made his share of turkeys seems to have bottomed out here. And I saw Cover-Up, Firewalker, Aces:Iron Eagle III, Toy Soldiers and Jaws 3D. What is mysterious about Louis Gossett Jr is that he seems to be like Christopher Walken in his quest to do anything as long as he's working. As I look at his post Oscar win. Some of his better movies include Iron Eagle, The Punisher and The Principal. Considering that the latter two movies have him co-starring with Dolph Lundgren and James Belushi it is indeed something to say that three guilty pleasure action flicks are in the running for his better work. Of course Enemy Mine and Diggstown remain his best post-Oscar win work.

* out of 4-(Bad)

If this was any other series, I'd be saying "what the heck?" alas kids flying planes is the foot 'Iron Eagle' started off on. There's no denying this sequel is the weakest of the bunch and it's hard to be pleased with a juvenile afterschool special plot that's equal measure sappy & cliche. Lou Gossett Jr is back but there's a crazy bit of retconning going on here and the whole thing is barely engaging.

Doug Masters - the teenager from the original - who flew with Chappy (Gossett) to save his father, later became an air force pilot himself isn't dead after all. Turns out Doug (now played by Jason Cadieux) ejected in time, but spent years in a Russian prison as everyone thought he was dead. He's a cigarette smoking, drinking bitter young man asked by his old friend to be a flight instructor at a state run school to rehabilitate troubled teens. Of course, they accidentally stumble onto a nefarious scheme going on at the local military base.

Cadieux is sufficient. Certainly looks similar to Gerick (original actor that played the part). Scene where he explains what he went through was solid. Gossett isn't given much and just goes through the paces. Decent aerial footage is still here, but slips away under amateurs foiling hardened military men in the most unbelievable way. 'Iron Eagle 4' aka 'On the Attack' was a hard slough.