Ambushed

Fancy Screen Splitting and a goodly Amount of Gangster Violence can't really Save the Awful Acting and Worn Out Familiarity Found in this, yet Another, DTV, Bargain-Bin come-on Sporting Three Recognizable Expendable Type Actors Highlighting the Packaging.

It is No Surprise that the Focus of the Movie is more on Two Twerp Leads that are Awkward and Embarrassing most of the Time, especially Our "Henry Hill" like Narrator that Tells the Audience everything They already Know from Seeing Dozens of similar and Better Movies.

The Side Plot of Our Anti-Hero and His Cute and Naive College Girlfriend is Boring and so Badly Written and Acted that the accompanying Writing and Acting can Appear Acceptable. Dolph Lundgren, Vinnie Jones, and Randy Coulter are the Money Magnets for this Slick but Ultimately Doomed DTV.

The Two Lead Actors are so Irritating and Dull that Mentioning Their Names is a Credit Undeserving, Ditto the Girlfriend. However, for Those that Like Cheap Thrills and have a High Tolerance for Ineptitude, this may be Worth a Watch. The Gun Violence is the Best Thing in this Thing, so for Those with a Gun-Fetish, this one's For You.

"We're businessmen not junkies. We control this world or at least I thought so." Agent Maxwell (Lundgren) is finally about to reach the center of an international cocaine smuggling ring run by Vincent Camastra (Jones). When his partner Agent Royce gets in over her head it is up to Maxwell to get her out and bring the criminals to justice before it's too late. Dolph Lundgren is an actor who started off with a bang (Rocky 4) then slowly started to fade into straight to DVD movies. Most of them are slow, boring and unnecessary. While this one is nothing amazing or original it was entertaining and better then most of his movies. In between the cookie cutter plot there are some actual interesting dialog and borderline social commentary that makes you think. That is not something you would expect from a Lundgren movie. There really isn't much else to say about this, if you've seen one you've seen them all. On the other hand this is better then most of his, which may be because he isn't in it that much. Overall, Lundgren fans will like this. I give it a B-.

I picked this up from the bargain bin at a local discount store. I wasn't expecting much, but boy... was I pleasantly surprised.

Dolph Lundgren, Vinnie Jones and Randy Couture all play important, but primarily supporting roles. It's the duo of Gianni Capaldi and Daniel Bonjour in their roles as up-and-coming drug traffickers who are the major focus of the plot, and the two do a more than respectable job.

They are not good guys, although Frank (played by Bonjour) seems to want to become one one day.

Much of the film is narrated by Bonjour, in a fashion similar to what Ray Liotta did in Goodfellas. You really didn't like the character of Henry Hill, and you probably won't like Frank very much, either. But in both films, the narration tends to help the audience understand why these guys are doing really bad things.

There is quite a bit of violence, foul language and nudity in Ambuhsed (aka Hard Rush). Which is pretty much what you'd be looking for in a modern action flick.

The acting is decent, the script is good, the plot is good, the score is great. The pace slows down in a few places, but they don't break anything. Don't pass this one up the next time you're rummaging through the bargain bin.

Or how about the German title "Thrill to Kill"? Yes another title change that is just hilarious. Unfortunately that title is the only thing that is really worth anything. Unless you are in it for the nudity and some of the nice effects when it comes to the scenes with violence. Couture tries his best and might be the best thing here, but that still isn't enough to excuse watching this.

Even if you have a heart for B-movies and or Dolph Lundgren (he's not a main character here, but he can be seen a couple of times), this might be worth a look, but overall it does not qualify your time and money to waste and watch it.

Dolph Lundgren as Maxwell is a DEA agent who is investigating drug dealers. However Maxwell and his investigation are not the centerpiece of this movie. That honor goes to 2 criminal friends named Frank and Eddie from whose perspectives this movie chiefly unfolds. Most especially Frank who is a club owner, drug dealer, drug taker and murderer. And this is not the end of his accomplishments: He's also a criminologist, sociologist, economist, dreamer, sage and narrator. And the icing on the cake? He's making it with his dream girl; a college "girl-nextdoor" type.

We know about Frank's afore mentioned scholarly accomplishments because he narrates this movie, talking to us, the viewing audience; even "lecturing", I would say, about how his world works and the world at large. His best bud Eddie is (thankfully) not that deep. Just wants to be a bigshot and have a good time (So school is out with this guy). Frank is ambitious; wants to move up in the drug business and is ruthless enough to do whatever it takes including murder and stepping on the toes of a drug boss Maxwell is investigating.

The drama of this movie basically comes from (1) the doings of Frank and Eddie as they try to climb the ladder to success that dealing drugs can buy. (2) Frank's relationship with his clueless dream girl (Not stupid; she thinks he's only a "club owner"). (3) Maxwell and his investigation into the operations of a drug boss and Frank and Eddie. Throw into the mix a violent, corrupt cop shaking down drug dealers and Max and his team have got there hands full.

I thought the movie felt a bit long because of "dull spots" of conversation in a few places throughout (I would have added another star, otherwise). Sometimes when Frank was talking to Eddie, to his girl, and to us the viewing audience. As well, the 2 chicks in bed; one of them an undercover DEA agent (Frank's paramour, by the way). In this last instance, less talking and more making out would have perked me up and saved that scene. There is rap music in this movie (in case you like it or don't). It started the movie nicely, I thought, but the rest of it -though sounding okay- seemed to me "somewhat" misplaced. Finally: The action is unremarkable but "okay". Dolph as Maxwell is a bit unwieldy but can still get the job done, I think, if you place yourself within range of a fist or leg and wait for it. Or in the event of a chase, don't run too fast. Love, Boloxxxi.