Missione punitiva

Now, granted, "Mercenary" is ultimately on the routine side of B-movies, but it's got a decent story and enough action to ensure that some peoples' attention won't wander.

Olivier Gruner stars as "Hawk", an operative hired by a very successful, arrogant businessman named Jonas, played by none other than John Ritter. A Russian terrorist for hire, Phoenix (Martin Kove) stages a massacre at a party Jonas is throwing for an author, and Jonas's wife is killed. The businessman is then ripe for revenge; his initial attempt to win over Hawk doesn't work out (largely because Jonas insists on coming along for the mission) but when Hawks' good friend and colleague McClean (Robert Culp) is set up and sent to the slammer, Jonas realizes that he can manipulate Hawk into doing the job by securing McCleans' freedom.

As written, by Patrick Highsmith and Steven Hartov, and directed, by Avi Nesher, "Mercenary" is acceptable turn-your-brain-off entertainment, with a twist to the plot and some amusing characters. It's particularly interesting to see Ritter in this sort of action fare. He's good, and he and the stone faced Gruner do have some fine comedic moments. With a cast featuring Culp, the beefy Kove, and the kick ass character actor Ed Lauter as Jonas's head of security, you know you're in for a good time. Of course, the movie is not without problems; for one thing, the big confrontation between Gruner and Kove is pretty disappointing. But there's so much gunfire, so many explosions, and so many stunt people flying through the air that the movie should suffice for undemanding genre fans.

Look for Jaime Pressly as a foul mouthed kidnap victim, in what is really one of the movies' better scenes.

Seven out of 10.

This was a remarkably BAD idea. JOHN RITTER, who we knew for so long as the main guy in the " Three's Company " comedy series, had made a step out to the big screen to play a great role in SLING BLADE. He could have stopped right there and let that performance be the standard he was judged on by his fans.

WHY he even gave this ridiculous film a second look is unbelievable. His role is ridiculous enough, but every other role is right down there too. After 8-10 minutes of watching this literally incredible mess, the thought came to me that it might indeed be a dark comedy -- even with the rat-tat-tat action scenes, and the seriousness (?) of his revenge. It's as if the director tells Ed Lauter "OK, all you gotta do is give me your best Dolph Lungren from beginning to end". The gangsters that Ritter's front man encounters early at the sleazy bar are so damn over the top with their evil schtick that they are indeed HILARIOUS. And this film is remarkable in how poorly the actors use curse words -- so dramatic, so overdone ..... sooooo WHATTTT ?

This entire production will not endure as a resume highlight of anyone who is In the closing credits. One hopes that everyone involved retired with this effort. To this film, PLEASE JUST GO AWAY ... RIP ....

"Mercenary" has crap acting, totally unstylish action scenes, is so boring it is almost unwatchable, the dialogue is terrible and the actors are completely miscast. All in all one of the worst movies ever made. DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John Ritter adds his style to this movie but he is not his quintessential style in this. I liked the action, and it is really well done, but unlike some reviewer comments, I did not find it boring or predictable. I am a movie buff and have seen hundreds of action, western, and adventure movies and this one was a bit different so how you view it depends on what you are expecting of it. Ritter is somewhat comic but is much more action-oriented which I think may throw the viewer but it added to my thrill. I recommend the movie for the heavy action, thrills, and the male bonding that occurs in the film.

This yarn was supposed to take place in Moab, Jordan (erroneously mentioned as Moab, Israel but hey, that is par for the course for this flick !) . I have been to Jordan but never seen scenery like that ! And Russians living in "ancient" monasteries , crawling all over the Jordanian countryside in buggies and firing un-countable bullets AND at least 3 surface to air missiles ? Pull the other one !! I don't know whether the handful of "producers" got their investment back or not, but WHY waste money on a useless plot and a hopeless video film in the first place ??