Tigre de Varsóvia

I have recently been watching Patrick Swayze's DVD's and Videos. I am very much into his acting. I think Tiger is really a very touching story about a son who created a lot of trouble for his family, he got rehabilitated and wanted to go back home and make up for his trouble he had caused. I cry when I watch this story. I think this has happened in a lot of families in the United States. I think Patrick Swayze is very good. Of course, I think he is good in everything I have seen him act in. In my estimation this is a very tear jerker. I would watch this anyday, and cry when I watch it. There very little violence in it and I give it a top rating. Of course, Patrick Swayze is number one in my book for everything so far I have seen.

Paced akin to that of a funeral, Tiger Warsaw sees the loveable Patrick Swayze trapped in time as a 70s greaser coming home in a melodramatic tale of reconciliation. There is no other reason to seek this out outside of Swayze, who broods sentimentality throughout the movie with an unshakeable boyish charm, he's just been saddled with a truly terrible screenplay. Drifting drearily along until, with about 10 minutes to go, it ends in a rushed wrap, as though somebody suddenly realized that time was up. It's mainly just a series of encounters with no oomph or style while Amin Q. Chaudhri's direction leaves most of the film completely incomprehensible with poorly lit and uncomfortably long shots dominating the runtime. If I can give it any form of praise outside of its main star, some of the songs on the soundtrack do slap but, other than that, Tiger Warsaw is a fraught movie that lurches between trauma and tearjerker. Driving towards a predictable conclusion, carrying the dubious message that matrimonial bliss and domestic harmony is the ultimate aspiration.

After a successful role in the hit film DIRTY DANCING, Patrick Swayze was thought to be one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, but when he took the lead role in TIGER WARSAW, it proved disasterous. This predictable tale of a former addict who tries to patch things up with his family does little to entertain anyone. The movie fails to make sense at times and Swayze's hunk appeal isn't there. A bit better than the dreary ROAD HOUSE, but still far from successful.

1 out of 5.

The stage curtains open ...

The first time I saw the poster to this movie, I thought it was going to be another action-filled vehicle similar to "Road House", but it was nothing like that. When I read the synopsis to the film on the back, I realized it was the exact opposite - a family drama that hit on a few heavy topics. Regardless, I picked up a copy and watched it. I like a good drama as much as the next person.

It is the story of a prodigal son, outcast from his family after a harrowing event (of his doing) that emotionally scars them, and himself. Fifteen years later, after living a lost life, he returns home hoping to find reconciliation and forgiveness with his mother, sister, and most importantly, his father who hasn't been the same since. His sister has moved on with her life, getting ready to be married. All of his friends are married with kids, and his parents are living a quiet life, finding respite with each other. Finally, things come to a head and heavy decisions have to be made.

I can see how some have enjoyed this film. Overall, the acting is pretty good, though a bit over dramatic in some parts, and underwhelming in others. The consistency here is sorely lacking, and the movie ultimately comes off as completely disjointed and nonsensical. This is clearly one of Patrick Swayze's worst films, as even he didn't seem to be invested into his role. Everything was off kilter ... the plot and character development never happens. The level of believability is next to none. Even with some good actresses on board with Piper Laurie and Mary McDonnell, it all crumbles to the ground.

I can't justifiably recommend this movie, not even to a die hard Swayze fan. It was a disappointment on most levels. It actually had the feel of a made-for-tv movie, and not a very good one at that. This is a pass, and gets 3 stars out of 10 at best. There are some other, much better, Patrick Swayze films out there ... and that is where your focus should be.

Director Chaudhri's foreign birth comes through loud and clear in this mess of a movie. Swayze's Tiger Warsaw has supposedly done something so terrible it has turned his entire family against him, but it's never made clear exactly what this horrible deed was. Peeping Tom, maybe? When he meets up with an old hometown buddy their reaction to each other can only be described as homosexual, but nothing further in that direction develops. There is also another odd and brief scene in a bar where he is accosted by another old classmate who is now a cross-dresser. I can only assume this kind of stuff has some meaning in India or Pakistan, but it makes no sense in an American movie. Which is obviously what the studio thought since they premiered it outside of the USA. The only good things about the movie are the cool motorcycle jacket Swayze wears throughout, and the bitchin' '68 black Road Runner he drives.