Força Máxima

This may be the best B Grade action movie ever, simply because it takes Flash Gordon, Roeper from Enter The Dragon, Rusty from National Lampoon's European Vacation and Golan/Globus's best bad guy, Richard Lynch!! Throw in the "greatest actor in the world, the WORLD!!!" Mickey Rooney, and get the movie directed by b-movie star Jalal Merhi's brother Joseph Merhi, and you have MAXIMUM FORCE, the well oiled machine of a movie that delivers with 2nd rate action, 3rd rate nudity, and a cameo from former porn star Sonny Landham (as a pimp), who's taken on Carl Weathers, Eddie Murphy, Chuck Norris, Sylvester Stallone, AND Arnold himself. Seriously, this movie is something you're bound to see late night on tv, but that is good since it will help you fall asleep.

I wasn't really aware of the Movies of the PM Entertainment Group all produced and nearly all directed by Richard Pepin & Joseph Merhi, having seen a few now I realise that they're similar in vein to the 'Cannon Group' or 'The Asylum' releases....Cheesy Trash, but Enjoyable all the same.

Maxmimum Force 'stars' B Movie regular Sam Jones along with Sherrie Rose (as eye candy) & Jason Lively as three renegade cops who are recruited by their Captain (John Saxon) to team up to bring down a big time gangster Max Tanabe (Richard Lynch) who pretty much runs the city and has the Police Dept, including Chief of Police (Mickey Rooney clearly slumming it) in his pocket with bribes.

It's not great and it's not even a good movie within it's genre, but for a low budget STV release, full of plot holes you could drive a truck through but it's cheesy fun which is full of action and explosions, the acting isn't the best, but that's neither here nor there in these types of movies

** out of *****

MAXIMUM FORCE is a solid B-movie action thriller from the early 1990s, directed by the prolific Joseph Merhi. It takes a predictable storyline - in which a trio of renegade cops must team up to take down a corrupt businessman whom each has a vendetta against - and executes it with solid efficiency. It's the sort of film that's always going to pale in comparison to bigger budgeted fare, but one which remains enjoyable enough as a diversion.

The cast is headlined by Sam Jones (FLASH GORDON), who's wooden but imposing as a tough, kickboxing cop. Think Dolph Lundgren in THE PUNISHER and you'll be close. Sherrie Rose is the trademark blonde sidekick, although she does get the chance to hold her own in a couple of fight scenes. Finally, the weapons/technology expert is played by Jason Lively, of NIGHT OF THE CREEPS/NATIONAL LAMPOON'S European VACATION fame. He brings the comedy.

MAXIMUM FORCE has plenty of action going for it so it remains entertaining through, and I'll forever be a fan of those '90s-era martial arts fights in which every kick and punch is accompanied by a ridiculously loud 'thud' sound effect. Plus there are cameos for Mickey Rooney (of all people!) and PREDATOR's Sonny Landham, a supporting turn from John Saxon as a cop, and cult favourite Richard Lynch (CUT AND RUN) playing the villain. What's not to love?

I'll cut to the chase...."Maximum Force" is a third-rate action picture at best. But I decided to watch it for one reason...I've seen most of Mickey Rooney's movies and he, sadly, is in this one. This isn't a huge surprise, as later in his career, Rooney would appear in pretty much anything...a far cry from a time in 1938-1940 when he was the #1 actor in the world!

In many ways, this PM Entertainment film looks like a Steven Seagal production of the 90s...but with even less quality. It's all action, big on explosions and low on common sense and believability. It's not intended to be an art film, that's for sure!

Three tough but frustrated screw-up cops are recruited by police Captain Fuller (John Saxon) to take down Max Tenabe (Richard Lynch)...the leader of a criminal empire dealing in, well, pretty much anything illegal. This will mean TEAMWORK instead of their usual methods...which are to go in alone and kick butt. Can they manage to stop Tenabe AND can they somehow avoid prison for all the laws they break to do this?

The best thing this movie has going for it is Richard Lynch. He's always scary and very effective in villain roles and he manages to infuse some quality into this movie. As for the rest of the movie, well, it's pretty bad. It's full of mindless action, bad montages and goofball scenes. It' looks as if the filmmakers didn't even try to make it believable.

But despite this, if you do still decide to watch the film, note the a few of the ridiculous scenes. One of the heroes is shot at very close range by what appears to be a .357 handgun. He's just fine....no complaints, no broken sternum...nothing!! Or, handcuffing a guy to a van and then driving all over town...dragging him. He's even driven INTO a phone booth as a cop in a patrol car watches...and does nothing to stop them. Or, the scene where the hero shoots a guy hanging from a helicopter...about 100 yards away...with a handgun!

"Maximum Force" is a perfect example of where less would have been best. There are several scenes that are simply unbearably long. The endless training session in the warehouse should be skipped entirely as it is beyond boring. A close second on the tedious scale would be the repetitive exploding remote control cars scene, which goes on and on. The acting by Sam Jones , Sherrie Rose, and Jason Lively is not even close to average. The welcome appearance of Richard Lynch, John Saxon, and Mickey Rooney, elevates the acting grade somewhat. If you are a fan of Lynch, I would seek this one out. Even though he plays his usual "slimeball" villain, he is so good at it. Overall the film is extremely uneven, mostly because of the previously mentioned long dead spots. Nevertheless it is watchable as long as you have the remote in hand. MERK