American Warrior II: Le Chasseur

'Invasion USA' wasn't a enjoyable time for me. I have nothing against Chuck Norris - I just felt like the movie was cheesy in all the wrong ways. Then came 'Avenging Force' which for all intense purposes is the sequel sans Chuck Norris. Somehow, some way this one delivers!

It's still a Cannon film like 'Invasion' but it goes so off the rails that it can't help but be entertaining or hilarious in spite of itself. Which is saying something because 'Invasion' was already plenty insane. B-movie regular Michael Dudikoff reprises as Chuck Norris's ex CIA / secret service agent character, Matt Hunter. He and Steve James go around chopping / gunning baddies down while fighting a white supremacist group. Meanwhile every friend and family member around them gets blown away! It's absolutely insane.

Character actor (and Cannon Films regular) John P. Ryan plays the head bad guy Professor Elliott Glastenbury. An educated, rich white man of older age - the leader of the hateful group Pentangle. He's equal parts good acting, insane dedication. He gets a monologue that is completely bonkers, liberally uses the N-word and goes toe to toe with Dudikoff in an end fight scene that has to be seen to be believed. Did he just grab his nuts as one big FU to the hero!?

Norris was pretty invincible in his flick, but Michael Dudikoff feels more believable. He takes a beating more than once. There's a bit of 'The Most Dangerous Game' angle attached with gruesome methods of death and wacky costumes. A hint of child sex slavery (!?) and a sequel smelling ending for which one weirdly never came. Some crazy dangerous looking stunts, Marc Alaimo (Star Trek: DS9) plays a featured bad guy and solid b-movie directing from Sam Firstenberg.

Michael Dudikoff plays Matt Hunter, a retired Secret Service agent who supports the political campaign of his old friend Larry Richards (Steve James). Unfortunately, Larry is being threatened by a right wing terrorist organization named Pentangle. Their boss is the creepy Elliott Glastenbury (John P. Ryan), who regularly gives his goons training exercises in the Louisiana swamps. Hunters' old boss, Admiral Brown (James Booth, who also wrote the movie) tries to press him back into service but Hunter will have none of that. Fate, of course, will dictate otherwise.

The Cannon Group were always good at cranking out potboiler genre productions throughout the 1980s, but "Avenging Force" is even better than usual. This is largely because of first rate action, an above average performance by The Dude, the eternally charismatic James (who could have easily headlined his own vehicle during his short lifetime), a genuinely thrilling finale (taking place in the swamps *and* in the rain), and a formidable bad guy. Ryan excels in this role; the movie really belongs to him and James. A decent supporting cast includes William Wallace, Karl Johnson, and Marc Alaimo as assorted baddies. However, child actress Allison Gereighty doesn't fare too well playing Matts' kid sister.

One can hardly fail to notice that "Avenging Force" has a rather hard edge. There certainly are elements and plot developments with which some viewers could take issue. The overall entertainment value is substantial; this may be the most accomplished movie on the resume of action specialist Sam Firstenberg ("American Ninja", "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo"). Having been shot on location in Louisiana, it does have some solid production values. It dives into the action right away. The ultimate resolution isn't altogether satisfying, though.

Seven out of 10.

For Cannon films - and Michael Dudikoff - this is definitely above average. There's Steve James (who leaves the movie much too early, sadly. He didn't like being in this film, by the way, and you'll see why), good action scenes (brutal fights!), and scummy and hateful bad guys who get what's coming to them. What more could you ask for?

The first hour is a build up for the hate and revenge of Michael Dudikoff's character. Actual themes like white supremacy are ever present and the corrupt villains have no mercy for no one. Even for today's standards, it's pretty violent although not graphic. The flow of the story is rather clumsy and in many ways inconsistent. It has a lot of plot holes but hey, it was the 80s. The movie was clearly designed as a starring vehicle for then B-Movie poster boy Dudikoff. Although in several european markets marketed as such, the movie has no connection to the American Ninja series. Overall it's good 80s action entertainment but thats about it.

Michael Dudikoff and Steve James are back together in this one, again for director Sam Firstenberg and Cannon Films. Unlike most Cannon pictures, however, this one is actually good. Steve James is an ex-Secret Service agent running for office in New Orleans, and a secret racist group called The Pentangle attempts to assassinate him, as they don't want blacks in public office. James calls on his old friend Dudikoff to help him, and the two of them try to find out who is behind The Pentangle. Dudikoff and James definitely have a good chemistry between them, as they showed in "American Ninja" and both are very good in their parts. Director Firstenberg keeps the film moving smoothly, and stages a spectacular action sequence during a Mardi Gras parade. John Ryan does his usual good job at villainy. All in all, a very enjoyable little action piece.