The Substitute 3: Winner Takes All

It's always a slippery slope with sequels especially after they've gone dtv. 'The Substitute 3: Winner Takes All' is a step down from previous entries. It keeps the same basic formula up until a point. Still has the series brand of action, but takes a wrong turn in the latter half. If you enjoy dtv sequels with low expectations and appreciate Treat Williams there's still fun tidbits here.

Karl Thomasson (Williams) loses a friend and fellow mercenary while on a mission in Kosovo. Asked to bring a medal back to his daughter who's a college professor. After she's targeted by the winning football team and put in the hospital, Karl goes undercover as a substitute once more again. He & some new associates go to work getting to the bottom of things and dispensing justice.

This entry isn't badly shot, but the premise doesn't deliver the same impact. In the last one, there was a bond with his niece and feelings because it was his brother. Also the football team could have been decent villains all on their own. The film opts to shift gears and the focus becomes some routine gangsters.

Treat gets to handout another lecture and display smarts in a few hand-to-hand fights. The heavy gunplay is left until the finale in your typical warehouse shootout. One of Karl's fellow mercenaries Andy (Claudia Christian) supplies laughs & good acting posing undercover as a ditzy waitress in a titty bar. Gracious enough to supply two bits of gratuitous female nudity, 'Winner Takes All' at least knows it's audience.

If you've seen any action film, then you've seen "The Substitute 3: Winner Takes All", the second sequel to the original 1996 film. Treat Williams (The Phantom, Deep Rising) reprises his role from "The Substitute 2" as Carl Thomason, a hired mercenary-turned-teacher. The plot of this movie revolves around Thomason trying to find the people who attacked an old war buddy's daughter. This movie basically goes for mindless action at the expense of logic. All in all, it's a decent movie if your in the mood for some mind-numbing action.

I really like Treat Williams and I think he did very well in The Substitute 3. The movie itself was B-grade but that didnt matter it was still a very good film and I would suggest it to anyone, If you havent already seen it then hurry up and rent it on video, its worth it.

8/10

Being a Treat Williams (The Deep End of the Ocean, Deep Rising) fan, I was very disappointed to see him do a direct to HBO sequel to The Substitute (starring Tom Berenger). After seeing The Substitute 2 I was even more disappointed it was a boring action film saved only by Williams who pretty much walked through the role anyways. Now once again Williams is doing a direct to HBO sequel. And although I'm still disappointed, at least The Substitute 3 is a decent action film. Williams once again goes undercover as a teacher this time at a nice college where the football players are given almost free rein (including beating up teachers). When undercover Williams discovers a whole conspiracy involving the football team. The film is nothing great, but does provide solid entertainment and Williams is very good in the lead, this time not just walking through the role, but giving some energy.

This film was ok, but not quite as good as #2. Still worth a look though. Treat Williams does quite nicely in his role. And Claudia Christian does great as a back-up.