The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option

Why Treat Williams keeps coming back to this series is beyond me, even better why I keep returning to this series is beyond me, but actually this one is pretty good. Again it has nothing to do with the past 3 (ironic isn't it?). Any logic that exsisted in the series has been totally thrown out thw window this time around as Williams is hired by a friend to take a teaching job to check up on his nephew. What he uncovers is a training camp thats is making terrorists out of a group of neo-nazis. Not as good as the second Sub. but far surpasses 1 and 3 due to its heathly does of action.

Angie Everhart's topless scenes are the only thing good about this turkey. They'll leave you longing for more. She's such a beautiful woman in this picture. She plays a female officer who's ready to get down and she does.

'The Substitute 4: Failure Is Not An Option' gets points for featuring a cast of known b-movie faces. However it has the weakest story by far. There's no deep levels here. No real surprises. The bad guys are face up and obvious. Leaving you to soak in the action as the plot tries it's best to rot your brain.

Karl Thomasson (Treat Williams) is back once again taking on the task of teaching at a Military School at the behest of an old war buddy and General. A teacher has gone missing, the General is worried about his nephew and the involvement of the base comandante Colonel Brack (Patrick Kilpatrick). The nephew is part of a select group of elite cadets called "The Werewolf Company" and well, you see where this is going.

It's neo Nazi junk. White power, racism, etc. The Colonel is so obviously nuts that you know any sense of reality has gone out the window. If you can get past that, Treat is still decent. Fisticuffs, lectures, gunplay, investigating, etc. There is a particular stunt piece that I applaud him for not using a stunt double. It really looked cool to see him do it.

Kilpatrick is no stranger to bad guy roles and almost always fun to watch. He spouts the junk dialog given to him with ease. Tim Abell is SFC Devlin. A knife instructor on base who is a former comrade of Thomasson who helps out. Treat Williams shares the screen with Bill Nunn again who plays the ex-military knowledgeable janitor. That leaves pretty lady Angie Everhart to supply some nudity and required love interest in 1LT Dr. Chamberlain.

I don't know if the series had run it's course or if 'Failure Is Not An Option' killed it, but this was the end. A braindead story, sad collection of villains and the horrible ending that doesn't even satisfy. The cast earn it some points and I appreciated more gratuitous female nudity, but this was a pretty sore sequel.

Treat Williams is at his best in this, the fourth installment of the famous Substitute series. The plot twists are delectable, and the fight scenes are horrifyingly realistic yet perfectly intriguing. Fans of cerebral cinema will appreciate the undertones of racial tension and personal identity struggles, while the action buffs will enjoy the numerous explosions and gunfire. Yes, there is a little something for everyone in The Substitute IV- we can only hope and pray that Treat will sign on for the fifth and final installment of the series- Substitute V.

I dont get it. We have a very good movie, with a good sequel, a fair second sequel but Substitute 4: Failure Is Not An Option is just plain stupid. The only thing good in this movie is Treat Williams because he is an awesome actor and knows his role very well. Basically this storyline is just like any other action movie, white suprimicists taking over a military base or whatever and the hero comes in to whipe the whole mess free. Like I said, Treat Williams is the only thing in this movie that actually makes this movie worth watching. Well I guess I give this movie some credit since how the acting isn't so bad... five out of ten stars.