Target of Opportunity

I recently watched the film Target of Opportunity and as far as action films go this one is tops. The 2 guys Dean Cochran and Todd Jensen are terrific. Both stars have great comic timing that really play against the typical boring action type genre. The production value is also very high for a Nu Image film - it looks like these guys actually went out and filmed big action sequences and you can tell it's really the stars doing the stunts. All in all Target was a great movie watching experience and I hope to see more from this team because for once in one of these films you felt like they cared about making a good, fun movie with a decent script and dialogue and weren't just out to make a quick buck with the same rehashed story and actors.

I'm sorry to say this, but the acting in this film is horrible. The dialogue sounds as if they are reading their lines for the first time ever. Perhaps I got the "dress rehearsal" version by mistake. The director over-uses slow motion during special effects perhaps as an attempt to compensate for the poor performance of the actors themselves. The story is pretty well written, and the fight sequences are actually better than I have seen in many action films. The fights seem pretty real. But all of this happens while to two leading actors time and time again miraculously survive incredible amounts of point-blank automatic weapon fire, grenades, morter rounds, and bazookas. The enemy soldiers are definitely some of the worst shots I have ever seen, especially when they have the escaping truck in their sights from about 30 yards, and every bazooka shot is wide by at least 50 feet. Those bazookas need serious site calibration.

I picked up this film on a lark at Blockbuster last week, and have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. What was probably intended to be a small, cookie-cutter action flick was carried miles further by its leading men, both of whom manage to inject a great deal of humor into roles that may have otherwise been lost in less capable hands.

I had vaguely heard about Dean Cochran before seeing this film, but upon viewing his work, wonder why I haven't seen more roles filled by him. He boasts classic movie star good looks, the ability to create tension in a scene as well as to make you laugh, and he seems to have a strong grasp of martial arts (he appears to do his own stunts). Can he sing, too?

I had never seen Todd Jensen before, but must say I am impressed with his abilities as well. He has an "everyman" feature to him complimented by this cool throaty rasp in his voice. I'd like to see a series of films with these two working together. They kind of come off as the duo from Lethal Weapon only they fight terrorist bad guys as opposed to regular criminals.

Whoever made this film discovered a couple of hidden gems. Keep up the good work.

I'm with the guy who said that the movie as a whole rated around 7.5, but I feel I have to compensate. I suppose some folks just feel better when they are hyper-critical.

I knew when I picked this movie up at the rental store that I was getting a straight-to-video movie. What I wasn't prepared for was a movie that I found fun and could easily recommend to others. I liked the concept of the movie, but I would have liked to have seen a punched up script with a little more character development. But this was an action movie and the action delivered IMO. The fight sequences were totally realistic and the karate moves didn't make me think they were completely scripted as some movies do. I think Dean Cochran was outstanding (especially given some of the script shortcomings), and I think we'll be seeing a lot more of him. He's got the whole package -- great looks, an easy manner with duologue or comedy and he's an action natural. I'd like to see him in a movie with a big budget. I could easily see him in roles that have gone to Matt Damon, Keanu Reeves or Eric Bana in recent years.

Todd Jensen did very well too and I'd like to see more of him. He seemed very natural in this role. I could see him having a long career as a character actor.

Action films usually have a lot of Action and very little acting. Target is the first "Action" film I've seen in years where the actors deserve to be in a bigger budgeted more high profile "Action" movie. They deserve to be on the big screen.

"Target" stars Dean Cochran and Todd Jensen. Both actors really deliver the goods, but Todd Jensen undoubtedly steals the show. He plays, Nick Carlton, a flamboyant, risk taking CIA agent. Jensen's performance reminds me of a truly contemporary American version of James Bond with more "Balls." He's gritty, tough and believe it or not very funny! This film given a bigger budget would stand up to and surpass the original "Lethal Weapon" buddy picture and we all know how good that film was.

Cochran is the straight man to Jensen's seemingly uncontrollable behavior and what a great job he does. These two actors deserve MORE! MUCH MORE!! In the Action film genre where the last real action heroes are now in their sixties and even governing California, Todd Jensen and Dean Cochran are definitely ready, more than capable and in Jensen's case more than qualified to take the leap.

I hope and pray that all the Hollywood Gods smile and bless these two talented men.

Give them what they need! Give them what we all need!

Give them "A Break!"