The "popcorn movie" is a tradition in Hollywood. These are the movies that lack any sort of logic, plot, or believable acting, but are so much fun, you find yourself enjoying them in the anyway. It could be argued that "Rambo II: First Blood" is the original. You'll never see another movie with such a low level of logic produced again anytime soon. But, who cares? It's fun.
John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) is serving a rather short prison sentence for his crimes in the first film. Recruited by Colonel Samuel Trautman (Richard Crenna reprising his role), the man who trained him, Rambo is sent back in to Vietnam to see if any P.O.W.s remain. Though told only to photograph, Rambo takes things into his own hands along with Co Bao (Julia Nickson-Soul), learning the truth behind the camp in the process.
"Hot Shots: Part Deux" parodies the two Rambo sequels, but mostly just focuses on this one. What's amazing about that film is that hardly any of it is changed from what is actually in "First Blood II." It simply recreates most of the action with different actors. Even Weird Al Yankovic took a stab at this one in his only feature film, "UHF." The truth doesn't need to be stretched.
There are so many moments in this movie where your jaw will drop; you couldn't possibly believe what you're seeing. Where the original had some substance and merit, this one throws all of that away to create the quintessential dumb action movie. Countless scenes feature Rambo against five or more enemies who fire a ridiculous amount of ammunition at the hero only to be wiped out with one sweep of Rambo's weaponry. For trained soldiers, these guys need some help. The final helicopter fight is even better (worse?).
Richard Crenna does a better job here than he did in the original film, but Julia Nickson is just flat out terrible. Her broken English act (she is supposedly a Vietnamese) is so forced and obvious, not a single line she speaks can be taken seriously. The romance between her and Rambo, which is supposed to develop throughout the film, just comes off as yet another cheesy element to a film that seems like it was made for a child.
What makes no sense is that by the time the film is over, you will figure out that you have been cheering for the guy and having a great time all the way through. The documentary included on the DVD talks about the first screening in which no one was sitting down by the time the film was over. You just have to believe that. The adrenaline rush this film provides is just awesome and no matter how hard you may be laughing, you have to admit you're having a great time. (*** out of *****)
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
excellent job Matt, frankly, as usual. I haven't been commenting as much overall and I apologize for that.
Re comments in general: I find my best-written, most labored-over masterworks trypically draw the sound of crickets. Now I just assume if I really like it I won't hear a flipping peep.
IN the interest of my sanity I have to assume that people just can't find anything wrong with it and don't want to be bothered with a generic "nice job Eric, you stud," which I can understand because certain wives I have tease me all the time about leaving stupid rah-rah comments like "good job," but I always mean it.
So anyway, good job.
2 - Carl McDonald
good job..lol...im going to buy the trilogy right noew :D