By Geno McGahee
I have to say that I was never a fan of Tackleberry in the POLICE ACADEMY movies. I often said that he sucked the worst and I basically held the late David Graf responsible. I’m actually quite saddened that he died at only 50 years of age. I never had a chance to apologize to him because his role in the 1993 action film “AMERICAN KICKBOXER 2” proves that he is an amazing actor. He was misused in the POLICE ACADEMY movies but Writer/Director Jeno Hodi does a splendid job of bringing out the best in Graf. He’s gone, but I am a Graf fan. Graf was Grrrreat.
Howard (Graf) and his wife, Lillian (Kathy Shower) are a happy couple. Lillian’s daughter, Susie (Jessica Springal) is six years old and playing by the pool as Howard gets frisky with his wife. A daring kidnapping and Susie is gone. It was so daring that they used a helicopter to airlift her out of the backyard. An immediate phone call is made to Lillian demanding 2 million dollars or Susie is dead. Any police involvement and Susie is dead. Howard tells her that he will solve the problem, but she has other men in mind.
Lillian’s ex-husband, Mike (Dale “Apollo” Cook), is a cop with an edge. He kicks ass first and asks questions later. Susie is his daughter and he only finds out when Lillian calls him crying and asking for help. It’s a blow but not as much as the addition of another recruit that Lillian hires. She brings on David (Evan Lurie), the man that she cheated on Mike with. David is a pretty boy with long hair, martial arts skills and a love for all women. Needless to say, David and Mike do not care for each other and it leads to plenty of physical altercations. We also find out that Susie might be David’s daughter too. This is MY TWO DADS on steroids.
As the two hit the town and chase clues, they have some great conflicts. Mike has some great lines. At one point, he pushes a guy’s face into a fan blade and says that the “shit is about to hit the fan.” Then he returns and goes to the assistant of the same guy and says “let’s go see that hog that you call a boss.” Later on, David goes to see the same guy who eventually ends up dead. David gets arrested and encounters what all pretty boys encounter behind bars…sexual harassment.
Willie comes down and shows interest in David, checking him out and noting that he is going to bang him from behind. Another inmate says “he’s got a nice butt.” I wonder if that actor went home and told his family that he had a speaking role in a major motion picture and when they asked him what his lines were, he quickly snapped “NEVERMIND!” Whatever the case, he delivered it in such a way that I felt that he really thought that he had a nice butt. Nice work nameless goon #4.
Willy doesn’t get his way and David leaves prison un-raped to rejoin Mike in search for Susie. They go to several seedy places, fight a bunch of goons, fight each other, find Susie and then are forced to fight each other…but this time to the death! They turn on the group of goons forcing this fight and save the day, but then they meet up with a surprise that will tackle their berries to the core.
(SPOILERS FROM THIS POINT ON…READ AT YOUR OWN RISK)
Howard set the whole thing up and I have to give Graf credit. He was an amazing bad guy and really played the role well. He was a maniacal bad guy that told his wife that he hated her and even noted that he “hates that little brat.” He sets them up for death, but David and Mike come to the rescue. They begin to actually like each other and accept the situation for what it is.
All’s well that ends well and Lillian makes out like a bandit. Despite her infidelity, she gets both men and the men seem to be OK with it. They are true friends with benefits. That’s refreshing. Screw society’s demands and judgment. Besides, both guys are incredible fighters. Who’s gonna give them any shit?
AMERICAN KICKBOXER 2 is a great action film from start to finish. They cast it brilliantly, every actor gave an over the top performance and the writing was amazing. This is a gem. I highly recommend this!
Rating: 8/10
This Review is dedicated to the late David Graf. Rest in Peace.
