| Red Dawn (1984) Cast:Patrick Swayze, C.Thomas Howell, Charlie Sheen, Lea Thompson, Jennifer Grey, William Smith, Ron O'Neal,Harry Dean Stanton,Powers Boothe You would think any movie that brought the talents of all three heartthrob actors who turned actionstars later in their career could make a teen-actioner work, but they don't and it's doubtful if they could've in the first place, for one the outright silliness is a factor the film never gets past. Infact as much as I've enjoyed some of Swayze, Howell and Sheen's action work one must put their foot down at just how pretentious, silly and overall dull the movie is. For one the movie is far too silly for it's own good, even back in the 80's this movie was so outrageously over the top that never once can we take the threat seriously at all, I mean certainly the beginning has a very eye-catching beginning but it goes all downhill fast as soon as the kids hit the mountains to hide out. Infact one can find a ridiculous actioner like this entertaining if the action is good, and here is the films' greatest disappointment because everything that happens is very routine, from the ludicrious finale to the armored helicopter that doesn't blow up after being shot at, all of it is very routinely choreographed and never exciting for a second. Not that it matters Red Dawn is a very popular movie which has it's fans, I for one just couldn't get past the overall ludicrious story and routine action which fails to save it. Also Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell and Charlie Sheen show none of the macho charisma they do in their films subsequent to this. So what were left with is a ridiculous actioner that is done so unconvincingly that it destroys any entertainment to be had from it. D.John Milus* |