Double Team (1997)

Jean-Claude Van Damme's third pairing with a renowned Chinese film-
maker-- director Tsui Hark, a veteran of fifty films including ONCE 
UPON A TIME IN CHINA-- is wonderfully dumb fun.  And, I believe, 
even more movie than either HARD TARGET (directed by John Woo) or 
last year's MAXIMUM RISK (Ringo Lam).  In fact, the plot is so 
convoluted that even *I* couldn't follow all the twisty turns.  
(Terrorists.  Counter-terrorists.  Six-foot-eight arms dealers.  
Pregnant wives in peril.  A Roman order of Internet-surfing monks.  
An island think tank of "retired" specialists.  And one big Bengal 
tiger.  Got it?)  However head-spinning it sounds, this is another 
movie of stunts and set pieces and explosions.  Lots of explosions.  
Forget the holes.  Forget the believability quotient.  Forget the 
high-profile presence of Dennis Rodman, one of many international 
"stars" who appear here.  It's Hark, his editor, and his many stunt 
coordinators and choreographers who take your breath away.  All you 
have to do is buy a ticket.  And a Coke.  (Rated "R"/93 min.)

Grade: B-

Copyright 1997 Michael J. Legeros
Movie Hell is a trademark of Michael J. Legeros

Originally posted to triangle.movies in MOVIE HELL: April 6, 1997