Excessive force is the only way for Thomas Ian Griffith! Who can forget Griffith's laughable villainous turn from "The Karate Kid part III", but on this occasion "Excessive Force" would redeem that and be an action fans delight. A special police investigation unit orchestrates a bust on the Chicago mob, where 3 million dollars goes missing. Thinking that the cops stole it, the mob go about trying to retrieve it, but things are not quite what they seem and detective Terry McCain finds himself caught in the middle. Griffith would star / write and co-produce the film. But the thing that stands out, because really this is your palpable run-of-the-mill, b-grade action crime pulp. Is that you can't go passed the outstanding cast it bestows; Lance Henriksen, Tony Todd, Burt Young, James Earl Jones, Ian Gomez and the gorgeous Charlotte Lewis. These names attached only enhanced the production's quality. Griffith in the lead role made for an agreeable hot-headed maverick cop, perfectly balancing those martial art abilities (that jump-kick!) along with some admirable piano playing. It's a good all round performance. Then you get the ever-cool presence of Tony Todd as a fellow detective partner and a sturdy Henriksen (a part made for him) as the stern, but cooperative police captain. Young lives it up as a big-time crime boss and Earl Jones gives an easy going performance (like if he just wandered onto the set and went might as well). Director Jon Hess pumps up the predictable material with gritty, full-on action set-pieces filled with cold-blooded brutality and sweaty get-up-and-go choreography. This is where Charles Bernstein's sweltering music score comes to the foray. Punchy, direct and simmering. Going down well with the humid, brooding and seedy urban Chicago backdrop. It's an exciting barrage when it gets going, especially the final smack down tussle that goes out in a spectacular way. The script keeps it tough, raw and hardboiled with enough quick witted replies for its characters and while the plot is conventional (one man to foil the crooked plan) it's confidently drawn up. A very well put together and entertaining Thomas Ian Griffith action vehicle.
"We'll get them next time".
