The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option

Treat Williams is at his best in this, the fourth installment of the famous Substitute series. The plot twists are delectable, and the fight scenes are horrifyingly realistic yet perfectly intriguing. Fans of cerebral cinema will appreciate the undertones of racial tension and personal identity struggles, while the action buffs will enjoy the numerous explosions and gunfire. Yes, there is a little something for everyone in The Substitute IV- we can only hope and pray that Treat will sign on for the fifth and final installment of the series- Substitute V.

This movie is one of those movies you try to watch when nothing else is on, and you have absolutely nothing else to do.

I tried, and I failed. I tried again, and I failed again.

I'm not much of a Treat Williams fan, but he occasionally, if only by accident, turns up in some pretty decent B movies. This isn't one of them.

The high point of the movie is a ridiculous scene with a group of cadets in a circle clanging hatchets (yes, you read that right) and yelling "Kill! Burn! Bomb! Wolverine Power!!" or some such nonsense. I actually laughed out loud. Hysterically - I couldn't stop. I ended up with the hiccups.

This movie only rates a 99 cents rental. Anything more would be overpriced.

Why Treat Williams keeps coming back to this series is beyond me, even better why I keep returning to this series is beyond me, but actually this one is pretty good. Again it has nothing to do with the past 3 (ironic isn't it?). Any logic that exsisted in the series has been totally thrown out thw window this time around as Williams is hired by a friend to take a teaching job to check up on his nephew. What he uncovers is a training camp thats is making terrorists out of a group of neo-nazis. Not as good as the second Sub. but far surpasses 1 and 3 due to its heathly does of action.

Treat Willaims returns as Karl Thomasson who once again this time teaches at a military academy where white supremacists are ruling with an iron fist (Led by Patrick Kilpatrick) here Williams uses his marine issue training to take on kids who also have the necessary hand to hand goods to give him a run for the money. Also there is Bill Nunn and Angie Everhart who provide our hero with the goods necessary (That is sex in Everhart's case) to squash their movement right here, right now. I just noticed that this entry was directed by the guy who gave us Best Of The Best and it's even dumber sequel. I was going to compare this to Best Of The Best 3 which is among the most offensive movies ever made but in doing so the fact remains that Radler isn't guilty of making such lousiness. The Substitute 4 is actually not too bad in it's B.movie type of way, the movie has tons of violence and Treat Williams holds his own surprisingly well and the racism angle never feels offensive since we aren't treated to a pretentious attitude regarding it. Therefore the movie is watchable and works in satisfying the type of person who rents movies that bypass theaters. In this regard the movie works and it has some quite exciting action in the process. The only problem is that, well it also inherits the problems of being a B.movie and therefore it is predictable, unsurprising and silly. In other words your perfect guilty pleasure.

* * out of 4-(Fair)

'The Substitute 4: Failure Is Not An Option' gets points for featuring a cast of known b-movie faces. However it has the weakest story by far. There's no deep levels here. No real surprises. The bad guys are face up and obvious. Leaving you to soak in the action as the plot tries it's best to rot your brain.

Karl Thomasson (Treat Williams) is back once again taking on the task of teaching at a Military School at the behest of an old war buddy and General. A teacher has gone missing, the General is worried about his nephew and the involvement of the base comandante Colonel Brack (Patrick Kilpatrick). The nephew is part of a select group of elite cadets called "The Werewolf Company" and well, you see where this is going.

It's neo Nazi junk. White power, racism, etc. The Colonel is so obviously nuts that you know any sense of reality has gone out the window. If you can get past that, Treat is still decent. Fisticuffs, lectures, gunplay, investigating, etc. There is a particular stunt piece that I applaud him for not using a stunt double. It really looked cool to see him do it.

Kilpatrick is no stranger to bad guy roles and almost always fun to watch. He spouts the junk dialog given to him with ease. Tim Abell is SFC Devlin. A knife instructor on base who is a former comrade of Thomasson who helps out. Treat Williams shares the screen with Bill Nunn again who plays the ex-military knowledgeable janitor. That leaves pretty lady Angie Everhart to supply some nudity and required love interest in 1LT Dr. Chamberlain.

I don't know if the series had run it's course or if 'Failure Is Not An Option' killed it, but this was the end. A braindead story, sad collection of villains and the horrible ending that doesn't even satisfy. The cast earn it some points and I appreciated more gratuitous female nudity, but this was a pretty sore sequel.