Payback

My review was written in April 1990 after watching the movie on City Lights video cassette.

"Payback" is a by-the-numbers action pic for the less discriminating end of the video market.

Lensed in 1988, tale concerns a prototype assault rifle sought after by various government and private factions. Roger Rodd is a former CIA agent hired by Jeannie Daly to find the missing Denise Dougherty, who developed the rifle and thus knows the weapon's secrets.

Addison Randall's script doesn't hold water; instead of searching for Dougherty, Rodd simply finds her hiding out in his apartment.

The bad guys comprise a right-wing extremist group called Strike Force, which is trying to take over the U. S. government. Rodd's employer Daly turns out to be the daughter of the senator who created Strike Force, so there's plenty of cornball treachery afoot.

Rodd is colorless as a Rambo imitator, and the rest of the cast is given routine assignments.