QUICKSAND (2002) **

Michael Dudikoff stars as the new psychiatrist on a military base.  On his first day on the job, a patient babbles on about some big conspiracy before blowing his brains out.  Duds is then assigned by the general (Dan Hedaya) to make sure his wild child sexpot daughter (Brooke Theiss from A Nightmare on Elm Street 4:  The Dream Master) gets a Section 8 so she doesn’t embarrass her brother’s political aspirations.  Naturally, when the general is found dead, it isn’t long before Dudikoff becomes the prime suspect.  While trying to clear his name, he also must see to it that the general’s daughter doesn’t become the next victim.  

Quicksand reunites Dudikoff and his American Ninja 1 and 2 director Sam Firstenberg.  Those hoping for another potentially potent pairing will probably be left disappointed as this is more of a military whodunit with shades of a political thriller than an out-and-out action flick.  There isn’t much here in the ways of fisticuffs (Dudikoff gets jumped by a bunch of bad guys who steal his briefcase) and the big car chase basically devolves into Dudikoff spinning donuts in his Jeep in the middle of the desert.  The finale is weak too and would feel more at home on a Lifetime Movie than a Dudikoff/Firstenberg team-up.

Dudikoff isn’t his usual ass-kicking self, which is kind of the problem.  He more of the guy-on-the-run type of thriller leading man.  I’m glad the film offered him an opportunity to stretch his acting muscles a bit, but it would’ve been nice to see him at least punch/kick/shoot his way out of a jam or two.  Richard Kind fares better as the detective in charge of the case.  Kind isn’t the first guy you’d think of for a role like this, and his inspired casting helps to inject some humor into what would’ve otherwise been a boring and cliched character.  Hedaya is usually fun to watch, but he doesn’t stick around long enough to make much of an impression.  Thiess has a couple of nice moments as his mixed-up daughter, although the plot doesn’t really allow for her and Dudikoff to generate many sparks.