Wednesday, March 13, 2024

LET’S GET PHYSICAL: BOUNTY HUNTERS (1997) ***

FORMAT:  DVD

After directing Lorenzo Lamas in three classic Snakeeater movies, George Erschbamer teamed up with Michael Dudikoff for a pair of pretty fun Bounty Hunters films. 

Dudikoff plays a down and out cigar smoking bounty hunter named Jersey.  Lisa Howard is his tough talking, high kicking rival, B.B.  While fighting over a high dollar fugitive, they stumble upon a hooker who witnessed a Mob hit.  Jersey reluctantly agrees to lend her a hand when the mobsters kidnap his young sidekick. 

Bounty Hunters is a pleasant, if a tad forgettable affair.  It doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is refreshing.  It’s the kind of movie where the hero finds himself in a chop shop where all the mechanics seem to know Kung Fu.  That right there should be the litmus test of whether you will enjoy it or not.  It all adds up to a bunch of empty calories, but it’s amusing more often than not even if it leans toward the disposable side. 

Dudikoff does a fine job in the lead.  He fares well playing a looser, funnier version of his typical screen persona.  I liked the running gag where he rigs up an extensive collection of booby traps in his home to ward off disgruntled collars.  Of course, this naturally comes in handy when the Mob sends their goons after you.  Howard is solid too as his counterpart who is more than capable of delivering an ass whooping.  They both seem to be having fun playing off one another, and there is a sizeable amount of chemistry between them.

My favorite moment though was when Dudikoff goes into a video store that prominently features posters for Erschbamer’s Snakeeater 2 and even Ilsa, She-Wolf of the SS!  Now that’s my kind of place!  There’s also a funny moment where Dudikoff inadvertently winds up on the set of a sci-fi sex flick.  I wish this sequence had more of a payoff, but I’m still glad it exists.  I guess the same can be said for the entire film.

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