Kickboxer 2: The Road Back

AKA: Kickboxer II

1991

Director: Albert Pyun
Action directors: Jim Nickerson, Benny Urquidez
Producer: Tom Karnowski
Writer: David Goyer
Cinematography: George Mooradian
Music: Anthony Riparetti
Editing: Alan Baumgarten

Stars: Sasha Mitchell, Peter Boyle, Dennis Chan, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, John Diehl, Michel Qissi

Rated R for violence and language

Jeez, after all the cheese I've sat through this month, I might have to change my residency to Wisconsin. Up next, we have Kickboxer 2, which addresses how to make a sequel to a Van Damme movie without having the "Muscles from Brussels". You just kill him off! Genius.

Sasha Mitchell (yep, the guy from the TV show Step by Step) is the star this time out as David Sloan, the brother of JCVD from the first movie. David has retired from competition, instead concentrating on his school. But when the unscruplous promoter Justin (Peter Boyle - WTF is he doing in this?) steps in and takes away David's best student, David decides to return to the ring, which of course leads to a confrontation with Tong Po (Michel Qissi), the man who killed his brother.

Like a lot of movies such as this, a lot of Kickboxer 2's success comes down to its' star. Sasha Mitchell is decent in the lead; as a former kickboxer, he certainly has the moves in the ring down pat, but his acting leaves a bit to be desired. It's not horrible or anything, but he definitely has a Keanu Reeves-esque vibe that got to be a bit distracting after a while.

It also felt like the film-makers were trying just a bit too hard. They try to force on a lot of emotions upon the viewer, but things fall a bit flat. Most of the actors involved aren't really up to the task, and the fight scenes have too much camera trickery going on to have any real punch. Overall, Kickboxer 2 is a decent B-level action picture that makes for some nice rainy day viewing -- just don't expect too much out of it, though.

RATING: 6