Review of Retrograde (2004) by Robert I — 24 Sep 2012

Wow. I don't know, man. Dolph is usually fun, and he can carry a movie just by being Dolph, but even Dolph didn't seem like he was having too much fun here. 'Retrograde' has finally been released in the States after 5 years of being available in Europe.

I can very much see why. This movie looks cheap. And I mean PM Entertainment cheap (that's saying a lot, because PM movies usually make Dolph's movies look like they have the production values of Jurassic Park in comparison); the story is tired (something about a mutant virus that has decimated the future, and Dolph is some dude from the future sent back in time to stop it, carnage ensues, etc.

..), and again, Dolph is just not "there." I don't think he felt the story, and I don't feel this either. Sorry, big guy. Gary Daniels, a great martial artist, is completely wasted here in a straight acting role as one of the explorers.

I felt akin to how I felt watching the Crow: City of Angels, when the filmmakers had two great actors (the Yellow Ranger Trini and Iggy Pop) and DID NOTHING with them. That's Retrograde. Dolph doesn't do a whole lot here, and the rest of the movie is taken up by supporting characters and antagonists that the viewer could care less about.

I'm glad I got this free @ Redbox, or I'd be giving it one star. As it's Dolph, it still gets two for the awesome jumpsuit he wears. But really, stay far away from this one and rent 'Missionary Man' instead.