Review of Double Impact (1985) by Jay M — 01 Aug 2013

In Hong Kong, English-man Paul Wagner & his company have completed construction on the Victoria Harbor tunnel with the help of equity partner Nigel Griffith. Paul & his wife: Katherine, have two, twin sons, Chad, & Alex. Body guard to Paul & his family is (Dead-Shoot-Shooter) Frank Avery; a friend that has-been-employed after his tour in the Vietnam War.

Returning home after the opening ceremonies Paul dismisses Frank to take the night off; shortly after he sees that they-are-being followed; when Paul makes a call on the C.B to Frank he learns that it is not Frank's car that is following them. Frank quickly picks up on what is going on & does a 180 degree turn to rush to get there; when he pulls up a gun fight ensues & he sees that he has arrived too late to save Paul & his wife. The twins remain in the back seat with the nanny; when Frank elevates up his position to the car door he tells her to get the kids & get out of there. The nanny in a state of panic only grabs Alex quickly & leaves; Frank-is-forced to make a retreat & seeing that one of the twins remain he takes him. On his way out he sees that Paul's business partner Nigel Griffith is with a prominent Chinese business man Raymond Zhang; both have plotted to have Paul & his family killed.

It is twenty five years later. Chad has grown up in California & become an Aerobics & martial arts instructor; Alex orphaned in Hong Kong shortly after his parents death is a street smart martial artist that owns a Mah Jongg Parlor & does shady business. Frank has found Alex with the help of an associate & decides it is time to reunite the twins & take back what is rightfully theirs.

This move is a typical martial art movie that is completely predictable from beginning to end; it has all the things one would expect to find in a Jean Claude Van Damme movie; only this time there is double the Van Damage! Bolo Yeung (bad guy from Enter The Dragon & Blood Sport) is back together with Van Damme as the head honcho of Raymond Zhang's tri-add team of hit-men; he brings that hefty hefty hefty look to the screen along with some humorous things in the fight scenes.

Over all this film will be enjoyed-by-martial art buffs I think; along with an audience that is just in the mood to watch a martial art flick. I give it a borderline thumb. Not Van Damme's best film but far from his worst.