Review of Double Team (1997) by Joshua P — 07 Feb 2009

With Jean-Claude Van Damme and Mickey Rourke both giving the performances of their careers in 2008 (in "JCVD" and "The Wrestler", respectively), it's amusing to think that 11 years ago, they were reduced to fighting each other in the Roman Coliseum, with Van Damme's infant son lying on a landmine while being guarded by a tiger.

This is one of those hilariously bad action movies that is SO over-the-top in its stupidity that you just cannot discourage anyone from seeing it; despite the ludicrous storyline, insipid dialogue ("Offense gets the glory" "But defense wins the game") and the presence of Dennis Rodman, the action scenes are very stylish and well-directed by Tsui Hark (since this was made during an era where every renowned Hong Kong director had to make his Hollywood debut with a JCVD film), so the film is never boring.

It's also impossible to turn away from the screen because just when you think the film couldn't get any sillier, it manages to keep topping itself; everything reaches a zenith at the end with one of the most obnoxious product placements of all the time, as our heroes hide behind a row of Coke machines (at the Roman Coliseum?!) to shield themselves from an explosion!