Jan De Bont – Cut To The Chase

Directed By: Robert Houston

Written By: Robert Houston and Joseph Kwong

Cinematography: Jan De Bont

Editor: Barry Zetlin

Cast: Pamela Segall, Joey Coleman, George Olden, Michael Hentz, Christopher Brown, Anne DeSalvo, Martin Mull, Karen Black, Kimmy Robertson, Susan Ruttan, Edy Williams, Stephen Stucker

Four teens on the run from an orphanage spring a fellow orphan recently adopted by a rich family, then trash the whole house.

This is a film I remember watching and liking quite a bit when I was a kid probably around eight years old, which is what strikes at the heart of this film who is this film really marketed towards it is too adult to truly be for children and to juvenile to really be for adults 18 even though most of the characters look to be just entering their teens and the material throughout is way too adult. In fact, it’s a rated R film.

This is a long way of saying they wouldn’t make a film like this today. The film is just trashy, sleazy, gross, and in very bad taste, but strangely it has charm.

At the heart of it, it’s very punk rock as it showcases, a rebellious youthful spirit against the more selfish superficial, and exploitation of adults. Not to mention everything moving along into chaos.

The film shows some adults in particular at the orphanage have a psychotherapist, who only wants to talk about sex to the young children there and seems to be very into bondage

The orphanage rundown prison or who uses a cattle pro and all of the teachers seem to be nuns

The film has two nude scenes. unnecessary, but we’re kind of in at the time and probably helped get more eyes on the film of whichever audience. They intended the teens and the adults giving them a reason to watch it as I might have done the research and saw in the rating it’s rated R for you know, graphic violence, nudity sexual situations, and language only here with more nudity and language

It doesn’t really have any sex in it luckily but there is just a certain vibe to it. That feels like anything taboo will be at least hint or watching it now it’s amazed that it even got made.

as I will admit at the time, one of the reasons, I probably became a fan of this film was Pamela Segall who knows who now goes by Pamela Adlon, who is in a bunch of movies I saw on cable GREASE 2 is where I first saw her and then this film and then the movie SOMETHING SPECIAL a more teenage appropriate movie. Though not as wild. Even later in her career, playing the tough gal usually but one who is down to earth and could definitely hang with the men on equal footing while also being noticeably attractive. Which has made me a lifelong fan of hers.

One of the problems of the movies is that you hate most of the characters or dislike them, as even the kids aren’t exactly likable. They all seem very troubled and while you want them to win, you probably wouldn’t want to take care of any of them or be in charge of any of them, but as the movie tries to keep us, and if they wanna act like they are adults

As the kids are just unruly and seem to want to always break the rules and cause trouble, and they all have different character types not clearly defined, but rambunctious

It just makes me wonder what there was as a respectable cast of Martin Mull, Anne DeSalvo and Karen Black in it, apparently, all are here cashing checks, but they still give their all in their performances.

I will admit Martin Mull is also another big pole for me to watch a film even when I was a kid I was fascinated by him or the characters he played.

The film was even shot by renowned future cinematographer and filmmaker Jan De Bont (SPEED)

None of the actors who played the main gang of kids really appeared in too many future film or television roles. Though Joey Coleman, who played Whitey was in the documentary and open secret about child abuse, and pedophilia in Hollywood.

It is also one of the rare roles of Stephen Stucker outside of the AIRPLANE spoof movies. Playing a similar over the top comedic role.

on the one hand, I admire that this film got made at all as it just shows how wild the 1980s were when it came to so-called teen or youth oriented films. The film certainly isn’t well but it is a fascinating watch for what they did and get away with at the time.

as a childhood memory of entertainment, I am shocked that my parents let me watch this many times, but also it kind of has a special place in my heart. I know it’s nostalgia isn’t always the greatest especially when it comes to something that might be an inferior product, but this stays with me, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it but for those who look for more trashy Cinema, I would say give it a chance or give it a look

Grade: C

Directed By: Richard Donner

Written By: Jeffrey Boam and Robert Mark Kamen

Based on characters created by: Shane Black

Cinematography: Jan De Bont

Editor: Battle Davis and Robert Brown

Cast: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Rene Russo, Stuart Wilson, Nick Chinlund, Alan Scarfe, Mark Pellegrino, Sven-ole Thorson, Miguel Nunez Jr., Paul Hipp, Stephen T. Kay, Delores Shell, Steve Kahan, Traci Wolfe, Damon Hines, Ebonie Smith, Mary Ellen Trainor

Archetypal buddy cops Riggs and Murtaugh are back for another round of high-stakes action, this time setting their collective sights on bringing down a former Los Angeles police lieutenant turned black market weapons dealer. Lorna Cole joins as the beautiful yet hard-nosed internal affairs sergeant who catches Riggs’s eye.

This was my introduction to the movie franchise. Which, for a time, was truly dyslexic, as I never watch many franchises in order. Though at least watching this film pieces of the puzzle come together. As I had seen the previous two movies, in pieces. just never all the way through. Until after seeing this one which made me wanna go back and finally actually watch the first two films’ info.

Having seen all of the movies, I have to say that disappointingly this film doesn’t advance the characters. It kind of lets them stay the same and maybe review or remind the audience of the death of their friendship at this point, as partners.

It feels like it’s trying to be contemporary. It still feels a little bit like a throwback just following a formula. I mean just look at Joe Pesci‘s Leo character who is now a bottle blonde with a crew cut. Also, the introduction of hollow point bullets known on the streets as cop killers, feels like something taken from the news reports of an escalating danger.

Don’t know if the cliché came first or if this helped create them as throughout the formula, feels like a sitcom, almost that Hass to hit certain beats, and show certain scenes and behavior of characters. At least in the previous films, we were getting to know or learn about the characters and see how their partnership developed here we just assume they’ve had a kind of standstill, and it is expected

It’s a film where you don’t really feel any suspense. Just can’t help but seem familiar.

As my first LETHAL WEAPON film, it was exciting and new though it didn’t offer anything I hadn’t seen before. The quality kind of dips in quality in comparison . as if not for the foul language and violence, could’ve easily been a typical PG-13 film as it is definitely made for an audience more than anything. There is no need truly for this film other than for the studio to need money.

Unfortunately, this was a sign of the beginning of the end that felt fun, but a minor effort as there was one more sequel after this.

In serious scenes, the actors seem more silly than serious, except for the chase scene through the subway. That might be one of the film’s main problems is that it plays like a comedy with action in it rather than an action film that happens to have funny moments it’s not as vicious as the previous films either

Watching this film, one’s favorite pastime might be noticing how many times Mel Gibson slips out of his American accent to his more natural Australian one. this film is also the first where Martin Riggs, Mel Gibson’s character, isn’t as scary or dangerous. He’s actually mellowed.

Another Hallmark of this franchise, this one just seems to color in the lines, but offers nothing new, just adding an addition to the overall picture that wasn’t necessarily needed, but isn’t that bad? No, I will say it’s the last classic of the old-time sequels as the next film part four comes across as more cartoonish.

The franchise is familiar enough, so this is almost like just another episode, but lacks the stakes of the other films. It does offer as it adds a character, just as part two introduced us to Joe Pesci Leo Getz, who became a fan favorite enough that he returns for the remaining sequels here, Renée Russo’s character, is introduced, and ultimately stays and survives so that Riggs finally fall for and keeps a love interest.

The film offers a crafty, smart villain that makes his mark but alas, slimy doesn’t have as many memorable scenes, acts, or punch lines as previous villains.

The teenagers with the guns and ammo who are supposed to be part of this gang that hits close to home for Danny Glover, Roger, as one of them has a connection to his son. Nick feels thrown in to give Danny Glover a dramatic second act so that he can make a return, triumphant in the third act.

The film doesn’t offer anything new nor for the characters to do as the first two films did. The violence seems much lighter and less severe than in the first and especially the second film.

It seems like they are supposed to be homicide detectives, but they seem to get involved in every other type of case.

This franchise is one of the last where you can check your head at the door and be purely entertained and feel like at least you were served something well-cooked. Though in the end the film and franchise are meant to be entertainment above all else

Grade: C+

Tag: Jan De Bont

BAD MANNERS (1984)

LETHAL WEAPON 3 (1992)