Rating: 3 on 4 /
Buy the DVD here
Tag Line: This Show Could Be Deadly.
Directed by Dolph Lundgren
Starring Dolph Lundgren, Melissa Smith, Hristo Shopov
THE
PLAN:Russian President Alexander Petrov and his two teenage daughters are attending a rock concert when terrorists take the venue, and the audience, hostage. But the terrorists didn’t count on one thing: Joe (Dolph Lundgren), the drummer to the concert’s opening act, and his deadly use of drum sticks and the electric guitar. Rock-n-Load!
THE KILL:
The one-man army against a group of terrorists in a small, confined area is one of the action genre’s favorite formulas. Starting with DIE HARD (in a high-rise office building), we’ve seen PASSENGER 57 (on a plane), SUDDEN DEATH (in a hockey arena), and UNDER SIEGE (on a boat), just to name a few. And now we can add one more note-worthy film to this sub-genre to the action film: COMMAND PERFORMANCE (in a rock-n-roll venue).
The man, the myth, the legend that is Dolph Lundgren not only stars in this mastery of the straight-to-DVD action genre, but also wrote the script, came up with the story, and directed the film. And how did he do? He rock-n-rolled with flying colors, bringing one of this year’s action surprises to the small screen.
This is not a way to get ahead in life!
Joe (Dolph) is the aging drummer of a rock-n-roll band that’s on the brink of hitting it big. Talk about being in the right place (it’s the gig of a lifetime) at the wrong time (until the terrorists take everyone hostage). What sets Joe apart from the heroes of the abovementioned films, is that he’s not an undercover cop, or an ex-cop, or ex-military, or a retired fireman, or ex-navy seal, or anything of the sort. He’s a just a rough-n-tough rock-n-roller with a background filled with barroom brawls and fist fights. And yet he’s able to save the f*cking day with drum-stick and guitar in hand!
Whether it’s because these terrorists are Russian or what, but these bastards are hardcore when it comes to blowing away innocent audience members. These guys are ruthless! Making it all that much better when Dolph busts in and f*cks shit up. The level of blood splattering bullet wounds and knife slices were quite notable, providing for one of the most bloody action movies I’ve seen in awhile.
Which leads to the main reason why COMMAND PERFORMANCE is so freaking awesome. The film plays, feels, looks, and acts like a true and blue 80s action movie, from beginning to end. Dolph as the testosterone-fueled badass, the rock / pop music montages, the high body count, the bloody deaths, and the hot piece of ass that is Venus, played by Melissa Smith. Mix in some crazy Russians, a ton of one-liners, and a to-the-point story, and you have yourself an enjoyable romp back into the 80s action territory, and boy is it glorious.
Roses are the best defense in a gun fight!
The only downside? Some of the CGI explosions were a little too fake looking for me to buy, and I would’ve like to have seen some gratuitous nudity–even if just for a second. Also, for being a huge concert venue, the scale didn’t come off as set in something large, but rather a few sets. I feel like they could have really explored the space a bit more, and could have had a bit more fun. The potential was there, but likely the budget wasn’t.
A true hero can save the day while severly hung-over.
That said, it was still one of the most enjoyable action films I’ve seen this year, and I highly recommend it to fans of the genre who love Dolph Lundgren, who miss the action of the 1980s, who miss seeing a hero who’s not afraid to lose his shirt and sweat testosterone, who don’t feel bad when the innocents are blown away in a spray of blood-splattered bullets, and who enjoy a good sized body count. With a kick-ass score, rockin’ tunes, a smokin’ hot damsel in distress and plenty of imaginative and violent kills, COMMAND PERFORMANCE warrants a viewing or two, and should be on everyone’s Christmas list. It’s time to Rock and Load!
Teaser trailer for COMMAND PERFORMANCE!
TOP DEATH: Joe blows the eardrums out of a few terrorists by cranking up the electric guitar to the max. While one poor bastards ears are bleeding, Joe comes up and impales him with the guitar! It doesn’t get any more rock and roll than that!
TOP ACTION SCENE:
The COMMANDO-like finale is an extremely fun time, with bullets blazing, fist fighting, and even the smokin’ hot chick gets in on some of the action.
Eat your heart out, ladies!
TOP HOMOEROTIC MOMENT: Dolph is all man here, and only has eyes for the ladies. It’s nice to see that, even at his age, he’s still a ballin’ pimp, and has no problem nailing chicks more than half his age. Go Dolph!
FEMALE EXPLOITATION:
The clothes stay on during this performance, but holy hell is Melissa Smith, as the film’s rockstar diva Venus, a smokin’ hottie! She gives her all in terms of cleavage and then some, with enough choreographed dancing and pelvic thrusting to get even an old man’s dick to attention.
TOP LINE/DIALOGUE:
Joe: Watch the hair, dude! (as he thrusts a drum-stick through a terrorists eye socket)
Joe: Dying’s easy, rock and roll is hard.
DRINKING GAME: Every time you wish you’re as badass as Dolph Lundgren when you’re that old, you gotta drink!
Drink everytime you hear a rock and roll pun (there’s a few of ’em).
TRIVIA: When Dolph was in high school, he played the drums.
COMMAND PERFORMANCE clip presented by Dolph!
BUY THE DVD HERE
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