[Quick Summary: A demoted Detroit police sergeant (but Harvard law grad!) pursues an auto manufacturer who is systematically killing off union leaders.]
I'd never heard of this film and was curious about it because:
1) of the title; and
2) it starred Carl Weathers in 1988 (a few years after Rocky and Predator).
It was not a well reviewed film* and I can see why:
- lots of loose ends
- dialogue that tells the plot
- the protagonist is unrealistically infallible: a Harvard law grad turned police sergeant rarely has doubts or makes mistakes.
I can see why Weathers signed on. There is a LOT of action. However, the lack of character development makes the story just okay.
I do wish there were more emotionally tense setup-payoff scenes like the one below:
- Mr. Delaplane is receiving the Man of the Year award.
- Jackson put his son in jail.
- I liked the unexpected surprise of this scene, i.e., Jackson makes a wrong assumption about Delaplane's wife, and she gets the upper hand.
- I also liked how Jackson makes a mistake. When he's invulnerable, it's boring.
INT. HYATT BALLROOM - NIGHT
...The blonde notices that Jacking is eating, and casually moves closer to his side without a hint of flirtation.
BLONDE: You can hardly hear what he's saying back here.
JACKSON: I know. Best seat in the house.
BLONDE: I take it you're not a friend of Mr. Delaplane.
JACKSON: Not unless they've changed the definition. What's he saying anyway?
BLONDE: Something about how he earned his money the old fashioned way.
JACKSON: That's right. He married it.
She gives him a look of genuine surprise.
BLONDE: You really think so?
Delaplane seems to be wrapping up his acceptance speech.
DELAPLANE: And they say that behind every man is a woman. I wish I could say that mine is behind me, but perhaps she will be in a moment. Patrice?
BLONDE (smiling): I bet I can make you change your mind.
She leaves Jackson and walks the length of the auditorium to join Delaplane at the podium.
DELAPLANE: Ladies and gentlemen, my bride, Patrice Delaplane.
The crowd APPLAUDS, and Jackson stares in shock at the happy couple.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: This protagonist was set up to be heroic. He's a law grad (smart), a good cop (dedicated), infallible. This isn't heroic (or very interesting).
Heroism requires tough choices. It's easiest to see when a character has flaws or doubts, yet chooses to do good.
Action Jackson (1988)
by Robert Reneau
*Even Roger Ebert was puzzled: "What can you make of a movie that has one scene where a cop outruns a taxi cab and another one where a villain shoots his wife in the stomach while kissing her, and then keeps on kissing? What’s going on here? “Action Jackson” plays like a cross between “Superman” and “The Face of Death,” and that’s not intended as a compliment. Rarely have comedy and gruesome violence been combined in such a blithe mixture, as if the violence didn’t really count."
