Review: Commando (1985)

Directed by: Mark L. Lester
Written by: Steven E. de Souza
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rae Dawn Chong, Dan Hedaya and Vernon Wells

The 1980s was a unique time in the history of the action movie primarily due to it being the first decade where the genre adopted the more commercial approach that we now associate it with. This was before the time where the driving force of the action blockbuster was not an abundance of computer-generated imagery, but instead an abundance of machismo and bullets. Commando is the epitome of this. It's a case of a film being so dumb, so over-the-top and such a product of its own time, and we'll never forget it. Why is it considered a classic? Because it delivers what it promises to, even though it's explosive cinematic junk food.

Former special agent John Matrix has put his military past behind him in favor of a secluded life in the mountains. John's world is turned upside down when a man from his past and a former dictator he helped overthrow hatch a plan to kidnap his daughter and ask him to carry out an assassination as a ransom. Instead he uses his own wits and a stockpile of weapons to launch a one-man rescue mission.

By the standards of other famed Schwarzenegger movies, Commando seemingly doesn't offer very much, but Arnold is always a treat. He's never been one for acting, and appeals to you on that purely masculine level. This is silly in any movie, but here it's in that spot where we accept it. The fact is, few can kick ass in movies like Arnold Schwarzenegger can, This is why he's an icon and why we love him. He was born to play John Matrix even though it demands nothing of intellect from him. The rest of the cast perform fairly, but I gotta give a nod to Vernon Wells as Bennett for his unrestrained delivery in every scene.

The excess of violence and a charming cheesiness also work wonders. Our hero shoots the bad guys, blows the place up and always conveniently has a funny one-liner ready. It's formulaic and predictable, yet Commando has the occasional moment that defies all logic and leaves you scratching your head. It jumps from a generic action movie to a so-bad-it's-good movie, making you laugh without encouraging you to mock it endlessly.

Commando may be a dumb movie, but it's a movie that you can always trust to leave you feeling better. We shouldn't forget that there are always those times where you need to throw the brain out the window and sit down for some unbridled entertainment. It gives us a lot of what we like, and I'll always have a soft spot for it.

My Rating: 7.5/10