Federal Protection

Rating:
Summary: Decent plot, but very weak ending.
Review: A comedy? Hardly. This movie has some very good action scenes and an engaging (if predictable) plot. Overall, the movie is entertaining, but somebody really missed the opportunity for a great ending. I won't blow it for you by describing how they missed it, but if you do watch this one you'll probably have the same perception -- something is missing at the end, but there's not enough missing to expect a sequel (not to say that they won't cobble one together).

Rating:
Summary: Decent plot, but very weak ending.
Review: A comedy? Hardly. This movie has some very good action scenes and an engaging (if predictable) plot. Overall, the movie is entertaining, but somebody really missed the opportunity for a great ending. I won't blow it for you by describing how they missed it, but if you do watch this one you'll probably have the same perception -- something is missing at the end, but there's not enough missing to expect a sequel (not to say that they won't cobble one together).

Rating:
Summary: Supporting cast protects "Protection"
Review: Federal protection is stylishly directed be Anthony (Hell Raiser)Hickox. Visions of early Tarantino are evident here, as comedy mixes with violence. Although Armand Assante is the big name draw on this video box, it is the supporting cast who steal the show.

Dina Meyer and David Lipper are simply the most interesting to watch, as they combine a sexy performance with great comedic timing. Assante is his usual solid self, staying with the familiar gangster role.

I reccommend this film to anyome who likes movies such as Reservoir Dogs, The Heist, and Witness.

Rating:
Summary: A bizarre comedy, made watchable by Meyer and Assante.
Review: This film isn't much of an action thriller, contrary to what the cover suggests. There's a lengthy shootout scene at the end, but most of the film is an excessive, violent, aiming-to-be-hip comedy which does draw some good laughs, but ultimately falls short of being a good film.

Dina Meyer all but owns the picture. She single-handedly drives the action, and she's clearly having a ball with the scheming, none-too-bright character. She also supplies the film with its best scene, the seductive cat-and-mouse at the police luncheon. It's precisely this spark that Angela Featherstone lacks -- playing the wounded housewife, Featherstone offers nothing we haven't seen before. A shame, because she'd started her career in an array of strange roles, most memorable being Dark Angel: The Ascent -- not the James Cameron TV show, but the Full Moon Pictures gore film. She's become a token actress with soft eyes and elvish haircut, offering no surprises or star quality. Armand Assante's role in the picture isn't all that large, frankly, but he does appear more confident than most of the other actors. Too bad he and Meyer don't really have scenes together; Meyer is a much better actor than Featherstone for Assante to play opposite.

There are some good sight gags -- the golf-club gag, the aforementioned police luncheon -- but some of that is negated by over-the-top violence. Director Anthony Hickox is at fault -- what did you expect from the director of Hellraiser III? As he deserves credit for the inventiveness of the comedic routines, so he deserves blame for the excessive gore-as-sight-gag scenes, which are never as funny as they think they are.

Worth a look, but not much more.

Rating:
Summary: A bizarre comedy, made watchable by Meyer and Assante.
Review: This film isn't much of an action thriller, contrary to what the cover suggests. There's a lengthy shootout scene at the end, but most of the film is an excessive, violent, aiming-to-be-hip comedy which does draw some good laughs, but ultimately falls short of being a good film.

Dina Meyer all but owns the picture. She single-handedly drives the action, and she's clearly having a ball with the scheming, none-too-bright character. She also supplies the film with its best scene, the seductive cat-and-mouse at the police luncheon. It's precisely this spark that Angela Featherstone lacks -- playing the wounded housewife, Featherstone offers nothing we haven't seen before. A shame, because she'd started her career in an array of strange roles, most memorable being Dark Angel: The Ascent -- not the James Cameron TV show, but the Full Moon Pictures gore film. She's become a token actress with soft eyes and elvish haircut, offering no surprises or star quality. Armand Assante's role in the picture isn't all that large, frankly, but he does appear more confident than most of the other actors. Too bad he and Meyer don't really have scenes together; Meyer is a much better actor than Featherstone for Assante to play opposite.

There are some good sight gags -- the golf-club gag, the aforementioned police luncheon -- but some of that is negated by over-the-top violence. Director Anthony Hickox is at fault -- what did you expect from the director of Hellraiser III? As he deserves credit for the inventiveness of the comedic routines, so he deserves blame for the excessive gore-as-sight-gag scenes, which are never as funny as they think they are.

Worth a look, but not much more.