Excessive Force (1993)

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Police detective Terry McCain (Thomas Ian Griffith) leads a raid on Sal DiMarco (Burt Young)'s operation in an action packed gun battle. Sal is released in court due to excessive force. Sal lost $3 million and he wants his money back. Terry's boss Devlin (Lance Henriksen) is tired of Terry's short fuse. He plays the piano to wind down in Jake (James Earl Jones)'s jazz club. His police partner is Frankie Hawkins (Tony Todd).Thomas Ian Griffith can kick but he has absolutely no charisma. The guy is better off as a stuntman or a non-speaking thug. He should not lead a movie no matter how low the expectations. He fades into the background. It's odd to have so many better actors on the screen. This could be a functional 90s action B-movie if a more compelling personality is leading.

Thomas Ian Griffith (who was introduced to film audiences as the slimy Terry Silver in The Karate Kid part III) wrote, produced and stars in this action flick about Terry McCann, a Chicago cop with a short fuse (and one hell of a kick) who becomes engulfed in an inside plot to steal $3 million in mob money from a crime scene. They don't like that. He now has to unravel the plot before it gets him killed and those he loves around him.I really enjoyed Excessive Force (1993). Griffith is a very likable and watchable action hero. The plot isn't the most original thing going for it but it moves fast and has good energy. An interesting cast was assembled for the film which included genre fave Lance Henrikson, Vader's voice James Earl Jones, Candyman himself Tony Todd, Rocky's brother-in-law Burt Young and the exotic Charlotte Lewis. The cast I think is what saved it from becoming standard action fare.

Thomas Ian Griffith seems to be a better actor then screenplay writer, because the story is somewhat forgetful, the story centers around Terry McCain, A tough Dirty Harry like cop. who beats a confession out of witness in order to put a mob boss(Burt Young) away for life. But the mob boss, gets off due to Terry's excessive antics on a witness. But the heat really gets turned up on Terry, when the mob boss turns up dead, and Terry becomes the main suspect. Thomas Ian Griffith may seem like another Steven Seagal, but unlike Steven Seagal, Thomas Ian Griffith is an action hero who can act, and unlike Steven Seagal's characters, Thomas Ian Griffith made the character of Terry McCain, more human then one dymentional. Despite good acting by Thomas Ian Griffith,and good martial arts scenes. The story is very forgetful.

Slow and cliche-ridden, but interesting supporting cast make this great late night viewing on The Action Channel. It's nice to see Burt Young speaking coherently for a change. Lance Henriksen and Tony Todd round a nice tight,little exploitation troupe. "Die with a little dignity...". 2 beer minimum at the least.