Want some cheesy mindless fun? You could do worse than Mark DiSalle and David Worth’s Kickboxer from 1989. Though it’s not even close to being the best Jean-Claude Van Damme flick, it’s nevertheless pretty (van) damn enjoyable. Heh. September 8th sees the film celebrate the 35th anniversary of its release in America. Let’s take a look back!
JCVD stars as Kurt Sloane, aspiring kickboxer and younger brother to cocky American champion Eric Sloane (real-life kickboxing champ Dennis Alexio). Eric wants to compete internationally, so they set off to the home of kickboxing, or Muay Thai, in Bangkok, Thailand. There, Eric faces the formidable Tong Po (Michel Qissi, looking menacing as hell). Eric badly underestimates Tong Po and is crippled at the climax of their match.
While Eric begins a long recovery in the hospital, Kurt befriends ex-soldier Winston Taylor (Haskell Anderson III) who is familiar with Muay Thai culture and the underworld that surrounds it. Taylor introduces Kurt, who hungers to avenge his brother in the ring, to reclusive folksy trainer Xian Chow (Dennis Chan). During his training, he falls in love with Chow’s niece, Mylee (Rochelle Ashana). Soon, Eric will have to deal with Tong Po as well as the gangsters that control the fight scene.
Look, Glen A Bruce’s script (based on a story by DiSalle and Van Damme) isn’t great. It’s boilerplate and lifts pretty heavily from the original The Karate Kid and Van Damme’s own Bloodsport. The rape subplot stands out as being completely unnecessary. Also, while no one would ever accuse Van Damme of being some great thespian, this is still one of his lesser efforts. The sprinkling of supernatural elements seems out of place and tonally inconsistent with the vast majority of the picture, too. Although I’ll admit, they give it a little bit of weird flavor.
DiSalle and Worth, in conjunction with Van Damme’s fight choreography, generate some exciting action, though. JCVD, Alexio, and Qissi are all impressive. Cinematographer Jon Kranhouse is even able to lend some lyricism to the proceedings with sequences of Van Damme training in silhouette against dusky Thai ruins. The Thai location shooting is also key, providing effortless authenticity. Perhaps my favorite sequence is the notorious drunken JCVD dance scene. Goofy, but also hilarious, it allows for some levity.
Mark DiSalle and David Worth’s Kickboxer is fairly clichéd and ridiculous. That being said, it’s also really fun. It’s not my favorite Jean-Claude Van Damme flick, but it’s entirely watchable. The ending seems a little abrupt, but I’ve read that the film has been cut and re-edited many times over the years. I’d very much be interested in seeing a more complete release (I have the barebones American Blu-ray from 2009). Recommended with caveats.
Michael Cavender