Plot -- Sylvester Stallone plays a rouge cop charged with protecting a young woman (Brigitte Nielsen) against a band of psycho killers. He must also contend with opposition from within the police force, as many of his colleagues find his tactics excessive. But in the end, his only concern is wiping out crime.
Critique -- Judging from the harsh reviews this actioner earned, you'd think it was unredeemably bad, but I admit I kind of enjoyed it. As long as you're not expecting too much, it delivers on a no-brainer level. In fact it's about as good as one can expect from anything Cannon Films did in the eighties. It moves at a good pace, looks slick (groovy lighting) and has a decent car chase. As expected, it's very right-wing, but as long as the occasional speechifying doesn't bother you too much, that kinda adds to its charm as an artifact of its decade. The star has strong screen presence and effectively fills the "badass supercop" role. Brian Thompson, as the psychotic killer, rants and raves as appropriate. Andrew Robinson, as the disapproving detective, is somewhat underused here. "Cobra" makes for a good double bill with "Rambo: First Blood Part II", another overblown Sly spectacle directed by George P. Cosamatos.
Rating: (**1/2) out of four
Released by Cannon Films (thru Warner)
Critique -- Judging from the harsh reviews this actioner earned, you'd think it was unredeemably bad, but I admit I kind of enjoyed it. As long as you're not expecting too much, it delivers on a no-brainer level. In fact it's about as good as one can expect from anything Cannon Films did in the eighties. It moves at a good pace, looks slick (groovy lighting) and has a decent car chase. As expected, it's very right-wing, but as long as the occasional speechifying doesn't bother you too much, that kinda adds to its charm as an artifact of its decade. The star has strong screen presence and effectively fills the "badass supercop" role. Brian Thompson, as the psychotic killer, rants and raves as appropriate. Andrew Robinson, as the disapproving detective, is somewhat underused here. "Cobra" makes for a good double bill with "Rambo: First Blood Part II", another overblown Sly spectacle directed by George P. Cosamatos.
Rating: (**1/2) out of four
Released by Cannon Films (thru Warner)