Kary Jane is amusing as a tough, sexy blonde detective who's determined to bust the reigning drug kingpins in L.A. The trouble is, she changes partners as often as most people change their clothes, with most of them coming to bad ends. Since her parents also died under suspicious circumstances, it's no shock that she's got demons. She regularly confides in a police psychiatrist, who's played by Troy Donahue. In a subplot, the brother (Allen First) of her latest partner / boyfriend (Thomas Elliott) goes looking for some revenge.
As directed by the prolific David DeCoteau, "American Rampage" does have some charm as an ultra-cheesy low-budget affair. It comes complete with an array of hysterically inept supporting performances, a steady parade of mullets, and a generous serving of dialogue that's so bad, it's hilarious. "I'm not going anyplace where there are ferns." The action is handled fairly well, with a fun convenience store shootout (one of the staples of the genre) to start us off on the right foot. The chase scenes are also reasonably entertaining, but what makes this generally agreeable is all the good squib action. Many characters get pumped full of bullets by the time this is over. Granted, the picture can get a little dull at times when it's just characters conversing, or when First spends an eternity following one of the bad guys. The electronic music score is icing on this cheesecake.
As was previously mentioned, most of the acting is not so hot. Token "name" actor / faded star Donahue only has three brief scenes, and they're all in the psychiatrists' office. "Otis T. Longhorn", who plays the main heavy, does fare better than much of the cast; at least he can get his dialogue out in a competent enough manner. Adorable B movie starlet Linnea Quigley, a regular in the DeCoteau filmography, has a cameo in which - surprise, surprise - she doffs her clothes for a shower scene.
"American Rampage" is amiable enough, if the prospective viewer wants something to watch with buddies & beers.
Five out of 10.
As directed by the prolific David DeCoteau, "American Rampage" does have some charm as an ultra-cheesy low-budget affair. It comes complete with an array of hysterically inept supporting performances, a steady parade of mullets, and a generous serving of dialogue that's so bad, it's hilarious. "I'm not going anyplace where there are ferns." The action is handled fairly well, with a fun convenience store shootout (one of the staples of the genre) to start us off on the right foot. The chase scenes are also reasonably entertaining, but what makes this generally agreeable is all the good squib action. Many characters get pumped full of bullets by the time this is over. Granted, the picture can get a little dull at times when it's just characters conversing, or when First spends an eternity following one of the bad guys. The electronic music score is icing on this cheesecake.
As was previously mentioned, most of the acting is not so hot. Token "name" actor / faded star Donahue only has three brief scenes, and they're all in the psychiatrists' office. "Otis T. Longhorn", who plays the main heavy, does fare better than much of the cast; at least he can get his dialogue out in a competent enough manner. Adorable B movie starlet Linnea Quigley, a regular in the DeCoteau filmography, has a cameo in which - surprise, surprise - she doffs her clothes for a shower scene.
"American Rampage" is amiable enough, if the prospective viewer wants something to watch with buddies & beers.
Five out of 10.