Assassination

This really is terrible yet I found myself laughing hysterically. Bad acting from the supporting characters, plot holes galore and a haphazard directing style that has to be seen to be believed. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it but for all the wrong reasons. It's worth a rental if you're in the mood for this sort of thing.

Let me start by saying that Charles Bronson is one of my favorite actors and I think my mom found this one on VHS at a flea market back in 2015.

This movie is honestly pretty good, it's entertaining if not a little corny in places but I love it anyway.

Charles is a bad ass action hero in these action movies I'm a fan of his Death Wish films I haven't seen him in a lot but I'm planing on trying to find more with him.

I like in this story that he plays a secret service agent hired to protect the First lady who he doesn't really like, that I feel is a nice change of pace, then your typical standard story, it made for some nice levels of comedy.

Overall, I give it a 6/10. It's just a fun action film that you can sit back enjoy, and see

Charles Bronson kick some terrorist ass.

Highly recommended.

Bronson plays Jay Killian, a secret service agent who has been transferred from guarding the newly elected President of the U.S. to now guarding the new first lady. Eventually, Bronson learns that the first lady is being targeted for assassination (hence the title), the film for the most part deals with Bronson keeping the first lady out of harms way. Not really an excessive actioner for Bronson considering previous efforts from his career, meaning that it's a little light on the violence factor. Jill Ireland plays the first lady, who has quite a mean streak to her in the film, her snobby attitude makes quite a pairing for her and Bronson's character. There are some comical moments here and there throughout the film, Bronson has more dialogue than usual which is nice, he adds a little rare touch of comic relief althroughout the film. I would recommend this movie to any Bronson fan, it's not Paul Kersey, but Jay Killian isn't too bad either.

Assassination (1987)

** (out of 4)

Charles Bronson fans are the only ones who should even attempt to make it through this outrageously stupid film from Cannon. Bronson plays a Secret Service agent who ends up having to guard an ultra-snotty First Lady (Jill Ireland) and soon enough a group of hit men are after her. I'll never accuse any Cannon/Bronson movie of being high art but of all the films they made together this one here has to be the dumbest. In fact, I might go even further and call this the dumbest action movie of the decade and that reason alone almost makes this turkey worth sitting through. As a Bronson fan I must admit that I can just about sit through anything that he's in but my patience are really tested here but thankfully the film reaches a "so bad it's entertaining" level. There are about fifteen major illogical points that could be thrown at this film but that would take way too much effort to write out and I'm sure most people could write a book worth of dumb things that the characters do here. I must admit it's rather funny seeing a Secret Service agent and the First Lady jump from one cheap motel to another and going from one small town to the next and it never really being clear why they don't just have more security with them. There are countless times you'll be scratching your head as to why the agent just keeps the First Lady in constant danger but I doubt the screenwriters were really worried about logical points as their main concern was getting to the next item to blow up. The action scenes here are pretty weak and campy as is the PG-rated violence. I've heard this wasn't originally meant for Bronson but he took it just so he could be in another film with his wife (this would be their last together). The two are charming enough together even though it's pretty clear neither are giving it their all. The supporting players don't fair much better but I doubt anyone will be tuning in to see them. If you're not a fan of Bronson then it's best you stay far away from this unless you just like corny action pictures.

"Assassination" is an okay way to kill an hour and a half. There are pieces of a good movie scattered here and there but overall it's not that good. It's lack of budget kills this movie. There some good scenes with Charles Bronson and the rest of the cast. It's the action scenes that fall flat. The villains are pretty flat too. "Assassination" isn't one of Charles Bronson's best movies, not even close, but it's not one of his worst either.