(1990)
1.5
Jeremy Wheeler
When a movie comes around about an ex-Soviet spy who shoots lasers out of his eyes, and that same film is called Firehead, it's already a video rack classic. The movie itself is kind of a stinker, but this being an API release (known for their extreme movie previews), you're guaranteed enough explosions and flaming cars to satisfy even the most carnal straight-to-video action lover's appetite. In fact, with its brisk pace and narrative that drops you right in the middle of the action, Firehead actually doesn't seem that bad when compared to most cheapo genre blow-'em-ups out there. Plus with heavyweights Martin Landau and Christopher Plummer happily slumming it up with the rest of the production, who can complain? Leading an international evil group of four guys with moustaches called The Upper Order, Plummer actually turns the schlocky script's bad guy into quite a wicked little villain when it's all said and done (the "Parabolic Phase Shifter" scene possibly being one of the most outrageous of his career). Unfortunately, you still have to deal with Jack Lemmon's son, Chris, hamming it up all over the place, but let's face it, bad jokes are what drives these suckers when the action's not around, so there's really no room to complain there. Next time you're in the mood for some good cheese in your video diet, check out Firehead -- it won't change your life, but at least you can say you've seen it.
Firehead on AllMovie
Firehead (1990)
