CRAIG R. BAXLEY

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BB.5

USA, 1988.  Lorimar Film Entertainment, Silver Pictures.  Screenplay by Robert Reneau.  Cinematography by Matthew F. Leonetti.  Produced by Joel Silver.  Music by Herbie Hancock, Michael Kamen.  Production Design by Virginia L. Randolph.  Costume Design by Marilyn Vance.  Film Editing by Mark Helfrich.  

Mundane, routine thriller features a great lead character mired in a simple storyline. Carl Weathers is terrific as the title hero, a tough Detroit cop who discovers that an automobile emperor (Craig T. Nelson) is resorting to the nastiest techniques to eliminate his own competition (namely, murder). When Weathers ends up unfairly implicated in a murder thanks to Nelson’s scheming, he decides to go after him with a furious vengeance. Vanity is weak as a drug-addict who turns out to be helpful in bringing the bad guy to justice, while also winning the hero’s heart. Sharon Stone also appears as the bad guy’s well-intentioned wife. Don’t expect too much.