“Behind Enemy Lines 2”
This direct-to-video sequel based on the Owen Wilson action film has about as much in common with the original as you’d expect: the title. Everything else is a serious step down in quality, including (but certainly not limited to) one of the worst male leads in the business. The premise actually feels a bit more “news worthy” this time around (about a possible North Korean-produced nuclear missile), but the execution is absolutely terrible.
“Taking You Higher”
Cedric the Entertainer sure has a lot of explaining to do. His first HBO special hardly compares to his earlier (and shorter) stand-up work, let alone even resembles one. Is this a comedy act or a burlesque show? It certainly feels like the latter, especially with a total of four song & dance numbers breaking up the unimpressive selection of jokes. This is truly an upsetting performance from one of the self-proclaimed “kings of comedy.”
“Connors’ War”
Naughty By Nature’s Treach stars in this direct-to-video actioneer about a blind CIA agent who’s injected with an experimental drug that can…. Okay, stop right there. Have you heard enough about this schlockfest? Me too. Let’s move on.
“Fatal Contact: Bird Flu”
Using a worldwide viral outbreak as its backdrop, “Fatal Contact” attempts to scare its viewers into believing that this could happen in real life. Well, duh, of course it could. You could also get hit by a public transport bus on your way to work, but you don’t see movies called “Fatal Contact: Jaywalker Road Kill,” do ya? Cheap scare tactics only work on certain people, and well, they probably already saw this when it aired for the first and only time on cable television.
