Universal Studios' 1440 Entertainment(their direct to video brand) has been digging into their 90s movies catalog recently, to see what they can milk for a quick name recognition buck(Hard Target 2, Kindergarten Cop 2, Backdraft 2, the American Pie spinoffs, etc). Now they've plucked out Jean-Claude Van Damme's 'Sudden Death' to give us 'Welcome to Sudden Death' starring Michael Jai White. 'Welcome..' is definitely not a sequel, but more of a remake. A very poorly made remake.
Michael Jai White has an undeniable charisma and charm about him. Kind of like Will Smith, in the way he is still a joy to watch, even if the movie surrounding him is not good. This movie is not good. Let's start with how rushed it feels. The running time is a bare 1 hour and 20 minutes(with Credits!). Short run times don't necessarily make a movie bad, but when the pacing is uneven it can make a bad short movie seem like forever.
Let's talk about the bad: clunky dialogue combined with bad or uninspired acting, horrible main villain(there's a henchman in the movie that would've been way better. we'll get to him in a few), poor editing, especially during most of the fight scenes. The overall feeling of suspense is missing because it just had no time to build.
The good: Michael...Jai...White. He almost single-handedly saves this movie from being downright terrible. I say almost because remember the aforementioned henchman that I said would've been a better main villain? He is played by Marrese Crump, and he and White have the best scene in the movie in the form of a fight scene. What a missed opportunity to have had him as the big baddie.
The direct to video market is a tricky one. Michael Jai White has some gems in the category(Undisputed II, Blood, and Bone, Falcon Rising, etc). But he also has a few clunkers(Android Cop, Undercover Brother 2, etc). Unfortunately 'Welcome to Sudden Death' belongs in the clunker section. But If you're curious to take a peak, it is on Netflix. I will say this, it was pretty cool seeing White and his real-life wife(Gillian White) have a fight scene against each other.
Michael Jai White has an undeniable charisma and charm about him. Kind of like Will Smith, in the way he is still a joy to watch, even if the movie surrounding him is not good. This movie is not good. Let's start with how rushed it feels. The running time is a bare 1 hour and 20 minutes(with Credits!). Short run times don't necessarily make a movie bad, but when the pacing is uneven it can make a bad short movie seem like forever.
Let's talk about the bad: clunky dialogue combined with bad or uninspired acting, horrible main villain(there's a henchman in the movie that would've been way better. we'll get to him in a few), poor editing, especially during most of the fight scenes. The overall feeling of suspense is missing because it just had no time to build.
The good: Michael...Jai...White. He almost single-handedly saves this movie from being downright terrible. I say almost because remember the aforementioned henchman that I said would've been a better main villain? He is played by Marrese Crump, and he and White have the best scene in the movie in the form of a fight scene. What a missed opportunity to have had him as the big baddie.
The direct to video market is a tricky one. Michael Jai White has some gems in the category(Undisputed II, Blood, and Bone, Falcon Rising, etc). But he also has a few clunkers(Android Cop, Undercover Brother 2, etc). Unfortunately 'Welcome to Sudden Death' belongs in the clunker section. But If you're curious to take a peak, it is on Netflix. I will say this, it was pretty cool seeing White and his real-life wife(Gillian White) have a fight scene against each other.
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