Sure, it won't win any prizes for technical achievement or (especially) acting, but it is what it is: lively female-empowerment action entertainment for the drive-in crowd. If you watch this for the stars involved, be warned that some of them were hired basically just for their name value. Still, cult director Greydon Clark ("Without Warning", "Joysticks") keeps this silly diversion racing forward. Some viewers may know this flick for its being lampooned on 'Mystery Science Theater 3000', but the fact of the matter is that this was obviously meant to be played for laughs to begin with.
Playboy Playmate Susan Kiger plays Michelle Wilson, a successful singer whose kid brother is beaten up by "Sticks" (Clark regular Darby Hinton), a drug pusher. It takes Michelle no time to take a schoolteacher, April Thomas (the directors' wife, Jacqueline Cole), up on her offer to assist in destroying a processing plant used by dealers. Soon April and Michelle are recruiting other young women, including a stunt driver, Terry Grant (Sylvia Anderson), a martial artist, Kako Umaro (Lieu Chinh), a policewoman, Elaine Brenner (Robin Greer), and a model, Maria (Noela Velasco) to join in the fight against drug trafficking. Meanwhile, a student, Trish (Liza Greer), tries to tag along, wanting to be in on the action.
The ladies are lovely and fun to watch, no matter how seriously they may be lacking in acting ability. The veterans & guest stars are likewise thoroughly entertaining, including Jack Palance as a goon and Peter Lawford as the drug kingpin, Jim Backus as a member of a right wing militia, Neville Brand as Elaines' boss, Pat Buttram as a van salesman, and Alan Hale Jr. as Michelles' agent. Legendary TV & radio host Arthur Godfrey appears fleetingly as himself. Palances' son Cody has a small role as a young thug.
The movie is often uproariously silly, complete with goofy comedy bits like the one with Backus, and cartoon-like sound effects. The scene transitions are particularly amusing. And there's enough gunfire, explosions, and stunts going on to ensure that things never get boring.
Just go into this thing not expecting anything remotely resembling high art, be prepared not to exercise your brain too much, and get ready to laugh, and one *can* actually enjoy this.
Eight out of 10.
Playboy Playmate Susan Kiger plays Michelle Wilson, a successful singer whose kid brother is beaten up by "Sticks" (Clark regular Darby Hinton), a drug pusher. It takes Michelle no time to take a schoolteacher, April Thomas (the directors' wife, Jacqueline Cole), up on her offer to assist in destroying a processing plant used by dealers. Soon April and Michelle are recruiting other young women, including a stunt driver, Terry Grant (Sylvia Anderson), a martial artist, Kako Umaro (Lieu Chinh), a policewoman, Elaine Brenner (Robin Greer), and a model, Maria (Noela Velasco) to join in the fight against drug trafficking. Meanwhile, a student, Trish (Liza Greer), tries to tag along, wanting to be in on the action.
The ladies are lovely and fun to watch, no matter how seriously they may be lacking in acting ability. The veterans & guest stars are likewise thoroughly entertaining, including Jack Palance as a goon and Peter Lawford as the drug kingpin, Jim Backus as a member of a right wing militia, Neville Brand as Elaines' boss, Pat Buttram as a van salesman, and Alan Hale Jr. as Michelles' agent. Legendary TV & radio host Arthur Godfrey appears fleetingly as himself. Palances' son Cody has a small role as a young thug.
The movie is often uproariously silly, complete with goofy comedy bits like the one with Backus, and cartoon-like sound effects. The scene transitions are particularly amusing. And there's enough gunfire, explosions, and stunts going on to ensure that things never get boring.
Just go into this thing not expecting anything remotely resembling high art, be prepared not to exercise your brain too much, and get ready to laugh, and one *can* actually enjoy this.
Eight out of 10.