Carl Weathers has great acting talent where the rest of the cast was lacking. Character building was good but the story line felt stretched thin as in they could cut out a lot of dull areas. The movie is a Crime thriller, light on the thrill. However I noticed that there is a Tv show related to this movie and wonder if this movie premiered on TV in that case my rating is a little light.
3 Reviews
Don't run from this great 'Dane!
tarbosh2200028 September 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Det. Fortune Dane (Weathers) is a hotshot on the Washington D.C. beat. He's a former pro football player that decides to go into law enforcement. When an assassin named Warlock opens fire on everyone in an illegal gambling house with a machine gun, he didn't count on one thing: FORTUNE DANE! Dane is especially mad because Warlock murdered his midget friend Augie. Unfortunately Dane was on the premises when it happened, questioning the pit boss of the gambling house, who claims the mastermind of it all, who Warlock works for, Dexter, tried to involve him in a point-shaving scandal.
Meanwhile, in the midst of the investigation, Dane develops a relationship with big-haired D.A. Steiner (Alberta Watson). On top of all that, there is a very dramatic showdown between Dane and his elderly father. Dane was adopted and became an overachiever in order to please his father, a bank owner. Dad got in some trouble because he wouldn't accept illegal bailout money. How relevant to today.
Dane gets a suspension from the case because Internal Affairs is on his back. He ends up in "Bay City" where the Warlock chase continues. The Bay City cops don't believe he's a cop at first (probably because he's so smooth) but let him go on his merry way because they really want to take down Warlock and Dexter. What will happen next? It seems Fortune Dane was a short-lived TV series, and Vidmark video released "parts I & II" on VHS. Apparently there are five episodes, which makes sense because the tape ends with some unanswered questions! The intro is worth watching because it repeats the words "FORTUNE DANE" over and over again while Carl Weathers works out and gets dressed. Something for the ladies. It's pretty funny. It looks like an 80's workout video more than anything. Hey, it's a great name. It's funny when his young nephew, in a high, squeaky voice says "Hi Fortune!" They say the name a lot, but why not? It's fun to say.
Weathers is charming and likable as Dane. Apparently he was involved behind the scenes because Fortune Dane is a "Stormy Weathers" production. He wears a different stylish outfit in every scene. This is, in retrospect, a precursor to Action Jackson (1988).
A highlight is the sax-blaring soundtrack. Not to fear, the jazz is as smooth as Fortune himself. Practically after every scene, there is a quiet storm. Mellow.
A TV show cut down before its time, I tell ya. The question isn't why Vidmark released it, but why they only released part of it. While it isn't extreme in one direction or another and there are some run-of-the-mill moments, if you ever run across it, don't run from this great 'Dane.
For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com
Meanwhile, in the midst of the investigation, Dane develops a relationship with big-haired D.A. Steiner (Alberta Watson). On top of all that, there is a very dramatic showdown between Dane and his elderly father. Dane was adopted and became an overachiever in order to please his father, a bank owner. Dad got in some trouble because he wouldn't accept illegal bailout money. How relevant to today.
Dane gets a suspension from the case because Internal Affairs is on his back. He ends up in "Bay City" where the Warlock chase continues. The Bay City cops don't believe he's a cop at first (probably because he's so smooth) but let him go on his merry way because they really want to take down Warlock and Dexter. What will happen next? It seems Fortune Dane was a short-lived TV series, and Vidmark video released "parts I & II" on VHS. Apparently there are five episodes, which makes sense because the tape ends with some unanswered questions! The intro is worth watching because it repeats the words "FORTUNE DANE" over and over again while Carl Weathers works out and gets dressed. Something for the ladies. It's pretty funny. It looks like an 80's workout video more than anything. Hey, it's a great name. It's funny when his young nephew, in a high, squeaky voice says "Hi Fortune!" They say the name a lot, but why not? It's fun to say.
Weathers is charming and likable as Dane. Apparently he was involved behind the scenes because Fortune Dane is a "Stormy Weathers" production. He wears a different stylish outfit in every scene. This is, in retrospect, a precursor to Action Jackson (1988).
A highlight is the sax-blaring soundtrack. Not to fear, the jazz is as smooth as Fortune himself. Practically after every scene, there is a quiet storm. Mellow.
A TV show cut down before its time, I tell ya. The question isn't why Vidmark released it, but why they only released part of it. While it isn't extreme in one direction or another and there are some run-of-the-mill moments, if you ever run across it, don't run from this great 'Dane.
For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com
Nothing too special, but not bad
VacuousVast2 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I liked watching Fortune Dane, from the pilot movie all the way to the last episode. Although as a previous reviewer pointed out, a lot of the cast is really lacking and are unable to keep up with Weathers sometimes. I liked the character of Fortune and the conflicts he got into, especially concerning the revelation with his father and his resolve to go after Warlock in Bay City.
While it was nothing great, the chemistry between Weathers, Ashbrook, and Dallesandro was decent, they work well as partners for the mayor. And that theme song, to me that's the most memorable part of this series, the amazing jazz theme that plays everywhere, it's just mesmerizing. Though the show itself is nothing groundbreaking, rather episodic and it's nothing special compared to other crime dramas that came out around the same time. It's not that it's bad, there were just some dull parts. Sadly the series would get cancelled due to the poor time slot it was put in, as well as ratings. Maybe if it had been able to continue, it could have been better and gotten an audience, but oh well.
While it was nothing great, the chemistry between Weathers, Ashbrook, and Dallesandro was decent, they work well as partners for the mayor. And that theme song, to me that's the most memorable part of this series, the amazing jazz theme that plays everywhere, it's just mesmerizing. Though the show itself is nothing groundbreaking, rather episodic and it's nothing special compared to other crime dramas that came out around the same time. It's not that it's bad, there were just some dull parts. Sadly the series would get cancelled due to the poor time slot it was put in, as well as ratings. Maybe if it had been able to continue, it could have been better and gotten an audience, but oh well.
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