IMDb > McBain (1991)

Overview

User Rating:
4.3/10   544 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
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Director:
James Glickenhaus
Writer:
James Glickenhaus (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for McBain on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
20 September 1991 (USA) more
Genre:
Action | Drama more
Tagline:
Taking on the drug lords is impossible. Taking on a country is insane. more
Plot:
Santos attempts to lead a people's revolt in Colombia to overthrow the oppressive El Presidente. When his revolt fails and he is killed... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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User Comments:
Maria, my mighty heart is breaking… I'll be in the HumVee. more (18 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Michael Joseph DeSare ... Major Tenny

Chick Vennera ... Santos

Michael Ironside ... Frank Bruce

Steve James ... Eastland

Jay Patterson ... Dr. Dalton

Christopher Walken ... McBain
Craig Walter Judd ... Screaming P.O.W.
David Pegram ... Armodo
Dinah Dominguez ... Rebel Hooker #1
Jedd Malgaso ... Rebel Hooker #2
Joel Torre ... Chauffeur
Luv Adele Gaerlan ... Wounded Girl

Maria Conchita Alonso ... Christina
Zenaida Amador ... Teresa
Tony Tacorda ... Palace Guard
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
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Runtime:
107 min | Germany:99 min | UK:103 min | USA:102 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (TVC)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Singapore:NC-16 | Iceland:16 | Germany:18 | USA:R | UK:15
Filming Locations:
Philippines more
Company:
Marble Hall more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Although the Simpsons character of McBain predates this film, "The Simpsons" (1989) were forced to drop the character's name for a number of years, due to difficulties created by the release of an action film called "McBain". The Simpsons kept the character in the show, but referred to him by his "actual" name, Rainer Wolfcastle, until the difficulties with the film "McBain" passed. more
Quotes:
Christina: The Berlin wall came down in two weeks - I know it can be done. more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
Maria, my mighty heart is breaking… I'll be in the HumVee., 26 July 2009
8/10
Author: Coventry from the Draconian Swamp of Unholy Souls

Ah, McBain… The character name is immortalized and forever ridiculed by "The Simpsons" but it will also always – to me personally, at least – remain the name and title of a tremendously entertaining and outrageously violent early 90's action flick; directed by the cool dude who brought us "The Exterminator" and starring two of the most ultimately badass B-movie heroes Christopher Walken and Michael Ironside (the latter with a cute little macho ponytail). I guess "McBain" will largely have to be labeled as a guilty pleasure, because there's no way I can convince anyone this is an intellectual motion picture. The film is unimaginably preposterous (most action heroes take on a small gangster posse … McBain takes on an entire country) and yet takes itself way too seriously. The script is a non-stop and incoherent spitfire of clichéd situations, nonsensical twists, compulsory sentimental interludes, grotesquely staged action sequences and utterly implausible character drawings. It's a totally delirious movie; I loved it.

Vietnam POW McBain's life is saved by fellow soldier Roberto Santos on the very last day of the war. They each keep half a dollar note as a symbol that McBain is in Santos' debt. Eighteen years later, Santos is a spirited rebel leading the revolution against the corrupt president of his home country Columbia. Santos initial attempt to take over the power fails and he's publicly executed on El Presidente's balcony. His sister travels to New York with the dollar note and turns to McBain for financial assistance and manpower. McBain and his former Vietnam buddies, who all coincidentally happen to be fed up with the injustice in this world, charter themselves a miserable little plane and fly to Columbia to open a gigantic can of whoop-ass.

Okay, let's not fool each other here. The fact you're reading a user- comment on "McBain" already indicates that you have some sort of interest for low-budget B-movie action. One of my fellow reviewers spent quite some time composing a list containing all the main stupidities and insensible moments of "McBain". This list is totally accurate and I can only concur with it. Heck, I could even add some more senseless sequences to that list (like the preposterous and needless heroic self- sacrifice of a soldier who doesn't even have any affinity with the goal of the mission and the rest of McBain's squad), but what's the point? You definitely know not to expect a 100% coherent and plausible masterpiece. We know from beforehand this will be a silly and exaggeratedly flamboyant movie, and it's maybe even the exact reason why we want to check it out! This is a terrifically outrageous and exciting movie about a bunch of former Vietnam buddies turning into mercenaries and declaring war against the corrupt Columbian president and the national drug cartel. Please don't expect another "Apocalypse Now". This particular motion picture relies on the ruff 'n tuff acting performances of the macho leads, a whole lot of explosions and gunfights and – last but not least – a fantastic soundtrack in which Joan Baez sings a cover of "Brothers in Arms".

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