T.N.T. (1997) User Reviews

Cynical B-Movie Star Slumming (or thinking he was) in a C-Movie

[JFrawley032759 · 3/10 · 27 October 2006]

Olivier Gruner doesn't disappoint too much. He's shown better moves elsewhere, and no one expects great acting from him, but he still delivers an adequate performance. The real problem is with the one-dimensional performance of Eric Roberts. I wonder how many hours he was even on the set! It is disappointing to see a performer in a movie taking it even less seriously than do the viewers. Perhaps I am giving him too much credit: Maybe he is really a C-Movie denizen of this appallingly low quality. Randy Travis comes reasonably close to making his poorly written character believable, but the movie wouldn't have been particularly different without him (and his accent isn't exactly typical for Colorado sheriffs, either).

It's just disappointing when the worst performance in an unambitious action movie comes from a supposedly competent big name, and the best from a martial artist for whom English is a second (or third, for all I know) language.

It needed a bit more oomph to really make itself stand out from the pack.

[tarbosh22000 · 4/10 · 20 August 2021]

Alex Cheval (Gruner) is a member of TNT, or the Tactical Neutralization Squad. They're a group of Iraq War vets who are sent around the world to deal with sensitive issues that require them to beat up and shoot people. When one of the ops goes horribly wrong, Alex walks away from the group. Now known as an average guy named Mark, he gets a job as an aerobics instructor in a small town in Colorado. He's buddies with the local sheriff, Jim (Travis), and is in a relationship with Jamie (Staab), who has a daughter from a previous marriage (Blair).

Unfortunately for Alex/Mark, his new, idyllic life is about to be shattered. His former compatriots in TNT now work for an evil mastermind named Robert Victor Russo (Roberts), and because Russo doesn't want any loose ends, he turns loose the former TNT boys on Alex. Alex is then put in the position where he has to take on his former comrades-in-arms, highly-trained elite soldiers who want him dead at all costs. They include, but are not limited to, Greel (Jones), Basu (Olandt), and Choi (Rhee). Will Alex Cheval be able to protect his new family and his new life from the assailants formerly known as TNT?

From looking at the cover for TNT, which features a solo, shirtless Gruner, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was a Punchfighter. Surprisingly, it's actually not. It's more your standard 90's DTV actioner that starts off like one of those boring "war slog" movies, but transitions to a better scenario where the baddies are trying to get Gruner as he lives his suburban life.

Sure, there's a certain moment that's highly reminiscent of The Specialist (1994), but there's one thing TNT has that The Specialist does not have: Randy Travis. It was an inspired casting choice, and his speaking voice is as comforting and soothing as his singing voice. Because TNT features a very Radical Jack-esque barfight, we're graced with the presence of a country singer, and it features a former elite soldier trying to start a new life in suburbia, not to mention the similar overall feel, it was hard not to make comparisons to 'Jack.

The barfight takes place at an establishment classily named Bullwinkle's. The daughter character in the movie mentions how they have a rockin' jukebox. One of the toughs Gruner beats up is Kane Hodder, who gets to show off a bit of humor, which is rare to see from him. On top of Bullwinkle's, the name of the gym where Alex works is The Penitentiary. So obviously the business owners in that particular small town have good senses of humor.

While there are plenty of B-Movie names on display, we wouldn't classify this as "Lone Tiger Effect" because TNT isn't bad, it's just a bit too bland for its own good. Eric Roberts, sporting a stylish beard, is just another cast member along with the rest. He doesn't get any particular time in the sun here.

Director Radler, known for Best of the Best (1989), Best of the Best II (1993), Showdown (1993), and The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option (2001), delivers enough of the action goods so that TNT would find itself on video store shelves and in the cable listings. It doesn't exactly go "above and beyond the call of duty" to entertain us, but it does the minimum and features some of the silly moments we all love.

In the end, TNT is okay, all right, and fine, but it needed a bit more oomph to really make itself stand out from the pack.

A time-waster

[Leofwine_draca · 4/10 · 2 September 2019]

T.N.T. is a typical B-movie vehicle for Olivier Gruner, neither the best nor the worst of his work. The plot is largely passable, with our hero a special forces soldier who finds himself betrayed by those in power, but there's a real skimping when it comes to decent action and the long stretches between the fights just never seem to go anywhere. The only time Gruner gets to show off his skills is in the usual bar room brawl and at the climax, which has a few good moments. The rest is merely unremarkable, a time-waster at best. Eric Roberts seems to relish every second of his 5-minute cameo, though.

Turkey Shoot...#5

[fmarkland32 · 2/10 · 4 December 2006]

Olivier Gruner (Finally I can go back to reviewing other movies, since this wraps up my turkey binge)stars as a gym instructor who's past jumps out of the bushes and bites him in the ass. (Or as Randy Travis puts it) It seems that Gruner is part of a unit called TNT (this is one of the film's better ideas) and after the senseless murder of a woman and child, Olivier gets sad and runs away from the unit. Eric Roberts and Sam "Flash Gordon" Jones are the guys who want to take him on. Helmed by Robert Radler, TNT fails miserably as a generic stupid actioner, the movie is mercilessly boring for it's first half only to be undeniably hilarious it's second half. The climax is alone worth it for fans of camp because Gruner and Jones duke it out in what amounts to the world's most ridiculous climax. Acting-wise, Randy Travis probably gives the best performance, giving an adequate tough guy role, despite not having enough screen time. Eric Roberts and Sam J. Jones on the other hand seem totally embarrassed, as they should be. Gruner is as usual dependably bad, with awkward acting so reprehensible it makes you cringe. Indeed watching Olivier Gruner interact with Rebecca Staab (Who plays Olivier's girlfriend) is truly as bad as it gets. The fight sequences would be okay, if not for the god-awful directing and basically it becomes quite obvious that this was a quick shoot. Indeed Radler rebounded with the far more enjoyable Substitute 4:Failure Is Not An Option, although that one is no great shakes, at least it doesn't have Olivier Gruner trying to talk all lovey-dovey with his co-star. Then again though, nobody gets hit by a truck in Substitute 4...

* out of 4-(Bad)

I'm sad to say i own this

[tothextreme2099 · 1/10 · 14 March 2003]

Yes, I own this but at least I didn't pay much, 'cause it was used. Anyway, this film is boring, Oliver's accent is annoying and he puts on that " I don't want to fight you", good guy act, that Van Damme used to put on in the eighties- if you dont know what I mean, watch the film, I mean B movie cause this is in no way a "film"!

Strangely hypnotizing awful movie

[movieman_kev · 4/10 · 23 May 2012]

Olivier Gruner stars as Alex, a member of the Tactical Neutralization Team, who doesn't seem to have his heart in death-defying espionage anymore. So after one last mission which goes fubar, he decides it's time to hang up his black camos and call it a day. Oh if only it were so easy. But then we wouldn't have a movie I guess. Anyways His commander doesn't like Alex's decision one iota (well it doesn't help that his blabbing too) and thus sends one of his former colleges to off him. Starring Randy Travis as the local ineffectual police sheriff.

The opening scenes with Gruner in his team are OK in a bad action B-movie sorta way, but once the film moves onto Alex's new life, the film which was only tenaciously entertains falls apart exponentially. However it still has a strange hypnotizing effect on the hapless viewer that I couldn't really put my finger on, much less explain,

My Grade: D+

Where I Saw It: The Movie Channel Xtra

Screenplay was written by children

[wannabefilmnerd · 1/10 · 12 March 2005]

This is one of the worst movies I've seen in a long time. I believe everyone involved in its production was cynically motivated by greed and hubris, and possibly large quantities of pharmaceuticals. There was not enough sex in this to elevate it to the level of a "3" or "4" rating out of 10 possible. Further evidence that centipedes will outlast us.

IMDb requires that I write 10 lines of text. What further commentary could possibly illuminate you as to the childish and silly nature of this movie? Escape now while you have the chance. I like escapism and "bad" movies if they have some qualities worthy of redemption. All I can say about this one is that the bad girl whose large boobies dangle in the exercise sequence was sexy in a very dirty way. And then she was gone.

So will we all be. Let this not be the legacy of the human species.

Ick

[FitzBubb · 2/10 · 18 February 2006]

The only reason it didn't get a 1 out of 10 is because you get to see Randy Travis do about a minute's worth of trick gun handling.

The plot was completely expected, you can see every dumb move that someone's going to make at least a minute or two before they make it, and you're left with this horrible feeling that you've wasted time that could have been spent...well, sleeping, if nothing else.

Who do I see about getting the 90 minutes or so of my life back? I watched it for "free" on a cable movie channel. I would have been very unhappy if I had paid money for it.

If you haven't started watching it yet, don't. If you already did, yes, I know. You feel used and stupid. You're not alone, if that's any comfort to you.

Not that great but pretty fun to watch

[roth81 · 6/10 · 5 October 2013]

Olivier Gruner stars as Alex, who is a member of the Tactical Neutralization Team. Former soldiers now working for Eric Roberts who finances this team out to do his bidding. After Alex is betrayed by the team and accidentally kills a child he leaves the group and starts a new life in Colorado. Randy Travis plays the town sheriff where Alex has started a new life. The TNT team has now targeted to take out Alex and anyone with him.

The movie is an action movie with no good acting. The best acting comes from Gruner, shame on the rest of the cast. The fight-scenes are great, as you might aspect from Gruner!

The action and fighting from especially Gruner makes this a fun and watchable movie!

TNT (1998)

[Pat-88 · 24 June 1999]

I can't believe, I've sat down and watched this movie from beginning to end. What was I thinking? This movie is badly done. And the plot is bad. Ohhhh wait... I forgot there wasn't any plot.

Crap like this doesn't deserve to be watched.

No Stars

Skip It.

[mr_pivac1985 · 7 March 2003]

ok I know most of the movies I comment on are B-Grade ones, but this one tops them all, what a shocker of a film this is, I mean its so bad its was funny. don't go anywere near this film, it sux.

0/10

camp

[ollio · 24 May 2001]

this movie goes to one of those that are so dumb that they become good, it's not boring but the acting, screenplay and fight scenes are so horribly poor executed that it becomes good. These movies actually are funnier than most comedies, but if you are looking for Eric Roberts in this movie don't be disappointed because he only has like two minutes of screen time.

could'a been worse

[charter · 27 October 1998]

Pretty bad, but almost worth the price of admission to see Oliver Gruner act playful and frisky. Also notable for casting Randy Travis as the sheriff of a small Colorado town -- Officer Barbrady wants his uniform back, Randy!

See my external review for more details.