Second in Command (2006)

The new military attache is also second in command at the US embassy in "Moldavia". The loser at the recent presidential election isn't letting that stop him. The president seeks protection at the US embassy bringing it under attack.

Director:

Simon Fellows

Writers:

Jonathan Bowers (screenplay), David L. Corley (screenplay) (as David Corley)

Stars:

Jean-Claude Van Damme, Julie Cox, Alan McKenna

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean-Claude Van Damme	...	Cmdr. Sam Keenan
Julie Cox	...	Michelle Whitman
Alan McKenna	...	Cpt. John Baldwin
Razaaq Adoti	...	Sgt. Earl 'Gunny' Darnell
Velibor Topic	...	Anton Tavarov
William Tapley	...	Frank Gaines
Warren Derosa	...	Mike Shustec
Ian Virgo	...	Cpl. Will Butler
Raffaello Degruttola	...	PFC Zanger
Serban Celea	...	President Yuri Amirev
Vlad Ivanov	...	RSO John Lydon
Emanuel Parvu	...	Cpl. Chevanton
Razvan Oprea	...	PFC Devereaux
Mihai Bisericanu	...	Marshall Geller
Elizabeth Barondes	...	Jennifer Lennard

Storyline

Jean Claude plays an official who's just been appointed as Second In Command to the U.S.Ambassador at an American Embassy in a small, turbulent Eastern European nation. When local insurgents attempt a coup d'etat, the nation's President takes refuge inside the embassy. The embassy is then besieged by the well-armed insurgents. The U.S. Ambassador is killed in the ensuing action, and it's now up to Jean-Claude and the embassy's small detachment of U.S. Marines to fend off the attackers.

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Plot Keywords:

embassy | martial arts | exploding truck | exploding car | exploding bus | 

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Taglines:

It's time to take charge!

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Genres:

Action | Thriller | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and some language

Details

Country:

UK Romania

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 May 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Defteros stin ierarhia

Filming Locations:

Romania

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA), Castel Film Romania, Clubdeal

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

By an odd coincidence, the scenes in which PFCs Zanger and Pazzini plant and detonate a number of package bombs around the neighborhood to distract the insurgents from the US Embassy was filmed on 07 July 2005, the date of the terrorist bombings in London, with the SFX explosions taking place almost to the exact hour of those in the UK. The largely British crew of the film learned of the attacks shortly after during their lunch break, and filming was suspended for the remainder of the day.

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Goofs

The Moldavian army is said to be in the mountains, some 5 hours away from the capital. Moldavia has no mountains, the highest point being the Balanesti Hill at 430 m (1.410 ft)

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Connections

Referenced in Bad Movie Beatdown: Half Past Dead 2 (2011)

User Reviews

Another best direct-to-video Jean-Claude Van Damme political action war flick

Yes another best direct-to-video Jean-Claude Van Damme political action war flick. Another solid decent excellent performance from Jean-Claude Van Damme I really, really love the film a lot. I know a lot of people don't like this film, they more prefer "Wake of Death" I understand them I like Wake of Death but Second in Command is in my top 5 favorites direct to video movies from Van Damme he dis. Replicant, The Order, Enemies Closer, In Hell and this one I love, they are in my top 5 movies from direct-to-video Van Damme he has done.

I am a huge number 1 Jean-Claude Van Damme fan to death I love the guy I grew up with his movies. He is an animal lover like me and I also love dogs to death. Van Damme has 9 dogs and a kitty he is really a nice guy. I like these kind of characters Van Damme plays. Cmdr. Samuel Keenan I like his character a lot Van Damme also uses spin kicks. He plays a Navy Seal just like Seagal did he played Navy Seal in Under Siege but Van Damme played this role more convincing than Seagal. This movie to me is MILES way better than Legionnaire and Street Fighter those movies were also war films in which Van Damme did. Second in Command was more convincing too me more action packed. I like Julie Cox in this movie she is more convincing and I love that she is Van Damme's love interest and the movie has a happy ending.

The movie is about a group of U.S. Marines in U.S. embassy Eastern European nation of Moldova. U.S. Marines has to protect Moldova's President Yuri Amirev (Serban Celea) from Militia under lead by Anton Tavarov (Velibor Topic) who want's to kill Amirev at any cost and takes the power over his country. Only Commander Samuel Keenan a decorated U.S. Navy SEAL who becomes deputy ambassador "Second in Command" stands on his way. The movie is a politic action war in which the U.S. Embassy is under fire and under siege. Militia want's at any cost torn American Marines apart. Civilian people try to escape with the bus with the evacuation but the bomb explodes.

Jean-Claude Van Damme show's one of his martial arts. I love the finale fight between Van Damme and Tavarov. They are in the tunnels under ground of Embassy people trying to escape and the Militia is hunting them. Van Damme uses Beretta 92FS I really like that in the film. There is a lot of fire power in here from the Militia and American Marines. Van Damme did a convincing job playing his character than Steven Seagal did. Simon Fellows did a competent job directing the film and I really thought he did a great job directing the film.

Steven Seagal's Mercenary for Justice come out the same year on direct-to-video as this movie come out and Second in Command was miles way better movie too me than Mercenary for Justice. Jean-Claude Van Damme is a better action star than Steven Seagal ever will be.

Second in Command is a solid action packed political direct-to-video flick mixed with war from Jean-Claude Van Damme. I always loved the film, it think it is Van Damme's best direct-to-video film.