Some reviewers have noted the mix of comedy, action and adventure in "High Risk." That says it all for the score I can give the film. The plot and premise carry such close resemblance to some other films of the drug-running and underworld genre, that one can't help making comparisons. Not serious ones, mind you, but things that just come to mind based on the very serious side of the drug underworld that other films have shown us ("Scarface," for example).
I wonder why this film was made at all, except that it might have been a late showcase for a bunch of very talented actors in their senior years. And, except for one, these are mostly cameo-like appearances. Ernest Borgnine, James Coburn and Anthony Quinn are good in their roles – the latter with more screen time. Yet, even the roles they play, as written in the script for this film, are just not very believable.
The main four characters, headed by James Brolin as Stone, are not that good. From start to finish the script plays out more like fantasy or sci-fi. That four unemployed guys, with no training, conditioning or noticeable skills, could do what they set out to do was ridiculous. OK, so Hollywood realized that but wanted to make this funny. So, they start shooting and killing people. Whoops, there goes the funny. How could a millionaire drug lord in a South American country compound be taken so easily by what are obviously incompetent combatants? And, the further incompetence of the foursome is seen in their flight, sleeping in broad daylight with no one on watch, etc.
As I said, I don't know what the push or backing for this film must have been. If not for the small time of the big names in the cast, and just enough intrigue and disbelief in the mission, this film would have nothing at all going for it.
I wonder why this film was made at all, except that it might have been a late showcase for a bunch of very talented actors in their senior years. And, except for one, these are mostly cameo-like appearances. Ernest Borgnine, James Coburn and Anthony Quinn are good in their roles – the latter with more screen time. Yet, even the roles they play, as written in the script for this film, are just not very believable.
The main four characters, headed by James Brolin as Stone, are not that good. From start to finish the script plays out more like fantasy or sci-fi. That four unemployed guys, with no training, conditioning or noticeable skills, could do what they set out to do was ridiculous. OK, so Hollywood realized that but wanted to make this funny. So, they start shooting and killing people. Whoops, there goes the funny. How could a millionaire drug lord in a South American country compound be taken so easily by what are obviously incompetent combatants? And, the further incompetence of the foursome is seen in their flight, sleeping in broad daylight with no one on watch, etc.
As I said, I don't know what the push or backing for this film must have been. If not for the small time of the big names in the cast, and just enough intrigue and disbelief in the mission, this film would have nothing at all going for it.