Name: Retro Film Review: The Demolitionist (1995)
Item: The Demolitionist
Rating: 15
Author: @drax

(source: tmdb.org)

Every now and then a film reviewer must act like a detective and ask the question: "What is wrong with this picture?" In the case of The Demolitionist, 1995 science fiction thriller directed by Robert Kurtzman, the author of this review has noticed something odd - certain anatomical details of the actress playing the title role were different than those seen in one of her previous film. The plot, on the other hand, was more familiar. It was set in crime-infested near future megalopolis, where policewoman Alyssa Lloyd (played by Nicole Eggert) tracked the evil gang leader Mad Dog Burns (played by Richard Greico). Mad Dog had Lloyd captured and brutally killed, but her body is later used by cold-hearted Professor Jack Crowley (played by Bruce Abbott) in his nano-technology experiments. Crowley's nano-machines prevent the dying of tissue and Alyssa is brought back to life. Mayor Eleanor Grimbaum (played by Susan Tyrell) must do something about crime before the upcoming elections, so she uses Alyssa, equipped with superior strength and training, as a new crime-fighting machine, nick named The Demolitionist. However, The Demolitionist's crime-fighting triumphs soon become overshadowed by identity crisis.

Nicole Eggert's breasts in The Demolitionist are significantly larger than in Blown Away, film made few years ealier. In the meantime Eggert starred in Baywatch, and her plastic surgery, although understandable in the context of popular TV show, has in this particular case killed any chance for suspension of disbelief. After that, the viewer is going to be painfully aware of the film's low budget and even lower creative potential of its makers. The script is the shameless rip-off of RoboCop and it looks like it was originally being developed as a parody. Unfortunately, director Robert Kurtzmann (best known as a make-up artists in many science fiction and horror films) and the rest of cast and crew take the script seriously, Nicole Eggert included. Richard Greico is the only one who seems to be aware of the film's comical potential, so he provides a great fun parodying Kurtwood Smith's character from the Verhoeven's 1987 classic. His efforts, however, aren't enough to significantly improve the general impression of The Demolitionist. Too many things were wrong in this picture for it to be worth watching.

RATING: 3/10 (+)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews on January 27th 2003)