This Under-Seen Exploitation Film Is The Best ‘Die Hard’ Clone You’ve Never Seen
I love a good action flick. I really dig B-movie icon Cynthia Rothrock. And I have a major soft spot for the made-for-TV movies of years past. On that basis, I have nothing but love for Kevin Hooks’ Irresistible Force. This 1993 actioner doesn’t get everything right. But considering the budgetary and creative constraints imposed upon a telefilm, I think this flick works far better than it should. I’m sure Irresistible Force won’t be for everyone. But if you share my appreciation for Rothrock’s killer martial arts skills and cheesy action cinema, you will likely have a great time with this one.
The setup goes like this: Harris Stone (Stacy Keach) is a grumpy cop contemplating retirement. He has taken a bullet in the line of duty and wants to ensure he’s alive to collect his pension when the time comes. After Harris discovers that woman officers are statistically less likely to draw their weapons than their male counterparts and often value negotiation over hand-to-hand combat he asks to be reassigned. Harris’ commanding officer acquiesces to his request and introduces him to Charlotte (Cynthia Rothrock), a cadet who shows great promise but narrowly misses out on graduating from the academy. Shortly after the two join forces, the pair happen upon a hostile takeover staged at the grand opening of a shopping mall. I pity the ruffians that trifle with Charlotte.
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Before I get to the film’s merits, allow me to say that Irresistible Force is representative of the time in which it was produced. Some of the humor is off-color and sexism is handled much differently than it would be today. With that said, Charlotte spends the majority of the film upending expectations, taking out heavily armed terrorists, and saving the day. I think the sexist attitudes of the male characters are meant to represent the problematic ideas regarding gender roles that were so commonplace during the era in which Irresistible Force was released. The aim here does not seem to be to reinforce antiquated ideas about gender, more so to upend them.
Though the delivery may not always be spot on, I get the distinct impression director Kevin Hooks and screenwriter Carleton Eastlake were aiming to provide greater representation for women in the action genre, a space that has historically been a boys’ club. One of the core takeaways from this film is that we must evaluate people as individuals, rather than prejudge their abilities based on their biology. Rothrock really drives that point home as she takes on a team of terrorists and proves pivotal in the race to stop their deranged designs.
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While Keach may be the more recognizable name to casual action fans, Rothrock is the real star of the show. She spends most of the film inside the mall dispensing terrorists as Keach’s character attempts to regain entry. We’ve seen more women taking center stage in action pictures of late. Atomic Blonde is one excellent example. But a woman-fronted action picture was almost unheard of in 1993. That makes Rothrock a trailblazer who deserves far more recognition for combating gender stereotypes and Hollywood sexism when that wasn’t nearly as commonplace.
Irresistible Force is far from Rothrock’s first cinematic outing, however. She began her career in action cinema in the mid-1980s. If you’re not familiar with her work, you should also check out the China O’Brien films. They are likely to serve as an accessible point of entry to her cinematic oeuvre.
What makes Rothrock’s rise to prominence in exploitation cinema even more impressive is that she wasn’t necessarily known as a sex symbol. In the ‘90s, if a woman fronted an action picture she was typically there to put her flesh on display (think Anna Nicole Smith in Skyscraper). Here, Rothrock remains clothed and appears in a turtleneck sweater and slacks for most of the feature. She is truly a trailblazer whose impact on the action genre should not be undersold.
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Irresistible Force is a stunning showcase of Rothrock’s considerable martial arts prowess. The fight choreography looks great because she’s a blackbelt in multiple disciplines who knows how to throw a punch, execute a roundhouse kick, or make a weapon out of nearly anything.
Keach and Rothrock have strong chemistry here. They riff on each other in typical buddy cop fashion, leaning into tropes common to that sub-genre. The film reminds me a little of Die Hard as a made-for-television buddy comedy set in a shopping mall. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
As I mentioned previously, this film was made for television. So, there’s not a lot of viscera or spicy language featured. But Irresistible Force more than makes up for the absence of R-rated antics with a nonstop barrage of action that never outstays its welcome. Seriously, the picture runs under 80 minutes from end to end. So, you’re really not making a major time investment.
If Die Hard as a buddy comedy set in a shopping mall sounds like your cup of tea, you can currently find the film on physical media and YouTube.
Categorized:Editorials
