The original American Ninja introduced us to Michael Dudikoff as a blond-haired, blue-eyed U.S. soldier skilled in the arts of ninjitsu. In all ways it was an action movie that represented the decade of its birth: excessive, somewhat shallow and pure VHS filler.
American Ninja 2: The Confrontation, on the other hand, isn’t just a movie, it is truth in advertisement to the letter. Not only does it feature an American ninja but it also has a confrontation. So right there we must give credit where credit is due, because damn it, some movies don’t even get this right so at least the movie candidly delivers what it said it would. Some would mock the title, claiming such viscous things as “Have you seen a ninja movie without a confrontation?” But DAMN IT, this is no call for criticism, it’s for PRAISE. And strangely enough, that’s the only negative thing he says about American Ninja 2, but can you blame him? I sure wouldn’t want to irritate the American Ninja, especially after seeing his invincible standards here.
The movie centers around a small Caribbean island where US Marines are ‘becoming lost’ – kidnapped by men in black suits. Fortunately, two American military men are there to help, they find out that ninja are kidnapping these Marines to an unknown island, and soon try to go to the island, only to be double-crossed by some US Marines.
When they return the dynamic dynamite deadly dumb luck duo befriend a lady whose father (a brilliant scientist) has also been kidnapped to the same island. Soon they find out that a powerful drugs baron who’s rolling in money decides to extend his power by making genetically engineered super ninja.
Now, let’s just pause and reflect on that for a second. Genetically engineered super ninja. Myself, like the great American author, Robert Hamburger, would argue this is a simply ludicrous premise. Ninja aren’t born, they’re taught the art. Which genes are the ninja ones? It gets even sillier when we are told that they are going to use metal instead of bones.
Oh, and you know those Chuck Norris “facts”? Norris needs to use a roundhouse while the American Ninja doesn’t even need to connect with his opponents to make them die. So forget the Chuck Norris “facts”-it’s really Michael Dudikoff who can do such things. I mean, he can beat up ninjas and still drive his car. You’ll also probably be amazed at the turn of events that find Steve James fighting in what has to be the shortest shorts ever. He and Dudikoff are kicking the crap out of ninjas on an island ledge, to which both Dudikoff and James jump from about 300 feet and land in a moving speedboat … while it’s still moving. Without even hurting themselves! Role models can be so important.
Speaking of models, Dudikoff also has the uncanny ability to catch darts, swords and arrows and then return to sender. All of these all come to a heated confrontation (yes, there is one) at a cafe where James and Dudikoff basically clear out an entire room of thugs (while ripping their marine uniforms in the process.) What is even greater is where about 20 people pile on top of Steve James, and a completely un-phased James spreads his biceps and throws them quite a few feet! Also, James perfects the art of human shield fighting, which is when you grab some hapless schmuck and use his face as a shield from devastating blows. He uses his shield at least 30 times.
Oh, we’re being realistic, are we? Okay. Like the movie itself, Dudikoff is serviceable as the hero. Obviously he was being positioned as the next Chuck Norris, but doesn’t have that man’s swagger (or killer mustache). He’s makes it work, but it isn’t surprising that he never took off. His partner in crime provides all of the charisma-Steve James is funny and energetic compared to the Dudikoff’s stoicism. The villains are barely noticeable. “The Lion” is hardly even in the flick, and he’s not the truly hateful baddie a movie like this needs. His right hand man is the uber-ninja, but even he comes up short in the “hissable” department. They’re just kind of “there”.
In other words, American Ninja 2 is the perfect movie to watch drunk, high, hungover, at 4 a.m. or quite possibly when you plan on springing a ninja attack on Holland. But don’t ever confuse it for an actually good movie.