When thinking of the headliners of The Movie Buff’s ‘Man Movie May,’ action stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvester Stallone pop into mind. Another star could be on that list as well, and that’s the Muscles from Brussels himself, Jean-Claude Van Damme. Now, I’d never seen a film where J.C.V.D. is the lead of the film and when I saw the premise of the 1995 actioner “Sudden Death,” I knew I just had to start there. Darren McCord (Van Damme), a former firefighter, takes on a group of terrorists holding the Vice President (Raymond J. Barry) and McCord’s daughter, Emily (Whittni Wright) hostage during Game 7 of the 1995 NHL Stanley Cup Finals. Brilliant.
As far as Van Damme’s acting goes, it’s rough, and he’s better when he doesn’t talk. As far as the character work in the film goes, it’s thin, as McCord is simply a divorcee who used to be a firefighter but hung it up when he couldn’t save a little girl in a fire, as we see the opening sequence. Now, he gets to save his little girl from some bad guys, led by big bad Powers Boothe as Joshua Foss, demanding a certain amount of money by the end of every period. He’s hammy; as soon as he gets into the presidential box he shoots a chef they’ve kidnapped because, since they’ve just killed his wife at a separate location, he would “have been lonely.” This all takes place during Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in Pittsburgh, as the Penguins host the Chicago Blackhawks.
The location of the game isn’t that important, but just as a concept I find it brilliant because from the premise alone, it sets itself up as a dumb, loud and fun action movie. For the most part, that’s just what it is; and I’m done talking about any character work and I’m done talking about the acting, because J.C.V.D. is here to kick some terrorist butt, not win an Oscar. This is “Die Hard” at an NHL game and honestly, it’s everything I wanted a film like this to be, filled with a hammy villain and some truly fun action. I had a blast watching it as a film I knew would be a stupid action movie, and I laughed consistently for the first hour. In execution, I think it passes with flying colours as McCord goes around trying to disarm bombs set up throughout the arena, as he tells his kids to stay put in their seats—but of course, they don’t listen; and that’s what ups the stakes when his McCord’s daughter is kidnapped. This leaves his other son, Tyler (Ross Malligner), basically glued to his seat because he listens to his father. The stakes are still felt throughout—with the threat of the bombs, and of course, because this is Game 7, baby!
Terrorists and high-stakes sports action, this film was made for me. The hockey itself is filmed well enough and I didn’t expect it to be as big of a part of the film as it was. I just expected it to be set at the arena where we might get glimpses of the game, but it brings us up to speed with the game consistently. The story has to do this because in structure, we have to know when each period ends because that’s when the stakes get real. At the end of the first and second periods, if the Feds are behind in the dough, a hostage gets killed. At the end of the game, if the money’s behind, everyone dies. That’s why they call it “Sudden Death;” but also for the necessary set-up that this will go into overtime for more action, and I don’t find that a spoiler. There’s a point where I got fatigued with this film when it really brings the hockey into the story as J.C.V.D. literally gets into the game, impersonating an injured goaltender to hide from the terrorists. There’s nothing “believable” about this movie; but this is the first time I thought this film was “stupid” because I know that could never happen. The finale also feels totally traditional as it puts J.C.V.D. and others in a high-octane situation, but it’s still fun.
I loved the action here but the hockey is the cherry-on-top because of one of the announcers, and the Color Commentator (Paul Steigerwald) is gold. After a Pittsburgh Penguins player scores, the commentator goes, “Scratch my back with a hacksaw!” It makes no sense but it doesn’t have to, and one of his other lines defines the film very well. The Play-by-Play Announcer (Mike Lange) says “It’s so loud in here, I can barely hear myself think.” The Color Commentator replies, “You don’t have to think, Mike. It’s hockey.”
With “Sudden Death,” you don’t have to think, because it’s just a mindless action movie and these expectations are set with its concept alone. It’s not a perfect movie—but based on my own enjoyment, if I had any self-respect I’d give it the A+ it deserves for doing its job perfectly. However, I’m not that crazy because it has flaws and it’s a completely mindless action film, but if that’s what you’re searching for and the premise itself makes you giggle, “Sudden Death” feels like a front-row seat to a hockey game that could explode at any minute.
