The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option (2001) (V)

User Rating:

4.3/10   

Director:

Robert Radler

Writers:

Roy Frumkes (characters)
Dan Gurskis (writer)

Release Date:

24 April 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Plot:

An undercover policeman (Williams) must infiltrate a military school's faculty to cease the actions of white supremacists.

Plot Keywords:

Military Academy | White Supremacy | Human Branding | Exploding Car | Sequel

Cast

Treat Williams	...	Karl Thomasson
Angie Everhart	...	Jenny
Patrick Kilpatrick	...	Brack
Bill Nunn	...	Luther
Tim Abell	...	Devlin
Grayson Fricke	...	Ted Teague
Simon Rhee	...	Lim
Scott Miles	...	Buckner
Brian Beegle	...	Frey
Samantha Thomas	...	Harmon
John Michael Weatherly	...	Mauk (as Michael Weatherly)
Lori Beth Edgeman	...	Cunningham
Moe Michaels	...	Robson (as Mohamed T. El Emam)
J. Don Ferguson	...	Colonel Teague
K.C. Powe	...	Sissy

Also Known As:

The Substitute 4: Failure Is Not an Option (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, sexuality and some language.

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | UK:15 | Australia:MA | Germany:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Movie Connections:

Follows The Substitute (1996)

Just be happy you have the option.

Substitute 4: Failure is not an option.

When an old friend's son cuts off ties with his father to join an elite and viscious unit of a prestigious military college, Karl Thomasson must return to action as the substitute in the fourth installment: Failure is not an option.

Treat Williams returns to the role of Karl Thomasson, the ex- mercenary turned undercover expert in what, in my opinion, is the second best of the long running substitute series. Using the same formula as the rest of the substitute series, Williams goes undercover to track down a friend's son who has stopped any kind of correspondance with his father to join an elite mercenary squad known as the "wolverines" who are led by the sadistic Col. Brack, played by an always intense Patrick Kilpatrick.

Of course as in the other films he needs a team of specialists to help with the investigations. This time the team consists of Luthor (Bill Nunn) and Devlin (Tim Abell). Adding to the cast is Hollywood's sexiest redhead Angie Everheart in the uncertain role of Jenny. Now granted the story is getting old and the producers may want to stop at this one to save any kind of face they have left, but I must admit it's good to see Kilpatrick and Williams still doing movies.

As well, director Radler does what he can with the material he wrote and the budget seems to be better placed then it was in the last two. Yet, as with most low budget movies, the supporting acting and scenery are all too bland, with some of the young actors giving over the top performances and the setting not really ever moving off the campus. The movie is no Taps, but it keeps the excitement going at a reasonable pace but is slowed down by a few hammy speed bumps, as in a scene in which the Wolverines are repeating a four word combination in unison to show how blood thirsty they are.

The ending has a good moral statement, yet it is drug out and very heavy handed. I didn't believe Failure to be a great movie, let's face it, none of them were, but I didn't believe it to be a bad movie either. So if your a fan of low budget action or of the series itself, I'd say go out and check out the Substitute 4 tonight, but to anybody looking for an academy award winner or even a movie that takes itself seriously do yourself a favour and think: Viewing is not an option.

Overall Rating: 5.5 out of 10