Uncommon Valor (1983)

Directed by Ted Kotcheff. Starring Gene Hackman, Patrick Swayze, Fred Ward, Reb Brown, Tim Thomerson, Randall “Tex” Cobb, Harold Sylvester, Robert Stack, Kwan Hi Lim, Lau Nga Lai, Charles Aidman. [R]

Retired Marine officer Hackman is determined to find and rescue his missing-in-action son from Southeast Asia, so he recruits a motley crew of Vietnam vets to help him infiltrate Laos, assault a prisoner of war camp, and bring the poor guy back home. One of the better Vietnam-hangover “let’s-bring-our-boys-home” pictures that littered the 80s, but that’s a dubious distinction for a dubious sub-genre; it’s about as illogical, unsubtle, ridiculous and exploitative as any of the others, but most of the actors are able to avoid accusations of slumming by hoisting the macho material over their shoulders. A grave situation becomes bubblegum action fodder, but competent filmcraft and corny catharsis keep it watchable (if not always for the right reasons). If only it wasn’t so formulaic and predictable. Actor Wings Hauser gets story credit and served as an associate producer; John Milius and Michael Tolkin are also listed among the producers.

53/100