Malibu Express & Hard Ticket to Hawaii
Mill Creek Entertainment [Blu-ray]
What gems the Andy Sidaris movies are. If you’re not familiar with them, imagine low-budget sexy spy movies, so bad that they’re good. Wow, I’m actually surprised how well that summarizes them. You’re not going to find too much high-brow content when you turn on an Andy Sidaris flick but you will find a project born out of dedication and love. There’s no doubt that these guys know what they want and know exactly how to get it. And I’m not the only one who appreciates these films as they’ve made an appearance on the How Did This Get Made podcast.
I have not had the distinct pleasure of watching all of the Sidaris films, but I presume most of them follow the same formula. A police force discovers the shady dealings of an evil organization and gets caught up in its intrigue. Though it all there will be some fighting (of the martial arts or “street” variety), some double crossing and some sexy times. And just keep in mind that Sidaris movies are known for their campy so-bad-it’s-good stories so be ready for a fun time. It’s a formula I happen to like, so I have no problem with it whatsoever. But what stands out most for me in these films is that throughout this silliness and insanity there will be some genuine surprises, whether through a plot-twist or a breakthrough performances or two. And let’s be honest, these films are cast based on physical attributes so when you get Sybil l Danning knocking it out of the park, it’s a sight to behold.
These movies showcase not just the beginning of the series as is the case with Malibu Express, but also a highpoint with Hard Ticket to Hawaii which really sees the team finding its voice with bigger actors, exotic setting, gutsier shots, and a ridiculous premise that just keeps topping itself. Good thing that Mill Creek decided to release these on Blu Ray and load them with extras. You get behind the scenes making-of featurettes (which often have nothing to do with the movie that bundled it), a film school of sorts showing us how the editing process works in the scenes, and audio commentary by the Sidaris couple. Although the commentary falls victim to the most common faux pas with most of it just being an explanation of the plot, you the occasional insight into how scenes were orchestrated and get an idea for what the production team was going for.
I’m hoping this is the start of Mill Creek releasing some more Sidaris movies and unleashing them onto the masses. These fun movies have gone unnoticed for far too long.
