U.S. Marshals

Staring: Tommy Lee Jones, Wesley Snipes, Robert Downey Jr., Kate Nelligan, Joe Pantoliano, čIrne Jacob, Daniel Roebuck, Tom Wood (II), LaTanya Richardson, Michael Paul, Chan Lorenzo Clemons, Ray Toler, Tracy Letts, Vaitiare Bandera, Patrick Malahide, James Sie

Review by The Ranting WolfCastle

    I just don't understand sequels, I never have and never will.   It seems as though originality is an important part of movie making, but I guess not.  U.S. Marshals is almost a carbon copy of The Fugitive.   The only difference is the latter is a true story.

    Tommy Lee Jones (The Fugitive, Firebirds) is back as Marshal Samuel Gerard.  There's been another wreck carrying convicts (or soon to be so) only this time instead of a bus crashing, it's a jet.  Neat.  So in the mass confusion, double murderer Mark Sheridan played by Wesley Snipes (Passenger 57, Money Train) escapes.  They try to contain him, but yet again fail.   But don't count Chief Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard out, because he always gets his man.  All the Marshal team has returned for the sequel to add the comedy, Joe Pantoliano, čIrne Jacob, Daniel Roebuck, and drug addict Robert Downey Jr. has joined in the fun.  It's up to our heroes to apprehend Sheridan, whether he's guilty or not.

    I will admit this is a very entertaining film.  If you didn't see The Fugitive and you have no idea what happens in that movie, this would probably be a really good movie.  The only problem is, most people have and do.   It does add a bit more excitement since the criminal is more than just some guy that gets framed for killing his wife.  I don't really want to give anything away, though.

    The acting is good, Tommy Lee Jones is pretty much always good.   With the exception of the unmentionable Batman Forever, but yet again we see him as the authority figure that don't take shit from nobody!  Wesley Snipes is good as well, but he doesn't really have to act much in the film.  I actually can't remember one line he had right now.  If I think of one I'll let you know.  What he's pretty much doing is playing the same action guy he always does.  Wait!  I remember he does have quite a few lines, but nothing extended, and certainly nothing that took much talent.  Don't get me wrong, Wesley Snipes is a good actor, but all he really had to do in this film is shoot and run and jump.  Not that it's his fault, he didn't write the script, so what the hell are you jumping all over him for?  Prick.   Anyway, since I couldn't remember any of the lines he had in the film, I am forced to say that he didn't make much of an impression on me.  Sorry Wes.

    I enjoy the rag tag group of Marshals that work with Gerard, they make me laugh.  Unfortunately they didn't make me laugh enough, certainly not as much as in the first one.  But the writers tried I guess.

    The writing is good, with the exception of the previously mentioned.   The story goes along well, and I was never bored.  They didn't develop the characters well, because they figured everyone has seen The Fugitive.  Which I find pretty arrogant, but for the most part, they are probably correct in assuming this.  

    Now back to the whole sequel thing.  I don't understand why they give us something to compare their movie to.  Of course it's not going to be as good, and usually if it is as good, it's just because they recycled the script with a few changes.  To me this seems like a waste of money.  They could have not made this a sequel, called it the same thing but changed the actors, and the characters, but this would have brought in less money, and received harsher reviews for being a rip off.   But that's what it was isn't it?  Just because the same people who wrote and acted in the first one wrote and acted in this one doesn't mean that it's not a rip off.   It's insulting really.  America...you've been had.  It's all a plan to cash in on the popularity of the original, does anybody agree with me on this? 

    So, did Sheridan really do it?  Will Gerard get his man?   Does Downey Jr. toke up?  For the answer to these as well as many other important questions, you might as well rent The Fugitive.  Well, maybe not the "toke up" question, but all the others, okay?  But if you just want more of the same, go ahead and shell out your hard earned dollars and rent U.S. Marshals.  Go ahead and throw your money on the counter, and say "Please, please Mr. Video Store rip off artist, please take my money and give me something that I've already seen, already know how it ends up, and is a general waste of my time."   The video store kid may give you a funny look, but do what you gotta do.  What I'm trying to say is, the movie isn't good.  But it's entertaining, even if you do know the vital parts of the script (Beginning, Middle and End) it will give you a reason to kill a couple of hours.  The thirty percent is for the entertainment it provides.

30%