lost-in-limbo I've never heard of this Cannon Golan / Globus production, but there were some enticing names attached to this late 80s project… director / co-writer John Stockwell along with actors Barry Corbin and Jennifer Jason Leigh. The plot stays conservative, but it achieves what it sets out to do. A young Chicago cop heads south to go undercover with a small narcotic team in a South Carolina high school. There he goes about trying to get down just who killed his partner, while also breaking the local drug ring. It's quite straight-laced, little to no distractions (you know romance, conflict and popularity) that you might get with a feature where the story basis is set-up in a high school backdrop. "You're a hell of pitcher." Since it hardly strays, then it decides to build on its mystery (following up on the original investigation leads) and thriller elements, which is effectively pulled off. The material manages to stay one step-ahead, while going directions that one probably wouldn't expect and this is made more interesting for a good sense of place where the humidity shows and tension boils. Its narrative build-up is somewhat better than the final payoff, but its characters and certain dark edge keeps you hooked. A constant dangerous vibe lingers, while the humour is moodily low-key. Stockwell's streamlined delivery keeps on the move, but still there's a laid-back air to everything going on and a real authentic roughness. Now pull out those smoking, but elastic guitar riffs we would find in these 80s thrillers. Performances are suitably able with David Neidorf likable in the lead and his co-support Corbin is solid and Jennifer Jason Leigh is delectably spunky. Also there are good turns by David Harris, Kathleen Whilhoite, Brad Leland, Carmen Argenziano and a brief appearance or two by Mark Holten as one of the undercover agents.

Soup Kitchen This is a perfect example of a movie the mindless-junk-food-flick variety; the efficient and cost-effective techniques to produce such films were attained to an almost zen-like point of mastery by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus, the masterminds behind Cannon media conglomerate, a powerhouse in the world of 80's distribution. The output of their company, in terms of both sheer numbers of films and also in terms of how broad an array of genres, subjects, and talent levels were displayed therein, was enormous. Cannon released everything from Death Wish pictures, to kiddy fare, the screwball comedies, to early 80's "rap craze" films and just about every Chuck Norris pic on along the way. The films all, however, have in common the singular trait of being just good enough to keep you watching a little bit more. When you start to get bored in one of their movies, they know they're getting lazy and throw you a bone in the form of a witty joke or a pair of bared breasts, or a gunfight, or anything. They just have the formula of perfect mediocrity down pat. That is the type of movie that this is a prime example of.The plot is, as I have implied, not really very important in the grand scheme of things here. David Neidorf plays Sheffield, a tough, hot-shot (read egomaniac) Baltimore city cop whose best bro since childhood, also a cop, is murdered during a stakeout gone awry while deep undercover in a county high school drug investigation. Sheffield is revealed to be the cause of his friend having to go undercover in the first place, in a rather vague and unintelligible attempt at a backstory, and for the sake of this film's plot, is of course sent post haste to replace his dead friend and colleague, which is to say: undercover in the local high school. He meets the typical band of supporting players, who play their parts to predestined conclusions, as everything must be as it is in the world of Cannon films. There is the slightly minstrel-esquire black baseball team friend, the snotty rich prick kid, and the corrupt cop baddie. Jennifer Jason Leigh, a rather renowned and serious thespian, was apparently not above trolling the likes of this film at the time, but she is totally wasted here in a nothing role as the female cop, undercover partner in crime Tanille Leroux. Her character had to be there, however, in order to make the Golan/Globus formula take effect.Watching this movie is almost akin to watching a chemistry experiment unfold. Every element is carefully selected and added in to balance out to zero the sum total of impact on you. It is neither bad nor good, it is in the middle, perfectly neutral, which is why I give it 5/10 stars.

clawson2000 Yes, it's dumb. And predictable. And the production values are bad (not to mention the continuity). But, darn it, I just love this little flick! The clothes and hair! This was when I first fell in love with Jennifer Jason Leigh - all hot and sweaty with the Louisana heat! The locale is captured nicely, and they obviously all know this isn't "Lawrence of Arabia" or anything.But I know what really makes this movie stick in mind is the Todd Rundgren score ("Hello, it's me. You-oo-ooo, you know that I'd be with you if I could ...") His first full score, I believe.Great to put on in the background while you work on another project.

Pepper Anne For me, "Undercover" is something like the unfunny version of "Plain Clothes," and it is the second film of writer/director John Stockwell (you may remember him best as car jock Harlan in "My Science Project"). Two cops out of Louisiana play Narcs to a South Carolina high school after a murder erupts and a local drug ring is considered prime suspect. There are some action moments, but sometimes this movie is slower than the southern heat the characters wade through. However, despite the rather cumbersome plot, this movie may be appealing to fans of obscure 80s action/dramas, fans of John Stockwell who may be interested in his earlier work (and although he wears the hat of both writer and director in this film, he does have a blink-and-you-miss-him role on the television someone is watching), and it may also appeal to fans of other 80s acting favorites (Jennifer Jason Lee and "North Shore's" John Philbin, in particular). This is more like the type of a movie you would watch because of who is in it.If you enjoy the story, I would recommend "Plain Clothes," a comedy starring Arliss Howard and Seymour Cassel in a similar story: after a teacher is mysteriously found dead and a cop's brother is prime suspect, he goes undercover to investigate at a local high school. At least you'll get some laughs from the second one (which also features my other 80s favorite, Max Perlich).Undercover isn't great, but for some, there may be reason to watch it (if you can find it).