Assassination

Charles Bronson plays a Secret Service Agent assigned to protect the First Lady, who is played by his then real life wife Jill Ireland. When the First Lady becomes the target of an assassin, she and Bronson go on the run, dodging bullets as he tries to find clues as to who is behind it all. This 1987 offering from Cannon studios was nothing special. Director Peter Hunt had previously helmed the James Bond thriller On Her Majesty's Secret Service and the Charles Bronson/Lee Marvin action/chase thriller Death Hunt. Both are far superior to this movie, which features action scenes and assassination attempts that are as unbelievable as they are uninspired. The chemistry between Bronson and Ireland is nice, and the movie does have a sense of humor about itself, but that doesn't stop it from being the most mediocre of the Cannon/Bronson movies.

I've seen most all of Bronsons movies at this point and Assasination is by far and above the worst of them all. This is the only time I've actually been embarassed for old Chuck. Even the presence of Mrs. Ireland doesn't help. The script and dialouge stinks, the supporting cast was way below B grade and 'by the numbers' lame action scenes rehashed from Bronsons other films kill this one. Even more sickening was the CONSTANT sexual innuendo dialogue between the elderly Mr. Bronson and Charly(?!?),his late 20's Asian assistant who is trying to get Bronson to sleep with her. Don't get me wrong, I can enjoy a bad Bronson flick as much as the next guy but this one is altogether unacceptable. A dirtbike with a mini machine gun mounted on the handlebars? I'm surprised I haven't seen more mention of the cheesy CGI explosion matted in over the picture. This movie makes Death Wish 5, Chino and Breakout look like a five star films. I would really rather watch Kinjite again then to sit through this one twice. If you're trying to add to your Bronson collection with his more obscure films, make sure you have From Noon Till Three, The White Buffalo and The Stone Killer first. Also, be sure not to pass up St. Ives. I still feel St. Ives is one of Bronsons highest overall quality films which deserved a franchise of it's own. Long live the legend of Charles Bronson!!!

This is one of the lesser Cannon/Bronson collaborations(though many would say that they are all "lesser"). It was made in the final hours of Cannon before bankruptcy and it shows. Bronson's the agent assigned to protect the first lady, a real you-know-what. Many attempts are made on her life, forcing her and Bronson on the run. Soon, we see her softer side, they become pals, tra-la, tra-la. Pretty by the numbers plot. This was a tame PG-13 effort from Cannon, so all the gratuitous violence and nudity are gone, making it not quite the Cannon we all love. Bronson and Ireland do exchange some funny lines from time to time, but that's about as entertaining as this film gets. If you collect Bronson flicks, this should be the last one you get, if at all.