Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Fit to Kill Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 31, 2020

In 1985, writer/director Andy Sidaris decided to create his own special universe of heroes and villains, using the ways of no-budget filmmaking to generate cheap thrills through the use of exotic locations, rough action, and nudity. “Malibu Express” wasn’t trying to alter the curve of exploitation cinema, but it did the trick for the VHS generation, inspiring Sidaris to keep churning out titles to meet demand, reusing actors and hot tubs as he built the Malibu Bay Films empire (joined by his wife, Arlene Sidaris). 1993’s “Fit to Kill” is the eighth installment of the loosely defined series, continuing the adventures of bikini-clad security agents as they defend America with their firepower, sleuthing, and distinct skills of seduction. There’s certainly a “if you’ve seen one of these things, you’ve seen them all” vibe to the picture, but to criticize Sidaris for his unrepentant recycling is missing the point of the Malibu Bay experience. “Fit to Kill” isn’t reinventing the wheel, but there’s some cleverness to be found in the movie, and Sidaris is wise enough to introduce actress Julie Strain to the family, with the statuesque Penthouse Pet bringing needed attitude to the franchise, keeping others on their toes.

The team at Molokai Cargo is mobilized when Chang (Aki Aleong) decides to throw a party in Maui, planning to return the Alexa Diamond back to Russian control after the jewel was stolen by Nazi Germany in World War II. Interested in acquiring the prize is Kane (Geoffrey Moore), the longstanding enemy of Agent Donna (Dona Spier), who’s recently thwarted an assassination attempt from Blu Steele (Julie Strain), tempting the hired killer to join his squad. Donna is raring to put Kane down for good, joined by Nicole (Roberta Vasquez), Edy (Cynthia Brimhall), and KSXY personality Ava (Ava Cadell), with the unit sent out to infiltrate guarded spaces, soon realizing that everyone wants the wartime treasure, using unique weaponry to take out the Molokai Cargo warriors.

It wouldn’t be an Andy Sidaris movie if there wasn’t some form of titillation offered every ten minutes, and “Fit to Kill” isn’t going to change the routine, keeping things pay cable-y from the get go, including some pool posing with Donna and Nicole, while the employees at Molokai Cargo generally like to conduct business topless, giving the Malibu Bay faithful what they’ve come for. There’s action as well, with Donna and Nicole kickin’ butt during a war games exercise, introduced to the latest in combat technology: radio-controlled vehicles. Offering a precursor to drone attacks, Sidaris delivers hell from above with RC helicopters armed with missiles, which is just unexpected enough to be supremely entertaining, and it saves the production a lot of money, eliminating the need for chopper rentals with a climax that stages a dogfight between heavily armed plastic toys. It’s just nutty enough to work.

“Fit to Kill” does some globetrotting (well, Las Vegas and Hawaii), providing plenty of warm weather and sun to keep the cast in swimwear, while evening parties demand tight dresses, challenging the cast to perform action while mummified in spandex. It’s all eye candy, pushed along by composer Richard Lyons and his Super Nintendo-synth score, while the plot itself is weirdly abyssal, with Chang stopping the feature at one point to walk Donna and Nicole through World War II history to best identify the diamond’s value. It’s an amazing exposition dump, one of the largest I’ve encountered, but storytelling isn’t really Sidaris’s thing, quickly returning to low-wattage violent encounters from a variety of creeps. There’s also the prowess of Blu Steele (good heavens, that name), who conducts her super-secret killer business in full makeup, jewelry, and heels, but Strain is a fantastic addition to this loveable nonsense, completely believable while handling large guns and shooting sneering looks. Less so with acts of seduction, caught drinking from a kitchen faucet while trying to tempt one lover into bedroom action. Yuck.

Fit to Kill Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Fit to Kill" makes its Blu-ray debut with an AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation, billed as a "4K widescreen restoration." It's not clear what kind of work went into the rebuilding of the feature, but the results are mostly appealing, pulling the picture out of VHS and DVD rotation with a bright and clear viewing experience. Of course, there's a lot to take in when watching an Andy Sidaris endeavor, and detail is satisfactory, highlighting tight and shiny costumes, skin surfaces, and locations, with Hawaiian tours delivering ideal dimension, securing the travelogue nature of these efforts. Colors are bold, with strong primaries for clothing, which favors beachwear and cocktail dresses. Greenery is distinct. Delineation is acceptable, with day-for-night shots looking rough, going purple and solid. Grain isn't managed with care, varying wildly in intensity, with a few zombiefied stretches. Source has some wear and tear, with speckling and scratches, and some mild flashing occurs during a mid-movie party sequence.

Fit to Kill Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix provides a basic understanding of elements used in "Fit to Kill," with Sidaris not exactly attentive to a layered track when putting together these movies. In fact, at the 23:56 mark, a line from Chang is missing, which appears to be an inherent issue. Dialogue exchanges are otherwise direct, permitting an appreciation for performances and tough guy emphasis. Scoring supports are necessary, with synth clarity and tinny percussion. Sound effects register acceptably, with limited gunshots and explosions appreciable. Atmospherics are also acceptable, capturing open air adventures.

Fit to Kill Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Intro (1:57, SD) presents Julie Strain, who recalls when she won the title of Penthouse Pet of the Year while on the set of "Fit to Kill," soon joined by Andy Sidaris, who hands a series of promotional t-shirts to Strain for modeling purposes.

• Commentary features writer/director Andy Sidaris and producer Arlene Sidaris.

• Behind the Scenes (39:09, SD) is a large collection of supplementary material from the Malibu Bay archives, introed by Strain and Andy, who play up the educational nature of the featurettes. Strain's history with the Sidaris team is recalled, at one point refusing to admit she had a fear of water before diving into the ocean to complete a shot. There are pieces of a sequence from "Return to Savage Beach" presented to highlight the working parts of the production, enhanced with Andy and Arlene commentary. A visit to "Joe Bob's Drive-In Theater" is included, with Andy and actress Cynthia Brimhall discussing the incoherence of Malibu Bay films and marketplace needs, and host Joe Bob Briggs provides a summary of "Fit to Kill" action and nudity. Home video footage of location scouting for "Hard Hunted" is included, along with BTS activity, watching Andy create scenes. An overview of Ava Cadell's contributions to Malibu Bay track the actress's talents and, according to Andy, her "great front porch." More from "Return to Savage Beach" is included, highlighting multiple takes from stars Shae Marks and Julie K. Smith.

• And a Trailer (1:45, HD) is included.

Fit to Kill Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Fit to Kill" isn't packed with thrills and spills, as Sidaris is happy to slow the picture down to deal with sex, scheming villains, sex, and some more sex. There are fantasy sequences too, including an actual photo shoot for the Playmate cast, with the production clearly playing to personal strengths. The diamond stuff really doesn't matter, but the actors and the battery-powered action does, keeping "Fit to Kill" enjoyable on a Sidaris-style level of engagement, watching a filmmaker manage his fetishes with relative ease.