Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		2.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.0

Second in Command Blu-ray Movie Review

Not exactly first in our hearts.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 24, 2013

Well, well, well. It's another direct-to-video Action dud set in Eastern Europe and filmed there, too. In Second in Command, Romania doubles for "Moldavia," a country, surprise, on the brink of chaos, and only Jean-Claude Van Damme can save the day! Sadly, Van Damme is also the obligatory washed-up star who absolutely sleepwalks through the film. The picture is also the victim of poor pacing, dull action scenes, a secondhand plot, nobody characters, and almost zero production values. Yes, it's the DTV Action flick at its bad movie zenith. At least Van Damme is still in good physical condition, unlike some of his more pleasantly plump peers. But no matter the shape or size of the star, the place or time in which the action takes place and the movie was filmed, or the quality of the picture or lack thereof. It all boils down to a formula movie made entirely with the idea of profiting on the bankability of its star, even if he's a faded star. It's clearly been thrown together with little thought, which is far more work than it demands from its audience.

It's always wet at the end.

The U.S. government has recently aided in the establishment of a new democratic style of government in the nation of Moldavia. Ex-Navy SEAL Sam Keenan (Van Damme) is dispatched to the region to oversee security and is promoted to second-in-command and stationed at the presidential palace, outside of which a throng of protestors dispute the change in leadership. When a rogue agent orders shots fired into the crowd, the frenzy grows and the place comes under siege. The U.S. government releases assets to protect the citizens and government dignitaries on hand, but their late arrival could mean disaster for those on the ground. Keenan is forced into action. With a compliment of only 15 Marines at his disposal, he must fend off waves of attackers until stronger forces arrive.

Second in Command really does epitomize the awful DTV movie. It's literally a classic example of "seen one, seen 'em all" moviemaking. It's nothing more than a simple premise that's advanced by simple mechanics, chiefly bits of gunplay intermixed with scenes of soldiers scanning the battlefield or Van Damme talking strategy with whomever is within earshot. The characters are completely interchangeable, and to be honest, so too are the scenes. Second in Command could be edited differently a hundred times and in most cases it wouldn't make a lick of difference in pacing or how the movie plays out. It's a paint-by-numbers exercise with no variety and no detail work necessary. It's just pieces arranged into basic logical order, nothing more and nothing less. Nothing separates one action scene from the next, and only a name and a face differentiate most of the characters. It's a typically bland DTV flick that'll have difficulty pleasing even the most forgiving audiences.

If there's one thing that can make a movie like this even worse, it's uninspired acting. Jean-Cleaude Van Damme practically sleepwalks through the movie. He shows almost no emotion and delivers his lines with the same zest he might muster if he were drowsily browsing the late-night TV listings. The dialogue he records for off-screen use -- radio chatter -- is even more insipid; talk of covering his flank and what not in a voiceover heard around the 21-minute mark couldn't be more monotone if he were reading the ingredients list on a bottle of ketchup for the fiftieth time in a row. Then again, it's classic chicken-or-egg scenario. Does the acting stink because the actors don't care or because they have nothing with which to work? The answer, in cases like this, is probably equal parts both. There's no way anyone involved made Second in Command for any real artistic value or merit on either side of the camera. It's the movie equivalent of an off-brand candy bar, something that comes cheap and tastes awful but satisfies a very basic craving for junk.

Second in Command Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Second in Command isn't the prettiest Blu-ray at the dance. Mill Creek's presentation of this Sony property is about as exciting and stimulating as watching beige paint dry. The picture plays with a stuffy, hazy, color-sucking yellow/brown/bronze sort of tint. Color is drained, and even the overlay looks awfully faded. There's no brilliance at all. The entire thing appears worn down and washed out. A few shots of camouflage uniforms look good enough, but this is about the worst color palette Blu-ray fans will find. Details aren't exactly leaping off the screen, either. The grain structure remains intact, and there's a basic proficiency to faces and clothes, but as far as nuanced textures go, there are none. Flesh tones are defined by those same awful color parameters, and black levels are usually terrible, appearing pale and pasty. For a good-looking picture, go elsewhere.

Second in Command Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Second in Command's lossless soundtrack fares better than its video counterpart. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 presentation finds some real energy in places, and it's fairly well defined. There's a decent presence and fair heft to even the most routine scene and sound effect. The crowd ambience heard throughout the film is rarely authentically engaging, but it gets the job done with a fairly wide front end and a generous surround support. Gunfire never really explodes out of the speakers, but it's adequate for a low-end DTV flick. On the other hand, RPG projectiles zip through the stage with some accuracy and explosions pack a fairly hefty wallop. Music isn't all that aggressive, but that's its nature. Dialogue plays clearly enough through the center. The track offers an above-average listen for a below-average movie, but it's hardly reason enough to labor through the film.

Second in Command Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Second in Command contains no bonus content.

Second in Command Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Second in Command may not finish last in the ranking of "worst DTV Action movies," but it's a prime example of just how awful they can be. It's a bland experience all around, right down to the lifeless color scheme that sucks the energy straight out of the audience. The acting is terrible, the action is boring, and the plot is so thin that the movie could be rearranged a number of ways and still make sense, because it's literally almost nothing but boring action and equally boring and repetitive scenes in between. Mill Creek's Blu-ray release of Second in Command features bland video, good audio, and no extras. Skip it.