Posted: 02/08/2011

Invasion U.S.A. Review

by Robert Baum

Review: Invasion U.S.A. (1985)

Russians have come to take over the United States. Apparently no government agents are aware of the potential red menace; and the only person who has any idea how to stop them spends his days idling in the Everglades. Invasion U.S.A. is the latest action vehicle from the Cannon Group. Black belt bore Chuck Norris stars in yet another routine actioner for schlock cinemeisters Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus who, along with director Joseph Zito, brought us last year’s Missing in Action.
Trading a supply of cocaine for a cache of weapons, Rostov (Richard Lynch, playing yet another bad guy) and his crew of Soviet and Cuban operatives begin their campaign of violence and terror in the South. Rostov first pays a visit to his adversary Matt Hunter (Norris). Believing his nemesis to be as dead as the script—co-written by Norris, based on a story co-written by Chuck’s stunt coordinator brother Aaron—Rostov and his goons’ efforts put Florida on something of a state of heightened alert.
Hunter becomes a one-man army and Rostov, is incensed knowing his presumed-dead foe is alive and making borscht out of his plans to neutralize the United States. The hero also gets some help from a thrill-seeking shutterbug (Melissa Prophet) who spends much of her time complaining and wisecracking. Maybe she isn’t keen on the script, as she is the only woman in the film who has a name.
I nvasion U.S.A. is clear proof that Norris’ acting abilities are at a nadir. It is nothing more than a collection of explosions and bad acting. The film is so ridiculous it makes other Cannon releases seem better, even the previous Norris-Zito collaboration, Missing in Action.

Robert Baum is Currently a Bryn Mawr, PA-based film afficanado and pop culture junkie.

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