Craig R. Baxley’s “I Come in Peace” is a wild, wonderful discovery for those who want their B-movies served with A-level thrills and entertainment value.
Is it too much to ask that a low-budget, knowingly trashy genre flick leapfrog over budgetary restrictions, dig its heels into the possibilities of the genre and wow us by working overtime to entertain? Actually, I might as well have been describing what James Cameron brought to “The Terminator” (1984). That film obviously inspired “I Come in Peace” (a knowing drive-in movie theater programmer should put them both on a double bill).
Dolph Lundgren and Brian Benben play a mismatched buddy cop duo who, in the near-ish future, take on a serial killer with a strange brand of mayhem. The long-haired, silver-eyed psychopath dispenses deadly flying saw discs, sucks brain matter from his victims and announces his arrival with, “I come in peace.”
It’s not unlike the Martians in “Mars Attacks!” (1996), who cheerfully say, “Do not run, we are your friends!” before they vaporize you.
“I Come in Peace” is known overseas as “Dark Angel,” a title too prestigious for something this delightfully goofy. This above-average sci-fi B-movie is made up from spare parts of both “The Terminator” and “The Hidden” (1987), as well as dozens of late ’80s buddy cop action movies.
The acting is passable at best, though Lundgren’s bravado and showmanship go a long way to making this fun.
Lundgren’s film career is among the most unlikely, amusing and inspiring that I can think of: the Swedish karate champion, chemical engineer (he holds a MA from the University of Sydney) and recipient of Fulbright Scholarship from MIT was hired by Grace Jones to become her bodyguard.
Lundgren and Jones became an item. She got him a silent but memorable role in “A View to a Kill” (1985) which led, against all probable odds, to being cast as Rocky Balboa’s definitive foe.
After a sensational breakout role in “Rocky IV” (no matter how you feel about the film, Lundgren is tremendous in it), Lundgren played He-Man in “Masters of the Universe: The Motion Picture” (1987), strutted right into Stallone/Schwarzenegger territory with “Red Scorpion” (1989) and was even the first actor to play Frank Castle in “The Punisher” (1990).
Are you impressed yet?
Despite a steady gig playing the leads in sub-Chuck Norris/ Charles Bronson vehicles, Lundgren rarely got the credit he deserved for being a fresh new face the action genre. “The Expendables” (2010) was a career highlight, but so is “I Come in Peace.”
Benben, who later played the lead in the lively failure “Radioland Murders” (1994), is a little too convincing playing an annoying stuffed shirt. A handful of great character actors appear and liven up the expository scenes, including Sam Anderson and Michael J. Pollard.
Some misguided, dated choices and casual brutality will make this easy to skip for some. For everyone else, this gorgeously shot and scored (“Miami Vice” composer Jan Hammer doing his best Brad Fiedel) thriller with inventively staged action (check out those flying discs!) stands out.
In this holiday episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the 1990 sci-fi film “I Come in Peace ‘’ starring Dolph Lundgren, Brian Benben, Betsy Brantley and Matthias Hues. #icomeinpeace #darkangel #scifi #weirdhousecinema https://t.co/eMjkMRdROq pic.twitter.com/4D5fic6Rgn
— Stuff to Blow Your Mind (@BLOWtheMIND) December 10, 2023
The stunt work is amazing, as is the size of the car smash-ups and ‘splosion-fueled chases that rival what Cameron was doing at this point (minus his budget and CGI breakthroughs).
It’s no surprise that David Koepp ghost wrote the screenplay. It’s dopey enough to be embarrassed by, yet exciting and skillful enough to stand out in an era of unworthy trash littering video store shelves.
“I Come in Peace” is full of highs and lows (an awesome grand finale is handicapped by a forced, stupid fade-out), but it’s worthy of a triple feature with the likes of “Tango & Cash” (1989) and “Blind Fury” (1990).
If that sounds like a fun night at the movies, then you’re welcome.