Main Cast: Sasha Mitchell, Peter Boyle, Dennis Chan, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, John Diehl
Release Year: 1990
Country: US
Run Time: 89 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
This sequel to the popular Jean-Claude Van Damme vehicle centers on the exploits of David Sloan (Sasha Mitchell) the younger brother of the two fighters (Van Damme and Dennis Alexio) who died in the first installment. As this episode begins, David has given up competition and is running a kickboxing school for underprivileged urban kids. His life changes abruptly when the villainous fight manager who murdered his brother shows up and forces him back into the ring. Fortunately, David's Zen master shows up for spiritual and moral support. The ensuing fight scenes are quite bloody and violent. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Review
This Van Damme-less sequel is most widely known due to the involvement of Batman Begins scribe David S. Goyer, which is funny, since it's his laborious script that is the main downfall of this neutered sequel. With the first fight clocking in at almost the 30-minute mark, Kickboxer 2: The Road Back is filled with a whole lot of story and not enough foot-to-the-face action. This time, the lead role went to Sasha Mitchell, who would not only go on to star in the following two installments, but also came into a bit of TV fame with the Suzanne Somers show Step By Step. Sadly, it took Sasha this whole flick to find his footing, with his bootleg Keanu Reeves delivery never quite gelling into the corny charm that he nailed in later pictures. If anything, the sequel demands some sort of respect for the fact that it even bothered to carry over continuity from the first film, though it's best enjoyed for the multiple montages set to manly action tunes that populate much of the film. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
Michel Qissi - Tong Po; Heather McComb - Lisa; Vince Murdocco - Brian Wagner; Matthias Hues - Neil Vargas; Christian Andrews - Brian's Trainer; Amy Arthur - Kristen Wagner; Jay Byron - State Official; Chance Corbett - Tommy; Chance Michael Corbitt - Kid in Gym; Dorothy Dells - Check-out Nurse; Brian Austin Green - Tommy; Dale Jacoby - Judge; Vincent Klyn - Thai Thug; Gene Lebell - Referee; Annie O'Donnell - Helen Wagner; Humberto Ortiz - Joey D'Angelo; Joe Restivo - Ring Announcer; Sherrie Rose; Casey Stengal - Eric Sloan; Ed Anders - Brian's Opponent; Emmanuel Kervyn - Kurt Sloan; Cathy Henderson
Credit
David S. Goyer - Associate Producer, Cathy Henderson - Casting, Joseph Porro - Costume Designer, Albert Pyun - Director, Allan E. Baumgarten - Editor, Anthony Riparetti - Composer (Music Score), James Saad - Composer (Music Score), Rick Blumenthal - Production Designer, Nicholas T. Preovolos - Production Designer, George Mooradian - Cinematographer, Thomas Karnowski - Producer, Beau Peterson - Set Designer, David S. Goyer - Screenwriter
