I feel like the very first half-minute is an outright warning. The animation of a studio logo, and an animation accompanying the title card seconds later, have the appearance of having been designed and ported from discount consumer-grade graphic design software. Such garish inclusions don't mean that a film can't have value, but even recognizing in utmost generosity that this is a title that wanted naught but to have a bombastic good time - limitations be damned - too many moments to follow are flush with flaws that flatten our fun. The best opportunity this movie has to be enjoyable is in the notion that it's an intentional parody of all its brethren, mocking all the worst indulgences such fare may possess, yet there's just no reason to think that's the case. I appreciate the effort, and the earnest intent, but these don't fundamentally change the fact that 'American Tigers' is laborious to watch.
Every male actor (99% of the cast) gives a performance so hard-boiled, with delivery of such dust-choked grit, that one could be forgiven for thinking Christian Bale's Batman was a mocking, sincere answer to the bluster on display here. Were they all instructed to blow out their vocal cords before filming began? Moreover, acting is often stilted, unpracticed, and forced, across the board. Scene writing and dialogue are deeply unconvincing, and lazy in embracing every possible trope, convention, and contrivance imaginable, while some scenes are overlong or altogether unnecessary (e.g. A whole lot of gratuitous nudity). That dialogue is defined by hopelessly tough-talking hot air nonsense, racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and is never believable for one instant. The antagonists are so common in their motivation as to be blase, even as they represent an element of modern society that's all too real and abhorrent - while the actors portraying them demonstrate the least skills of anyone present. Characters are thin and uninteresting, plot development is lethargic and mostly absent for the first half of the feature, and the narrative at large is broadly unoriginal and too often struggles to keep us meaningfully engaged.
I really do admire the work that was put into 'American Tigers.' In scenes of training that fill too much of the length, the actors clearly gave 100% with all necessary physicality. From a technical standpoint the film's craft is competent (though much of Shaun Guerin and David Lamb's score is bland and disinterested). Nothing stands out as something we haven't seen before, but there are even a few good ideas scattered throughout the runtime. The lengthy fight sequence we're treated to at the 1-hour mark is characterized by swell choreography and stunt work, and above all, the most truly entertaining scene this has to share is in the cheeky, brief appearance of Cynthia Rothrock as herself, even if her full capabilities as a martial artist aren't on show. This movie does have bits and pieces that are enjoyable. Unfortunately, they're not enough to particularly set it apart, or mark it as an important viewing experience.
The actual mission that underlies the narrative is reserved for the last 20 minutes, at which point it is emphasized once again how desperately hollow and empty the writing is - just listen to the chief villain bloviate. Watch the moment when the chief villain and our heroic commander come face to face. Watch the preposterous and overblown ending, which defies all suspension of disbelief. For that matter, the basic essence of the plot structure is troubled, as so much time is spent developing the squad that the climax feels like a neglected afterthought. What little worth the movie does have is not nearly enough to overcome its weaknesses. What fun there is to be had doesn't make this an especially good time. I can't really say that I would recommend it, except perhaps for diehard fans of the biggest names in the cast, including not just Rothrock but also Joe estevez, and Donald Gibb. Alternatively, if you are the sort of person who can't get enough of action movies no matter their quality, or of chest-beating Army pomposity no matter how flailing, then perhaps there is something here for you. For pretty much anyone else, however, there's just not really any reason to spend 100 minutes watching 'American Tigers.'
