Review

Rip Off is more like it. In this visually impressive though terrible actioner, Jean-Claude teams up with Schneider (will the laffs never end?) as a pair of jeans manufacturers (!) in Hong Kong who discover that their product is comprised of "knock offs" -- inferior imitations. Not only that, but these jeans contain tiny explosives in place of buttons to be used as terrorist devices when they reach the U.S. (we're not making this up). Maybe this could have worked as an outrageously satirical action sendup, but it's all deadpan. This is, unfortunately, strike two for director Hark (Double Team) -- his Hong Kong output is comprised of many terrific action/fantasies, but his American resume is lackluster. He needs to stay away from Van Damme. And as far as Knock Off is concerned, so does the viewer.