Forced Vengeance (1982)    MGM/Action    RT: 90 minutes    Rated R (language, strong martial arts violence, nudity)    Director: James Fargo    Screenplay: Franklin Thompson and James Fargo    Music: William Goldstein    Cinematography: Rexford L. Metz    Release date: September 17, 1982 (Philadelphia, PA)    Cast: Chuck Norris, Mary Louise Weller, Camila Griggs, Michael Cavanaugh, David Opatoshu, Seiji Sakaguchi, Frank Michael Liu, Bob Minor, Lloyd Kino, Leigh Hamilton, Howard Caine, Robert Emhardt, Roger Behrstock, Jimmy Shaw.    Box Office: $6.6M (US)

Rating: ***

 I’d like to start out on a personal note if I may. The Chuck Norris kung fu actioner Forced Vengeance is the first R-rated movie I saw unaccompanied by an adult. All I needed was for my dad to accompany me to the box office and give his verbal permission. At 14, this was a big deal.

 Now that I’ve taken my brief walk down memory lane, let’s get to my review of Forced Vengeance. It stars Norris (A Force of One) as Josh Randall, the head of security for the Lucky Dragon Casino in Hong Kong. He takes his job seriously. The opening scene has him in L.A. collecting a $115,000 gambling debt from an arrogant rich guy; that is, after he makes short work of the man’s bodyguard.

 He returns home where he learns the family casino is in financial trouble thanks to his adoptive brother David (Liu) covering risky bets. Their father Sam (Opatoshu, Exodus), the owner of Lucky Dragon, rejects a merger proposal by rival casino owner Stan Raimondi (Cavanaugh, The Gauntlet) acting on behalf of a major crime syndicate. Soon thereafter, Josh finds Sam and David murdered. Figuring they’ll go after the sister Joy (Griggs, Bar Girls) next, he scoops her up and goes on the run from cops and criminals as he attempts to find out who ordered the killings. He gets help from his girlfriend Claire (Weller, Animal House) and army buddy LeRoy (Minor, Commando).

 As you can see, Forced Vengeance is straightforward, a real no-brainer. Not having to think about the plot too much affords the viewer the opportunity to enjoy the numerous fight scenes. Norris get to punch, chop and kick the stuffing out of assorted punks, hoods and other scumbags as he hunts for the mysterious head of the syndicate. In other words, Norris does what he does best and I don’t mean act. It’s not for lack of trying though.

 In what I can only assume is an attempt at incorporating noir into the martial arts action, Norris does a voiceover in the style of a hard-boiled detective. Sam Spade, he’s NOT! He’s at his best when he’s engaged in combat. Near the end, he fights this gigantic thug who rips a toilet right out of the floor. Sure, we saw a similar bit in An Eye for an Eye (minus the toilet) but it’s still cool. Sadly, Cavanaugh’s villain isn’t terribly interesting. He’s okay, but nowhere near as memorable as other bad guys faced by the star. Weller is fine as Norris’ love interest; I just wish her character was given more to do than be dragged by Chuck through the crowded streets of Hong Kong.

  Directed by James Fargo (The Enforcer), Forced Vengeance is good B-movie fun. Sure, it’s formulaic and predictable, but it still works because of the plentiful action. Fargo knows his way around the genre. At a lean, mean 90 minutes, there’s not a lot of room for superfluous stuff save for a flashback or two including one explaining how Josh met Sam. There’s a scene involving a young punk with nunchucks that seems to be inspired by the large swordsman scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark. It’s moments like this that really define an action movie. Everybody seems to having a good time here, so why shouldn’t the viewer as well.

 I find it interesting that a major studio like MGM picked up Forced Vengeance. Perhaps they saw dollar signs in front of their eyes as Norris was a rising action star and typically drew good-sized crowds. This is one of his better early movies. He delivers the action with a vengeance if you’ll excuse the expression.