Ragin' Cajun
Picture: C
Sound: C+ Extras: C- Film: C
Boxing movies are back with major films like Cinderella
Man and Million Dollar Baby are instant classics after years of few
filmmakers wanted to do such films after Martin Scorsese made Raging Bull. Give or take the increasingly bizarre Rocky
sequels, such films reached a new low of B-movie schlock. Troma founder Lloyd Kaufmann is one of those
vehemently out to revise the reputation of the Scorsese classic. He is fighting an all-time losing battle,
but it will not stop him from putting the wacky Ragin’ Cajun from 1991.
David Heavener is the title character, trying to punch his
way out of criminal corruption and kickboxing, that sport that was considered
just a blip at the time. Sooner than
you can say 9 To 5, he meets a large-chested country singer (Charlene
Tilton of Dallas) who might be able to sing her way to the top before he
can kick his way to it. Hopefully, he
will not kick her in the top.
Unfortunately for them, her music is less likely to be a
hit than a monologue from Dennis Miller, on top of old enemies coming to cause
him trouble and “ruin what he loves most” in his life. Sam Bottoms and Samantha Eggar (The Girl
In The Car With Glasses & A Gun, The Brood) also star. We don’t see them much to begin with and
this did not help their careers. I
swear director William Byron Hillman thinks he is shooting the country music
segments like Robert Altman’s 1975 classic Nashville, but some directors
just cannot hide their wishful thinking, al the way to the title of the film.
The 1.33 X 1 image is fuzzy and soft throughout with
detail troubles and poor color, while the Dolby Digital 2.0 is something not
unlike stereo, but not quite there. It
was a Dolby analog theatrical release, but low budget just the same. Extras repeat interview pieces on boxing
Troma founder Kaufmann and Rocky director John G. Avildsen did for
previous DVDs, a few Troma trailers and a new interview with Heavener about the
film.
- Nicholas Sheffo
