Bullet Points: Outside the Law (2002)
Over the years here on Bulletproof Action, we have gone Beyond the Law (twice) and Above the Law, but we have never gone Outside the Law, until now…
- Calm Before the Storm: Julie Cosgrove (Cynthia Rothrock, Sworn to Justice) and Brian Downing are two federal agents on their last assignment in Cartagena, Colombia before getting married. The two lovebirds are discussing their future plans, when they get word that the cartel boss they are in Colombia to extradite has been spotted… it’s go time. It ends up being a setup that costs Brian his life… the only one who manages to escape with their life is Julie… although with her world now torn apart!
- Bienvenido a Miami: Julie returns to Miami with a lot of questions for her superior, Dick Dawson (Stephen Macht). Dawson tries to get Julie to come in, but she wisely doesn’t trust him. Julie chops her long dark hair off, dyes it and goes off the grid and begins making her way north. She ends up buying a truck (and a dog) and then stops for something to eat somewhere in Central Florida. While eating her lunch she can’t help but notice a table of dudes harassing Rita the waitress, then when Rita’s boyfriend Rick (also the bartender at the restaurant) steps in to defend his girlfriend, he ends up getting his ass kicked until Julie steps in and does some ass kicking of her own.
- Enter the Wincott: Julie is about to hit the road after the restaurant brawl but she is stopped by Annie the owner. To repay her for stepping in, Annie offers Julie a place to stay for the night and that’s about the time Julie meets Michael Peyton (Jeff Wincott, Open Fire)… Annie’s “boyfriend” and the boss of the dudes that were causing trouble at the restaurant. Peyton promises Annie that he will talk to this boys and then reminds her about the big party at his place later that night. That ends up being the last party that Annie will go to after she has an argument with Peyton after the party that ends with Peyton getting physical with Annie.
- Aftermath: The next day Julie is once again about to hit the road, but this time the police rolling up causes her take a step back and assess the situation… Are they there for her?!!? Nope, slimeball Detective Froman (Dan Lauria, Excessive Force II: Force on Force) is there to let Rick (Seamus Dever) know that his sister Annie’s body was found that morning, apparently she had drowned after leaving Peyton’s party. Now Rick’s world has been torn apart and like Julie’s situation, something smells rotten about it. This is no doubt why Julie finds herself helping out Rick and Rita and the first step is finding out more about Michael Peyton… like the fact that Detective Froman is in Peyton’s pocket.
- I was told James Lew was in the movie: It turns out that Michael Peyton has entered the designer drug business, a dangerous business to be in, so it is no surprise when he ups his security by adding Cho Sung into the mix. Cho Sung (James Lew, Midnight Man) shows up at the one hour mark and has a memorable introduction. I immediately was anticipating a Rothrock vs. Lew fight and before it was all said and done, it does happen, although I do wish it was longer (that’s what she said). Julie’s field experience and Rick’s computer wizardry make for a winning combination as the unlikely duo infiltrate Peyton’s operations and gum up the works to say the least. But there is still a dark cloud hanging over Julie with her now former employers that could rain on the parade!
Outside the Law may have been released in 2002, but with a cast that included three 90’s direct to video action stars, it felt very much like a movie from 1992… which won’t get any complaints from me.
Rothrock, Wincott and Lew all have much better movies to their credit, but Outside the Law was still a fun watch.
Speaking of fun, here are some Bonus Bullet Points…
- If You Ever: …wanted to see Cynthia Rothrock engage in some amateur chemistry, then Outside the Law is the movie for you.
- AKA: The working title for the movie, was Never Say Die.
- Favorite Quote: “Everyone is dead, Dick!” – Julie
- Familiar Face: Peyton’s main goon, Kurt Lewis, was played by Don Harvey. I recognized Harvey from his work in Die Hard 2 and Men of War.
- The Name Game: Not to be confused with 1930’s Outside the Law starring Edward G. Robinson.
- Reunited: Cynthia Rothrock and Jeff Wincott had previously worked together in Martial Law II: Undercover. They were on the same side in that one.
