Bullet Points: Second in Command
You might have heard that second is the first loser. Naming a movie after the first loser doesn’t seem like a good idea. However, having Jean-Claude Van Damme in your movie is a good idea. We have a real conundrum on our hands. Luckily we have 2006’s Second in Command to settle the answer as to whether or not the pull of JCVD can provide a roundhouse kick to the face of a popular saying.
- Moldavia – Second in Command takes place in the fictional country of Moldavia. I know that the name Moldavia has some historical connection, but I wonder how many people believe there is a current country named Moldavia. Or how many believe there is a country called Moldova for that matter. Either way, we are introduced to Navy Seal Cmdr. Sam Keenan (Jean-Claude Van Damme) who is being brought in to be a military attaché to Ambassador Norland as Moldavia is in the midst of a new regime under President Amirev.
- Meet the Press – Keenan is supposed to go straight to the embassy from the airport, but he makes a stop at a hotel to meet up (physically) with newswoman Michelle Whitman (Julie Cox). I like his style. A post-coital terrorist doesn’t like Keenan’s style as he shoots up the hotel lobby that is filled with journalists. We quickly learn there is an opposition group that wants nothing to do with Amirev running Moldavia.
- Embassy Not So Sweet – The US Embassy only as a small Marine Embassy Security Group led by Cpt. John Baldwn (Alex McKenna) and Gunny Darnell (Razaaq Adoti). Of course, just like every movie that has an embassy, the CIA is involved. Second in Command has Frank Gaines (William Tarpley) acting all kinds of shady just like the CIA is wont to do.
- He Said the Thing!!! – Keenan and some of the Marines need to go rescue President Amirev, and it is a pretty fun scene with subterfuge being used. The best part was right before the mission, Ambassador Norland tells Keenan that there has not been a new deputy ambassador assigned. Norland temporarily appoints Keenan to the position making him…SECOND IN COMMAND! Bells were ringing in my head with excitement when I heard those words come out of the ambassador’s mouth.
- Die Hard in an Embassy – Everyone in the embassy is trapped by rebel forces until more Marines can show up. Keenan wants to hold the fort but Gaines wants to evacuate. Gaines uses Keenan’s personal history of his father getting shot during the evacuation in Saigon against him. Gaines also drops a little nugget that Keenan’s mother was French. That explains the accent… that is interesting writing. Gaines goes through back channels to get Baldwin to be in charge and yeah, the evacuation plan was a total shit show. Keenan is quickly back in charge.
Second in Command goes full action for the final third of the movie. There are plenty of firefights and action scenes and while it is pretty obvious without too many twists the action is solid. Is Second in Command a loser or will the power of JCVD compel you to watch? That is a question for you to answer, but for me I was entertained for the entire movie and found it to be a step above the generally mediocre 2000s JCVD movies. That means it is still pretty low on the JCVD filmography but that is thanks to the bangers he was putting out in the 1980s and 1990s. Either way, I have some Second in Command Bonus Bullet Points for you to enjoy.
- Where’s Ice-T? – Gaines derogatorily calls Keenan BC, or body count for those in the know.
- If You Ever… – Wanted to see JCVD gouge out the eyes of someone named Scar, then Second in Command is for you.
- Run It Back – JCVD teamed up with Second in Command director Simon Fellows again in 2007’s Until Death.
