Rocky! Rambo! Shaft! Reacher! All action heroes that are recognized by one name. An obscure 1987 Burt Reynolds' movie was looking to add another name to that list: Malone.
Malone is an ex-CIA operative that has failed to complete his last two missions. Feeling that he has lost his edge to stay in the game, he makes the decision to retire. His friend, protege and sometimes lover, played by Lauren Hutton, reminds him the Company will look to have him assassinated because he knows too much. That is a risk he is willing to take.
As he is driving around the country months later, his '69 Mustang gives out on the side of the road. With no phone boxes nearby in the middle of nowhere, Malone pushes his car to the next nearest town. On the outskirts of town, he runs into Jo, played by Chynthia Gibb. It so happens her and her Dad operate the gas station and repair shop in town After they get the car to the shop, her Dad confirms Malone's diagnostic, blown transmission. The shop doesn't carry the parts needed, so Malone decides to have him order the parts so they can work on it there. Since the only motel in town closed, Malone is invited to stay in the spare bedroom in their home across the way.
In true 80's fashion, a rich outsider has come in and is buying all the property in town. He offers folks "more than fair prices" and if they don't accept, tragedy strikes them out of nowhere. Jo's Dad is one of the few remain holdouts that refuse to sell their property. After witnessing a local townsman being "accidently hit" by an oncoming vehicle; you know Malone is going to stay and become a one man wrecking crew.
For a cookie cutter 80's action movie, it isn't bad. The writing, like mine, can be a little subpar, but hey the 80's weren't known as a time when Burt had his best movies. It is serviceable. If you're looking for a time killer movie, this works....or you and your friends can MST3K the movie.
Malone is currently streaming on Amazon Video.
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