Not even bad in a good way

Good concept, poorly executed.

All that we are seeing on the screen is happening with real people, real action sequences in the background, forcing the eye to watch as if we were there.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kathryn Harrold, Sam Wanamaker, Paul Shenar, Robert Davi and Darren McGavin star in this 1986 action film. Schwarzenegger (The Terminator, Commando) plays ex-FBI agent turned small-town sheriff, Kaminsky who helps his colleague, Harry (McGavin) get revenge for his son's murder. The late, Wanamaker (Superman IV, Baby Boom) plays Chicago mobster, Patrovita who is the man behind the murder. Kaminsky infiltrates him and his gang by masquerading as a wealthy businessman. Harrold plays Monique, a woman who Kaminsky befriends, The late, Shenar (Scarface) plays Patrovita's associate, Rocca, and Davi (The Goonies, Die Hard) plays Patrovita's right-hand thug, Max. This isn't a bad 80's action flick and Schwarzenegger is great as usual. I recommend this.

Fresh from the box-office disaster of RED SONJA, Arnie must have been glad to get back to a contemporary setting so I'm sure he picked this routine actioner with only a cursory glance. Certainly, the tale of police corruption and one man going up against the mob and various gangsters is nothing new, I mean it was done loads of times in the '70s.The cast all do acceptable jobs, although nobody stands out. Sam Wanamaker and Darren McGavin are among the heavyweight names fleshing out the roles, while it's good to see Robert Davi, the Bond baddie from LICENCE TO KLL, in a antagonistic role against Arnie. However, as always, the film hinges on our favourite superman's performance, and he's at his toughest and hardest here as he wastes loads of bad guys by shooting them down. Indeed, the film is basically full of various shootouts and gun battles, interspersed with Arnie trying to stay undercover and romancing the ladies.Actually, the action is merely average here, I mean it's nothing new or particularly exciting. There are the typical shootings and car chases and one or two supposedly eye-opening stunts, but they're not very memorable, and nor are the added in sex scenes. In fact, I would consider this one of Arnie's worst movies, not that it's particularly bad or anything, just that it's so generic and lacks the welcome comic relief of something like COMMANDO. If you're an action fan then it's just about barely worthwhile, if not then don't bother.

Continuing my plan to watch every Arnie movie in order, I come to Raw Deal.Plot In A Paragraph: Mark Kaminski (Arnie) a former FBI agent turned small town sheriff, agrees to help the FBI chief infiltrate the Chicago mafia.Following 4 movies in two years Arnie only had Raw Deal released in 1986. I don't know if this movie has any fans here. But I am not one.Arnies acting seems to have gone backwards. There is none of the charisma shown in Commando, maybe if there was, it wouldn't be as bad. But Arnie plays it very straight, no hint of tongue in cheek. And it's to the movies detriment. The Oaks biggest asset is his charisma. Here he can't even answer a telephone convincingly, and the less said about how he awkwardly places a coffee cup on the table the better!! He just comes off as any other poor actor with an impressive physique. In fact this role could have been played by any such actor. In fact it probably should have, Arnie struggles with the dialogue, and it makes him look bad, throw in some unconvincing fight scenes and it's not a good watch. At least in amongst the camp cheesy fun of Commando, the shootout at the gravel pit would have fit in, here it is awful. Ed Lauter is wasted, Sam Wannamkaer is never convincing as a ruthless mobster. Even Robert Davi (normally a perfectly fine bad guy) is poor here, The love interest is ridiculous, The rest of cast is rounded out by people who just seem to have been the cheapest alternative. Arnies long time friend Sven-Ole Thorsen turns up as Bearded Bodyguard after roles in both Conan movies and Red Sonja. Raw Deal only gets two mentions in Arnie's autobiography Total Recall. The first is "In the months before the wedding, I was busy promoting Commando and shooting Raw Deal - the action movie I'd promised to make for Dino De Laurentis- and getting ready to start Predator" And the second is when he is talking about the movie Total Recall, how De Laurentis had the rights to it, but wouldn't cast him. The first time he tried to make it, he cast Richard Dreyfuss, and when it went into development hell, he left. Then he he tries again, and this time he gave Patrick Swayze the role. He says "I was peed Dino didn't give me the part, he knew I wanted it. Instead he gave me Raw Deal." Amazingly Raw Deal was the 54th highest grossing movie of 1986 with $26 million at the domestic box office. Excluding Red Sonja (because he refused to do any promotional work) this would be the lowest grossing movie with Arnie in a lead role for a long time. In a quirky twist of fate, this movies failure, sent De Laurentis into bankruptcy and he had to sell the rights to Total Recall, which Arnie convinced Mario Kassar and Andy Vajna at Carolco to buy as a project for him. Just remember one thing kids "You shouldn't drink and bake"

Mark Kaminsky is forced to leave the FBI after controversy from treating a suspect too harshly. Kaminsky takes a job as a small time sheriff. This makes him and his wife very unhappy to the point of turmoil. Mark has a chance at glory when he agrees to infiltrate the kingpin of the Chicago Mafia, Luigi Patrovita (Sam Wanamaker) in order to avenge his friend Harry when Harry's son is murdered. This has plenty of shootouts, explosions, and all the things you love from Arnold Schwarzenegger. It's just too bad this movie is so routine and rather mundane at times as well. This had a chance to be quite a riveting story, and it is at certain times, just not nearly enough for my liking. I realize Arnold Schwarzenegger movies aren't meant to be Oscar worthy. Arnold is one of my heroes. He's one of the most charismatic action stars to ever grace our screens. I own almost all of his movies, including this one. I just feel it was a missed opportunity. There are some plot holes as well. How did it take so long for the federal prosecutor to realize Arnold is undercover? You would think that he would figure it out far sooner. Arnold's performance is a bit of a character study. There was some decent character development with him. I thought he gave one of the best acting performances of his career. It's a bit of a meaty role for him. I thought he did very well with it. His character is damaged goods. I would have liked to see more desperation coming from him, but he has that unprecedented charisma to even things out. Not many can entertain like he can. Wait until you see the finale that starts at a construction site. Not only is it full of gunfire and mayhem, but Arnold kicks ass with the song "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" Kathryn Harold is solid, if a little underdeveloped. We don't know much about her, other than she has a heart. Her relationship with Arnold wasn't all that convincing. Sam Wanamaker is terrifically smarmy as the villain. Darren McGavin always provides good presence. Davi, Lauter & Shenar add to an overall, great cast. The finale has some decent twists and turns in it as well. The ending is probably the best thing about this movie. I didn't get teary eyed. I was definitely moved by it though. I won't reveal what happens but it will get your emotions running. At least it did with meFinal Thoughts: This is a bit of a misfire for Arnold. It does have some merit. It's far from terrible but it's completely forgettable. I just try to find the positive in things, as well as the negatives. See it for some brainless action, the performances, or if you're a huge fan of Arnold like I am5.4/10