Well folks, they’re almost here! On July 9th, Mill Creek Entertainment will release the next two films in Andy Sidaris’ L.E.T.H.A.L. Ladies saga, Picasso Trigger and Savage Beach. Much like the previous two releases, no punches were pulled and the presentations are absolutely gorgeous. They’re are also being presented in a 4K widescreen presentation, making them look like mega-budgeted productions. It’s so great seeing companies take movies such as these and treat them with the respect a multi-million dollar Hollywood production would get. Hell, sometimes even those aren’t given the same treatment. We’ll take a closer look at the films on the disc and see if they’re worth revisiting or no,t but if you saw my last review of Malibu Express and Hard Ticket to Hawaii, then you’ll already know there’s a soft spot in my heart for these ridiculously wonderful movies.
Picasso Trigger begins at an art exhibition where Alejandro Felipe Salazar (John Aprea) is assassinated out in front of the building. Salazar just so happens to be a secret agent for L.E.T.H.A.L. and is the first casualty in what will be many. Miguel Ortiz (Rodrigo Obregon) has a score to settle with the agency for killing his brother, and the agents will be his target. Donna (Dona Speir) and Taryn (Hope Marie Carlton) are also marked for death, but are able to make the escape. With Travis Abilene (Steve Bond) taking control, he rounds up the surviving agents and uses all of their remaining resources in order to take Ortiz down once and for all.
Hard Ticket to Hawaii is probably the best film in the series, but Picasso Trigger isn’t too far behind. Gone are Cody and Rowdy Abilene, making way for Travis Abilene, played by soap opera star Steve Bond. The thing about the Abilene boys is that they’re all essentially the exact same character. Bond may be the best actor to step into the shoes of an Abilene and he has fun with the role (who wouldn’t?). It must run in the family, because this one can’t seem to shoot anything either.
Dona Speir and Hope Marie Carlton reprise their roles from the previous film, and they’re such a joy to watch. The duo have a real chemistry together that is sorely missed in the later films. Maybe I’m wrong, but it felt as if the sex and nudity was toned down a bit in this one (there’s still plenty). The great thing about Picasso Trigger besides the twist ending is the fact that everything is explosive and blows up. We have explosive boomerangs, explosive remote controlled plans, explosive RC cars, explosive arrows, and a crutch that shoots explosives. Every five minutes, something is blown up in an exotic locale surrounded by beautiful women. It’s another win if you ask me. In addition to the 4K widescreen transfer, there’s an archival featurette, introduction from Andy Sidaris, commentary, and trailers.
After taking down a major drug smuggling ring in Hawaii with fellow agents Rocky (Lisa London) and Pattycakes (Patty Duffek), Donna (Dona Speir) and Taryn (Hope Marie Carlton) are assigned to deliver medical supplies to a small island in the South Pacific. Their plane crash lands on a “savage beach” where they find themselves in the middle of a battle over gold stolen during World War II thought to be hidden there. With samurais, assassins, and communists hot on the trail of the treasure, the girls will have to be careful which side to choose if they want to get off the island alive.
Savage Beach marked the end, in my opinion anyways, of a very short era, the Carlton/Speir era. For whatever reason, this was the last film to feature Hope Marie Carlton and Dona Speir together, though Speir would go on to headline several more. As great and fun as the entire twelve film series is, the trilogy of Hard Ticket to Hawaii, Picasso Trigger, and Savage Beach are the backbone and soul of Sidaris’ series.
Savage Beach does away with the previous three Abilenes and introduces a fourth, Shane Abilene played by Michael Shane. This character is more of a supporting member of the team and isn’t really given much to do, but that’s alright since Sidaris added two martial arts legends- Al Leong (Big Trouble in Little China, Die Hard, and Rapid Fire), who was in almost every major action film of the ’80s and ’90s, and Emmy-winning stunt co-ordinator James Lew (Luke Cage, Big Trouble in Little China, and Best of the Best). Just including them in the film elevates it to another level. John Aprea, who played Salazar in the previous film, returns as an all-new character, a good guy. The story is fun, the locations are as exotic as ever, and the action never really lets up. You will never see a better looking copy of the film with similar extra features as the other releases and these discs are priced to sell.
Mill Creek has done it again, and here’s hoping they have plans to release the other sic films in the series with the same amount of care as they have with these current releases. Guns and Do or Die will be hitting the streets later this summer. Until then, Picasso Trigger and Savage Beach will satisfy your appetite.
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The Abilenes are a mystery. I think they’re clones.