Showdown at the Grand (2023)

"Full of Love For 80s Action Pictures"

There's a strong nostalgic feel to Orson Oblowitz's SHOWDOWN AT THE GRAND, which is getting a digital release from Signature Entertainment.

George Fuller (Terrence Howard) is the owner-operator of the Warner Grand, a movie theater that has been in his family for generations. His latest scheme to sell more tickets is to invite 1980s action movie star Claude Luc Hallyday (Dolph Lundgren) to introduce and host a retrospective of his movies.

Unfortunately, evil property developers want George's prime site and, having met with no success in getting him to sign over the cinema, launch an all-out attack on the building during the night of Claude's guest appearance. Needless to say, neither George nor Claude are going down without a fight.

SHOWDOWN AT THE GRAND wants so much to be in the style of old action movies it hurts, and the clips we see of Claude's old films are the best thing about the picture. Unfortunately Orson Oblowitz is no Joe Begos, who would have really made the most out of the concept. Instead, the movie lacks vigour and can never quite make its mind up if it wants to be funny or serious (unlike something like Begos' VFW, which managed both). If you love movies that are themselves nostalgic for older movies you'll want to catch this, but it could have been so much better.

SHOWDOWN AT THE GRAND is out on Digital from Signature Entertainment on Monday 13th November 2023