You gotta give VD, credit. He doesn't do half bad a job, playing two people. You'll actually be surprised, and this hard action blockbuster, in none, a badly made film. Revenge is the order of the day, where blood is shed early in the piece, and not much after that in a couple of scenes. Chad. a lover and Alex, fueled with anger are reunited, where 25 years earlier, their parents were massacred, in all the name of big business, and iillegal enterprise, involving some infrastructure, headed by a smarmy English guy (Scarfe) and he makes an enjoyable villain, you love to hate. Their brother's mentor and close friend (Geoffrey Lewis), who I couldn't believe popped up in this, managed to snatch one of the VD babies, while good boy, Chad was taken in by the baddies. DI delivers, well of course, it's a VD pic, but one his better and slicker efforts. And again, early in the peace, he does do the outstretched leg exercise, OUCH! in front of all these pretty lovelies. It's fun watching the angry Van Damme going nuts when imagining him and his hot girlfriend, with the softer and gentler VD, and this was a smart and admirable touch. And too, we don't know if they actually did make out on that boat. Bolo Yeung, is entertaining and humorous as one of the evil nemesis's, involved with the illegal enterprise. It's really fun and humorous watching this buffoon, he always makes for an entertaining presence. DI is a really well polished actioner, and Lewis (Juliette Lewis's father) makes for interesting moments. Indulge.

i mean Jackie Chan not Jesus Christ!Indeed, it's a comedy kick movie set in Orient… honestly i am not fond of the action movies from the expandable cast but this one is not that bad! For me, there was 3 great things: 1) entirely shot on location in Hong Kong and that's fantastic for the exotic feeling: the sea, the jungle, the cultures...2) another attempt to do twins with a single one: lately, i keep watching movies using that trick: BTTF, Géaldine, Laurel & Hardy, Noomi, ... Here the result is not that bad, especially coming from JCVD who didn't attend Strasberg courses!3) the hot Alonna Shaw who is the perfect look alike of my famous shrink who crossed my way a long time ago! If i'm honest and remember well, it's this likeness that put me on the trail for this movie but it's another twin story...

Twin baby brothers Alex and Chad (Jean-Claude Van Damme) are separated after their parents are killed by hit men acting on the orders of greedy businessman Nigel Griffith (Alan Scarfe) and local triad boss Raymond Zhang (Philip Chan). Alex is raised in a local orphanage by French nuns while Chad is taken abroad by loyal friend of the family Frank Avery (Geoffrey Lewis). 25 years later, Frank—now the owner of an LA dojo where Chad is an instructor (and where pastel coloured gis are mandatory!)—tracks down Alex, reunites the brothers in Hong Kong and helps them to avenge the murder of their parents.Some might argue that Jean Claude Van Damme struggles to play one character convincingly, and that having him play two is not exactly the greatest idea in the world. Those people are wrong. Double the 'Muscles from Brussels' kicking ass, including his own, is actually one of the greatest things to happen in a 90s action movie. That's double the explosive action, double the corny one-liners, double the gun-play (with double the ammo), double the fight scenes and, ultimately, double the fun.Despite its silly set-up, Double Impact is a genuinely tough film, with very little comedy ala Jackie Chan's Twin Dragons; the colourful Hong Kong location not only allows for plenty of authentic flavour, but also enables the use of local stunt-men for whom a hard whack in the head is all part of a day's work. The action comes thick and fast, feet and fists regularly meeting face, making for some really convincing karate smack-downs. On top of all the martial arts mayhem, viewers are also treated to lots of brutal ballistic action, each bullet hit resulting in a delightfully bloody squib eruption.Star Van Damme might not be the greatest thespian to ever grace the silver screen, but he does surprisingly well in his dual roles, convincingly creating two distinctly different characters; he is aided in his task by some well executed special effects and the careful use of body doubles. The rest of the main cast are also very impressive: Lewis is as marvellous as always (the guy is a legend in my eyes just for giving the world Juliette), busty blonde Alonna Shaw gives the film sex appeal as Alex's plucky girlfriend Danielle, Chan and Scarfe ooze malevolence, and Bolo Yeung and female bodybuilder Cory Everson make for superb hench-people (does anyone play an utterly ruthless killing machine as convincingly as Bolo?).

Alex (Van Damme) and Chad (Van Damme) are twins who were separated at six months old when their parents were murdered by gangsters. Alex became a ne'er-do-well in Hong Kong while Chad became a pretty-boy aerobics instructor in L.A. Convinced to go to Hong Kong to find out the truth, Chad meets Alex, and Yin meets Yang. The two men, despite being brothers, couldn't be more different, and conflicts ensue. But it's all in the name of getting revenge for their slain parents. But it's going to take double the power to take down evildoer Moon (Yeung). Will you feel the impact? Probably one of the better movies (of the five total) where Van Damme plays two roles, Double Impact has JCVD as the happy-go-lucky Chad, with his absurd pastel outfits and tiny pink shorts, as well as the gruff, cigar-chomping Alex. If you've ever seen The Patty Duke show in reruns, you know the "show the back of the other character's head" style of portraying the two men. The movie wastes little time in having Van Damme do one of his trademark splits (while wearing a leotard, naturally). Chad is the fish out of water in Hong Kong (and the movie sports some great Hong Kong locations and photography), just one side of the coin that is Jean-Claude Van Damme.This is also one of the many team-ups of Van Damme and director Sheldon Lettich. But at almost two hours, the movie overstays its welcome and is just too long. You know what they always say - double the Van Damme, double the running time. Though the movie drags at times, it also has just enough cool moments to make this a roller-coaster of peaks and valleys.The rest of the cast is worthy too, as Bolo is here looking great, Cory Everson plays the bodybuilder who is also in the hard-to-find Ballistic (1995), and Alonna Shaw plays the eye candy - at one point the movie basically stops so it can become like a Playboy video for her. The movie naturally concludes in the time-honored steam factory, and characters even throw barrels at each other, a la Double Dragon. Double Dragon - Double Impact... coincidence? I think not...! After the extensive running time, there is a freeze frame and the C + C Music Factory-like song, "Feel The Impact", by Gen plays. By our estimation, Double Impact is kind of hit-or-miss. It's a decent enough idea, but not enough to support such a lengthy movie.For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com