# Exit Wounds (2001)

### reviewed by
Ross Anthony

    Even Steven
    Exit Wounds

    By Ross Anthony

Here you'll find everything you'd expect from a film called "Exit Wounds" ... lots of gunfire, car chases, things blowing up and catching fire, expensive sports cars, cool good guys, crafty bad guys, hip music, tough guy one-liners, comedic sequences, and of course, gratuitous frontal nudity. I'm not quite sure the reason for the title, except that it sounds cool and implies plenty of bullets in flight. Wait, perhaps they were playing on the words in a more emotional sense, since Seagal is forced to "exit" a desirable position on the force. Naaaah, this is definitely a "shut the mind off and enjoy the action" type of film.

An opening action sequence makes that point crystal clear, Lone Ranger Seagal single-handedly saves the vice president from a well-armed motorcade ambush. In the very next scene, despite his heroism, Seagal is promptly reprimanded and demoted for his inability to follow orders. Soon enough Seagal finds himself station in the rough part of town where a group of cops welcome him with an electric zapper and a stress-management group with desks comically too small for his huge body.

The film does an excellent job of keeping action rolling and interjecting comic relief: Anthony Anderson in the Lamborgini scene, Tom Arnold in stress management, and as the credits roll the two of them chewing the fat improv-style will send you on your way chuckling.

Of course, the story line has more holes than Seagal's stylishly dark garbs after a rain of bullets. He's so cool, never a scratch. And a few of the "dialogue only" scenes grind to a jam even a crowbar couldn't free. Still, you can't argue with a good car chase or helicopter bursting into flames, strong pacing, tight direction, and good old-fashioned action ... a lot of fun. Also worthy of note, a nice performance by DMX.

Exit Wounds. Copyright © 2001. Rated R. * Starring Steven Seagal, DMX, Isaiah Washington, Michael Jai White, Anthony Anderson, Jill Hennessy, David Vadim, Tom Arnold. * Directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak. * Written by Ed Horowitz, Richard D'Ovidio. * Based on the novel by: John Westermann. * Produced by Joel Silver, Dan Cracchiolo at Warner Bros/Village Roadshow/NPV Ent./Silver Pictures.

Grade..........................B+

-- Copyright © 2000. Ross Anthony, currently based in Los Angeles, has scripted and shot documentaries, music videos, and shorts in 35 countries across North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

For more reviews visit: http://www.RossAnthony.com

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