MOVIE REVIEW : ‘COCAINE WARS’ TOES THE LOW-BUDGET LINE

“Cocaine Wars” (citywide) takes place in Las Palmas--where the sun is high, life is cheap, and murderous drug transactions are a daily occurence.

That’s not, as you might surmise, the street that intersects Hollywood Boulevard east of the Chinese Theater, but a mythical Latin American regime ruled by tyrants, smugglers, Nazis, polo-playing overlords and smirking secret police. It’s an empire founded on cocaine, and awash in terror--which one blond shaggy-bearded hunk (John Schneider in a high school letterman’s jacket) will bring screaming to its knees.

“Cocaine Wars” is a standard low-budget action film, but there are a few encouraging things in it. Co-produced by Roger Corman, it’s the first Concorde picture in months that doesn’t leave you gagging in disappointment, wondering whether Hollywood’s old master of the B-with-something-extra hadn’t succumbed to the major studio’s ailment, Marketing Hook Syndrome.

It’s nothing much as a movie--simplistic and unambitious--but, on its own minor, inexpensive level, it works. It tells a coherent story (sort of), has consistent (if thin) characters and vigorous action set-pieces. The director, Hector Olivera, ladles out slaughter and sex with a knowing hand, and salts it all with a little cynicism (a Corman hallmark). There’s even one fine performance--by Frederico Luppi, the Argentine matinee idol, who creates the haughty, sadistic, patrician coke czar of your nightmares. (It’s also a pleasure to see Royal Dano again--as a dissipated Hoagy Carmichael-ish sidekick.)

The things that mar “Cocaine Wars” are the usual liabilities of the international low-budgeter: slapdash construction, weirdly dubbed speeches, general paper-thin contrivance and predictability. And also that unwelcome new cliche from the “Rambo-Commando” genre: the lone man who saunters in and mows down an entire army, single-handededly. (If “High Noon” were shot today, Coop wouldn’t just be facing Frank Miller and his boys; he’d be defending the town from the entire Nevada state militia, joined by Quantrill’s Raiders. He’d win, too.)

Compared to the other recent Concorde releases--”Barbarian Queen,” “School Spirit” and “Loose Screws”--”Cocaine Wars” is a step up. A step up from the pits, perhaps, but up nonetheless.

‘COCAINE WARS’

A Concorde Cinema Group release. Producers Alex Sessa, Roger Corman., Director Hector Olivera. Script Steven M. Krauzer. With John Schneider, Kathryn Witt, Frederico Luppi, Royal Dano.

Running time: 1 hour, 23 minutes.

MPAA rating: R (under 17 requires an accompanying parent or adult guardian).