‘C.A.T. Squad’ Sequel Goes Into South Africa

William Friedkin continues his attempt to revive the “Mission: Impossible” genre in tonight’s “C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf” (9 p.m., Channels 4, 36 and 39), a sequel to his initial “C.A.T. Squad” film, which was a ratings success in the summer of 1986.

By the standards of the genre, this one is fairly efficient, driven by the varied rhythms of Friedkin’s direction and an Ennio Morricone score. However, David Ward’s script allows expository points to whiz by so quickly that the plot occasionally becomes fuzzy.

It doesn’t help that two of the three permanent “C.A.T. Squad” members (Joe Cortese and Jack Youngblood) are too much the same tough-guy type. This group could use a touch of urbanity.

The only scene that truly gripped the gut was one involving Miguel Ferrer and Deborah Van Valkenburgh, neither of whom is a permanent fixture in the “C.A.T. Squad.”

The movie is more interesting for its equivocal treatment of topical subjects. Much of the action takes place in big, bad South Africa, yet our heroes finally join forces with the South African military in order to defeat the worst miscreants of the movie, a private band of ultra-right-wing Afrikaan militants. The government itself appears relatively moderate.

Likewise, the “C.A.T. Squad” is careful to consult two senators about its plans, and leader Cortese condemns a “cowboy” Air Force officer who’s conducting his own covert operations.

Yet the end of the movie makes it clear that Cortese’s character might easily become an Ollie North himself, given half a chance, and one guesses that the film makers would not disapprove. Their first priority is action, not political commentary.