Carl Weathers and iconic 80s producer Joel Silver teamed up for Action Jackson, a big budget, explosion-filled blaxploitation film that is absolutely packed solid with familiar faces.

Despite an over-complicated plot, it’s a fun ride, resting on Weather’s charm. He plays a cop on hard times. He’s been busted down to sergeant, isn’t allowed to carry a gun, and has caused grief for his captain (Bill Duke) and villain Peter Dellaplane (Craig T. Nelson) one too many times.

And despite being warned off, Jackson is going after Dellaplane big time!

The cast is a veritable who’s who, Al Leong, Sharon Stone, Tom Wilson, Robert Davi, Mary Ellen Trainor, Ed O’Ross, De’voreaux White, Vanity (who can’t act in this to save her life), Nicholas Worth, Miguel A. Nunez Jr., Branscombe Richmond, Dennis Hayden, and Sonny Landham. You may not know the names, but if you know 80s and 90s movies, you know the faces.

From fights to stunts, the film never gets quite to where it wants to, but it’s pretty solid. If goofy. And you know that with Joel Silver on hand, there will be explosions everywhere.

Dellaplane wants to get rid of Jackson once and for all, even as he cements his own power in the city. He frames Jackson for murder, so of course, he’s going to have to go rogue to deliver his own brand justice.

The film was directed by Craig R. Baxley, who met Weathers on Predator, where the idea was cooked up. He was a stunt coordinator and second-unit director. Action Jackson was his first feature film, having directed a television movie previously, as well as episodes of The A-Team.

So with credentials like that for the cast and crew, you know what you’re getting into with this.

Oh, and it has a score by Herbie Hancock and Michael Kamen!

Set against a Detroit backdrop, the film has some interesting needle drops, including the Pointer Sisters. Using the Sisters and Detroit makes it feel like Silver is trying to answer the Simpson/Bruckheimer produced Beverly Hills Cop films. And while it is entertaining if convoluted, it lacks the entertainment value of Cop.

Still, despite it’s plot, the film did very well and even had a sequel in talks. It would have been interesting to see where the series and the character went.

Weathers is always fun and likable, and it was something watching this film and seeing all the familiar faces. It’s not a great watch, but damn if it isn’t entertaining.